Breakout Breakfast Sessions:
7:30 - 8:45 a.m.
The following three breakouts, concurrent with the Continental Breakfast above, will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, except for The Painless FOIA Letter, which is sign-up on site only.

1. Can This Relationship Be Saved? Why Journalists and Scientists Just Don't Communicate
   This breakfast panel is sure to provide fireworks to start your day. Top scientists and premiere journalists go head to head. Reporters need plain talk. Scientists need details. Reporters need overviews. Scientists need caveats. You get the idea. Audience participation will be unscripted and decidedly not peer reviewed as we investigate how to make this relationship work. Decaf coffee only!
   Moderator: Jeff Burnside, Special Projects Reporter, WTVJ NBC 6 News, Miami
   Speakers:
   Nancy Baron, Ocean Science Outreach Director, SeaWeb/COMPASS, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
   Patricia Conrad, Professor of Parasitology, Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunobiology, University of California, Davis
   Thomas Hayden, Freelance Journalist
   Pamela Matson, Dean, School of Earth Sciences, Stanford University
   Stephen Schneider, Climatologist, Stanford University
   Anne Thompson, Chief Environmental Affairs Correspondent, NBC News
   Ken Weiss, Environmental Writer, Los Angeles Times
   Location: Lane/Lyons/Ladato Rooms, Fisher Conference Center, Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center



2. The Painless FOIA Letter
   Sign up on site at the SEJ table.
   Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses of FOIA letters waiting to be written. This hands-on Freedom of Information Act clinic will help you write your first (or your last) federal public records request. We'll also provide handy tipsheets, complete with instructions, to take home and websites that will help you get the records you're after.
   Moderator: Ken Ward Jr., Reporter, The Charleston Gazette
   Speaker: Rebecca Daugherty, former Director, FOI Service Center, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
   Location: Cranston Room, Fisher Conference Center, Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center



3. EPA Roundtable: How the West was One — Partnering to Tame Diesel Emissions
   Join EPA Region 9 Administrator Wayne Nastri in a conversation about how the voluntary diesel emission reduction program he helped launch two years ago is reducing the harmful emissions along the West Coast, and, now, throughout the nation. Public-private partnerships formed through the West Coast Collaborative are speeding up the replacement of older, high-emitting diesel vehicles well ahead of impending federal regulations, and truck stops and ports are being electrified to reduce diesel emissions. Seven other diesel consortiums, modeled after the West Coast Collaborative, covering states in all 10 regions of the EPA are achieving similar results. Nastri believes the collaborative has proven that agriculture, ports, construction, trucking, and rail can work together to reduce diesel emissions in a way that benefits public health and keeps all participating industry sectors competitive. You decide.
   Moderator: Carolyn Whetzel, California Correspondent, BNA
   Speaker: Wayne Nastri, Regional Administrator, Pacific Southwest Region, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
   Location: Barnes/McDowell Rooms, Fisher Conference Center, Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center

Welcoming Remarks
9:00 - 9:15 a.m.
Emcees: SEJ's 2007 Conference Co-Chairs Chris Bowman, Environment and Energy Reporter, The Sacramento Bee and Carolyn Whetzel, California Correspondent, BNA
Speaker: Jeff Koseff, Co-Director, Woods Institute for the Environment and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University
Location: Memorial Auditorium

Opening Plenary: Covering Climate Change
9:15 - 10:45 a.m.
Whether you write for The New York Times or the Patterson Irrigator; report with a mike, cam or pen; cover the environment, the statehouse or the courthouse; you cannot afford to sidestep the climate-change angle. You don't need to travel the globe, but you do need to ask the right questions. Learn what top scientists, economists, reporters and news executives are recommending for more effective coverage. We'll go beyond the impacts and examine possible solutions.
Moderator: Seth Borenstein, Science Writer, The Associated Press
Speakers:
Heidi Cullen, Climate Expert, The Weather Channel
Jon Krosnick, Professor, Communication, Political Science and Psychology, Stanford University
Rick Rodriguez, Executive Editor, The Sacramento Bee, and past-President, American Society of Newspaper Editors
Stephen Schneider, Climatologist, Stanford University
Location: Memorial Auditorium

Beverage Break
10:45 - 11:15 a.m.
Location: Atrium, Stanford Graduate School of Business

Concurrent Sessions 1
11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

THE CLIMATE:
Changing with Climate Change: Can Industries, Investors and Insurers Adapt?
With the debate over the science of climate change virtually over, governments, investors and industries want to align themselves to direct and benefit from new economic and regulatory imperatives. If carbon dioxide emissions are priced, what happens to the economy and industries, particularly electric utilities, investors and consumers? What are the political implications of fundamental economic changes? What attracts investors? What are the risks of doing nothing, and how is the insurance industry managing them?
Moderator: Felicity Barringer, Staff Writer, The New York Times
Panelists:
Lawrence Goulder, Professor of Economics, Stanford University
Steven Kline, Vice President, Corporate Environmental and Federal Affairs, PG&E Corporation
Mindy Lubber, President, Ceres
Location: S-170, Stanford Graduate School of Business

THE OCEAN:
Balmy Waters: From Acidification to Melting Ice, the Sea-Side of Climate Change
While much has been made of sea level rise, the impacts of carbon emissions on oceans also include decreased productivity, heavier storms, habitat shifts and acidification. Experts will present latest findings and explore controversial topics, including iron fertilization and carbon-climate feedbacks.
Moderator: Nancy Baron, Ocean Science Outreach Director, SeaWeb/COMPASS, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
Panelists:
Gary Braasch, Freelance Photographer and Writer
David Conover, Dean and Director, Marine Sciences Research Center, Stony Brook University
Scott Doney, Senior Scientist, Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Location: S-171, Stanford Graduate School of Business

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH:
Nanomaterials: Nifty or Naughty?
Nanotechnology — the study and manipulation of matter at the scale of a billionth of a meter — is yielding a wide range of new materials. Some are now in consumer products, for example nanoparticles of titanium dioxide in sunscreens and carbon nanotubes in bicycle frames. Researchers are engineering nanomaterials for use in a new generation of water filters, solar cells, and green automobiles. Yet the same properties that make them promising for green technologies might also make them hazardous. Can we maximize the environmental benefits and minimize the risks?
Moderator: Karen Schmidt, Freelance Science Writer
Panelists:
Nabil Al-Hadithy, Hazardous Materials Manager, Toxics Management Division, City of Berkeley
Mamadou Diallo, Director, Molecular Environmental Technology, Materials and Process Simulation Center, California Institute of Technology
Joyce Tsuji, Toxicologist/Consultant, Exponent, Inc.
Location: S-180, Stanford Graduate School of Business

ENERGY AND RESOURCES:
Wildfire in Cul-de-sacs
This panel of scientists will look at wildfire policy and issues, like how growing home construction in the urban wildlands interface is contributing to higher fire suppression costs and greater risk to firefighters. Speakers also will discuss alternatives to firefighting, and whether forest thinning or other proposed solutions are effective.
Moderator: George Wuerthner, Freelance Writer
Panelists:
Chad Hanson, Postdoctoral Researcher, Plant Sciences Department, University of California, Davis
Timothy Ingalsbee, Executive Director, Firefighters United for Safety Ethics and Ecology
Volker Radeloff, Associate Professor, Forest Ecology and Management Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Location: S-181, Stanford Graduate School of Business

THE GLOBE:
Covering China's Environment
Without doubt the most challenging international assignment an environmental journalist could receive today would be a story based in China. Not only is the country vast, complex and literally choking on its own misconceptions about public health, it is almost impossible to find a source that is both knowledgeable and truthful. And with China having just passed the United States as the world's leading contributor of greenhouse gas emissions, the environment is a subject that officials at every level of China's government would just as soon the world press ignore. But there is a way, and there are some great stories. This panel will help you find angles, sources and places that are being overlooked by mass media.
Moderator: Mark Dowie, Lecturer and Author
Panelists:
Kate Cheney Davidson, U.S. Editor, China Dialogue
Peter Fairley, Freelance Journalist
Liu Jianqiang, Reporter, Southern Weekend (China)
Wu Nan, Student, Graduate School of Journalism, University of California, Berkeley, and former journalist in China
Location: S-182, Stanford Graduate School of Business

THE POLICY:
Wilderness Politics in the New Millennium
The wilderness movement is enjoying a renaissance after a long political stalemate during the 1990s. But wilderness advocates' recent gains in Congress have drawn challenges from opponents, and led to some intense soul-searching among people within the movement, too. Is the continuing push to protect more wilderness crowding out other important uses of the public lands? Does a new breed of wilderness bill that ties wilderness protection with public-lands swaps and urban development trade away too much? And has the "art of compromise" — long a guiding tenet of wilderness champions — become shorthand for selling out? Four experienced hands offer their views on the future of wilderness.
Moderator: Matt Jenkins, Contributing Editor, High Country News
Panelists:
Janine Blaeloch, Director, Western Lands Project
Jeremy Garncarz, Associate Director, The Wilderness Society/Wilderness Support Center
Brian Hawthorne, Public Lands Policy Director, BlueRibbon Coalition
Heidi McIntosh, Conservation Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
Location: S-183, Stanford Graduate School of Business

THE CRAFT I:
The Freelance Pitch-Slam: Back By Popular Demand
Writers read prepared pitches in 60 seconds to a panel of magazine editors. Editors then critique the queries, explaining why the pitch would or would not work in their publications, and offer tips for improving the pitch. While editors are not prepared to make assignments on the spot, some of last year's pitches led to published stories. We encourage writers to craft their pitches in advance, with as much care as an actual e-mail query.
Moderator: Christine Woodside, Freelance Journalist
Panelists:
Peter Aldhous, San Francisco Bureau Chief, New Scientist
Jennifer Bogo, Senior Editor, Science, Popular Mechanics
Paul Kvinta, Contributing Editor, National Geographic Adventure
John Mecklin, Editor, High Country News
Jim Motavalli, Editor, E/The Environmental Magazine
Michael Moyer, Executive Editor, Popular Science
Jason Tanz, Senior Editor, Wired
Location: S-164 (Bishop Auditorium), Stanford Graduate School of Business

THE CRAFT II:
Teaching Environmental Journalism: What Distinguishes This Beat from Others?
Teaching environmental journalism has never been more challenging or more important. What distinguishes EJ from an academic standpoint? What teaching and program strategies are working? How are we adapting to a web-centric world?
Moderator: Bill Kovarik, Professor, School of Communication, Radford University
Panelists:
Jim Detjen, Director, Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, Michigan State University
Sharon Friedman, Professor and Director, Science & Environmental Writing Program, Lehigh University
Donica Mensing, Director of Graduate Studies, Reynolds School of Journalism, University of Nevada, Reno
David Sachsman, Professor, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Co-Author, "The Reporter's Environmental Handbook"
Jane Stevens, Multimedia Instructor, Graduate School of Journalism, University of California, Berkeley and Designer, GreatTurtleRace.com
Location: S-161, Stanford Graduate School of Business

Network Lunch
12:30 - 2:00 p.m.
Always a popular favorite, this year we've added an attraction. You'll still have your choice of a wide variety of reporting tips, timely topics and lively newsmakers. But, because we're in the sunny climes of Stanford, you'll have your choice of an indoor table or outdoors on the lawn. Enjoy an informal discussion on any of the topics listed below. Just grab your lunch and use the information provided to locate the discussion of your choice.

Breakout Lunch Sessions
Concurrent with the small-table discussion groups, breakouts are first-come, first-served (except for Speed Mentoring). Pick up your lunch en route from the concurrent sessions to the Alumni Center before taking your seat.

1. Care and Feeding of Whistleblowers, Leakers, and Inside Sources
   What do you do when your FOIA request is refused or redacted and an agency PIO won't let employees talk to press without "minders?" Good reporters have always relied on cultivating their own confidential "inside sources." Quite often, the best documents are the ones leaked to you. We'll also discuss some tips for covering agencies that have clammed up.
   Moderator: Joseph Davis, Freelance Journalist and WatchDog Project Director/TipSheet Editor, Society of Environmental Journalists
   Speakers:
   Seth Borenstein, Science Writer, The Associated Press
   Thomas Henry, Environmental Writer, The (Toledo) Blade
   Mark Schapiro, Editorial Director, Center for Investigative Reporting
   Location: McDowell/Cranston Rooms, Fisher Conference Center, Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center
   
   
2. Judge for Yourself: How to Do Stories on Science Journal Articles
   Don't be one of those "spoon-fed" reporters when interviewing scientists about journal articles. Learn how to puncture inflated claims, spot methodological flaws and ask the right questions. Were the differences in health outcomes the result of random variation or induced by exposure? Did the scientists control for pre-existing conditions? Who paid for the study?
   Moderator: Chris Bowman, Environment and Energy Reporter, The Sacramento Bee
   Speaker: Donald Kennedy, Editor-in-Chief, Science and former President and Bing Professor of Environmental Science, Stanford University
   Location: Barnes Room, Fisher Conference Center, Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center
   
   
3. Speed Mentoring: Get Answers to Career Questions
   By invitation only.
   How can you improve your writing, land a plum assignment, or find a new job? Questions about any aspect of our profession are fair game at this "progressive lunch," where newcomers to the beat will pick the brains of experienced SEJers. Each participant will meet one-on-one with three mentors, for 20 minutes each.
   Moderators:
   Jane Braxton Little, Freelance Journalist
   Dawn Stover, Freelance Journalist
   Mentors:
   Perry Beeman, Environment Reporter, The Des Moines Register
   Audrey Cooper, Assistant Metro Editor, San Francisco Chronicle
   Jim Detjen, Director, Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, Michigan State University
   Christy George, Producer, Oregon Public Broadcasting
   Sharon Guynup, Freelance Journalist
   Paul Kvinta, Contributing Editor, National Geographic Adventure
   Miguel Llanos, Environment Editor, MSNBC.com
   Paul MacClennan, Freelance Environmental Writer and former Reporter and Columnist, The Buffalo News
   Jim Motavalli, Editor, E/The Environmental Magazine
   Michelle Nijhuis, Freelance Journalist and Contributing Editor, High Country News
   Janet Raloff, Senior Editor, Science News
   Tim Wheeler, Reporter, The Baltimore Sun
   Location: Lane Room, Fisher Conference Center, Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center
   
   
4. Air Pollution: Measuring Regionally, Breathing Locally
   The nation's air quality monitoring network is designed to gauge whether regions as a whole meet clean air standards, but it cannot detect local hot spots of pollution. Many recent studies show that pollution near highways, rail yards, and ports far exceed levels at fixed-site monitors. Air quality officials and an environmental justice advocate discuss types and levels of pollutants at high-traffic areas and how to reduce the associated health risks.
   Moderator: Andrew Silva, Staff Writer, San Bernardino Sun
   Speakers:
   Yu-Shuo Chang, Planning and Monitoring Manager, Placer County Air Pollution Control District
   Matt Haber, Deputy Director, Air Division, Region 9, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
   Angelo Logan, Executive Director, East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, Commerce, California
   Jean Ospital, Health Effects Officer, South Coast Air Quality Management District
   Location: Lyons/Ladato Rooms, Fisher Conference Center, Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center

Small-Table Discussions
Concurrent with the breakout lunch sessions above, small-table discussion groups are first-come, first-served. Pick up your lunch en route from the concurrent sessions to the Alumni Center's McCaw Hall or Ford Gardens before taking your seat.

FORD GARDENS

1. Environmental Remediation: When is Cleaner Clean Enough?
   Sara Shipley Hiles, Freelance Journalist; Alison Jones, ARCADIS
2. Carbon Offsets: Are They for Real?
   Eron Bloomgarden, EcoSecurities; Craig Diamond, Climate Trust; Roger Witherspoon, US Black Engineer and Information Technology
3. Is Global Warming Killing Our National Parks?
   Jane Kay, San Francisco Chronicle; Mark Wenzler, National Parks Conservation Association
4. Freelancing Around the World
   Peter Fairley, Freelance Journalist
5. Quicksilver Quandary: Where's That Recovered Mercury Going?
   Cheryl Hogue, Chemical & Engineering News
6. SEJ 2008: Ready for Roanoke?
   Lynn Davis, Virginia Tech; Bill Kovarik, Radford University; Ken Ward Jr., The Charleston Gazette
7. Eco Blogging: Can It Make You a Better Journalist?
   James Bruggers, Louisville Courier-Journal; Kevin Grandia, DeSmogBlog.com
8. Freshwater Invaders
   Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune; David Lodge, University of Notre Dame
9. Dam Removal: Plumbing the Conflicts and Opportunities
   David Hart, University of Maine; Matt Weiser, The Sacramento Bee
10. Wetlands and Marshes: An Uncertain Future
    Denise Reed, University of New Orleans; Mark Schleifstein, New Orleans Times-Picayune


MCCAW HALL

11. Biodiversity & Human Health: What We Don't Know Could Harm Us
    Diana Wall, Colorado State University; Tom Yulsman, University of Colorado at Boulder
12. Reaching Capacity? Exploring America's Population Problem
    Mike Lee, The San Diego Union-Tribune
13. SEJournal: Meet the Editor
    Mike Mansur, Kansas City Star
14. Flame Retardants on the Rise & on the Run: Tracking Our Body Burden
    Douglas Fischer, Oakland Tribune; Kim Hooper, California Department of Toxic Substances Control
15. Journalists' Health Post-9/11: Who's Getting Sick & Why?
    David Handschuh, Photojournalist, New York Daily News and Fellow, Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma
16. Clean Water Act: Missing on the Mississippi River?
    David Dzombak, Carnegie Mellon University; Don Hopey, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
17. Crisis in the Canopy: Emerging Threats to Tropical Forests
    Thomas Hayden, Freelance Journalist; Meg Lowman, New College of Florida
18. Tracing Contamination to Headwaters
    Brian Bergamaschi, California Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey; Mike Taugher, Contra Costa Times
19. Can the Buyer Be Fair? Fair-Trade Coffee and Other Products
    Adrienne Fitch-Frankel, Global Exchange; Francesca Lyman, Freelance Writer
20. Where Do I Start? Tactics for Covering Emerging Toxic Chemicals
    Beth Daley, Boston Globe; Pete Myers, Environmental Health Sciences
21. Meet the SEJ Board
    Jeff Burnside, WTVJ, Miami; Dina Cappiello, Houston Chronicle
22. The Declining Amphibian Mystery: Climate Change, Pesticides, Fungi, and More
    Gary Fellers, U.S. Geological Survey; Karen Lips, Southern Illinois University; Laura Paskus, Freelance Journalist
23. China as a Lynchpin of the Global Environment
    Mark Dowie, University of California, Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism

Concurrent Sessions 2
2:15 - 3:30 p.m.

THE CLIMATE:
Nature out of Sync: Trees Flowering in January?
In the natural world, animals take cues about when to migrate and when to mate from hours of daylight, temperature and the amount of rain and snow. But after three decades of warming, spring is arriving earlier around the world. Species are shifting toward the cooler poles or higher elevations. Spring is bringing mistimed arrivals of migrating birds and their insect prey and unexpected budding of trees. Scientists talk about studies that examine the disruption of life cycles and what is in store for changing ecosystems.
Moderator: Jane Kay, Environmental Writer, San Francisco Chronicle
Panelists:
Daniel Cayan, Climate Researcher, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, and Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey
Terry Root, Professor, Biological Sciences and Senior Fellow, Center for Environmental Science and Policy, Stanford University
Stanley Temple, Beers-Bascom Professor, Conservation, Wildlife Ecology and Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Senior Fellow, Aldo Leopold Foundation
David Wolfe, Professor, Plant Ecology, Department of Horticulture, Cornell University
Location: S-170, Stanford Graduate School of Business

THE OCEAN:
Plenty of Fish in the Sea? Restoration and Marine Reserves
California is slowly and sometimes painfully rolling out a network of marine reserves up and down its coast. Some elements of this restoration plan have been met with boisterous resistance from commercial or recreational fishermen. Are marine reserves living up to their promises? Are the economic incentives offered to fishermen reducing overfishing? What's working? What's not? Experts square off in this ongoing debate.
Moderator: David Helvarg, Freelance Journalist and Author, "Blue Frontier: Dispatches from America's Ocean Wilderness"
Panelists:
Meg Caldwell, Senior Lecturer, School of Law, Stanford University
Charles Cook, Project Leader, The Sustainable Fisheries Group
Stephen Palumbi, Harold A. Miller Professor, Marine Sciences and Senior Fellow, Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University
Tom Raftican, President, United Anglers of Southern California
Location: S-171, Stanford Graduate School of Business

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH:
California's Ethnic Media
Environmental stories in ethnic media often focus on health and environmental justice. How do reporters for ethnic media approach these stories? Are there special challenges in finding sources, and to verifying and documenting information?
Moderator: A.G. Block, Director, Public Affairs Journalism Program, University of California Center Sacramento
Panelists:
Ketaki Gokhale, Reporter, India-West
Kenneth Kim, Reporter, The Korea Times
Alma Martinez, Reporter, Radio Bilingue
Location: S-180, Stanford Graduate School of Business

ENERGY AND RESOURCES:
A River Runs — Again?
California's long-running water wars, which have defined the state's development, appeared to have taken a big turn toward resolution in 2006. Environmentalists, agricultural interests and the federal government reached a historic legal deal to restore flows to a dry, 60-mile stretch of the state's second longest river — the San Joaquin River. Major players in the litigation, one of the nation's oldest environmental conflicts, will discuss the case, its lessons for accommodating competition over scarce resources and the massive restoration effort that lies ahead.
Moderator: Dennis Pfaff, Staff Writer, San Francisco Daily Journal
Panelists:
Hamilton Candee, Co-Director, Western Water Project, Natural Resources Defense Council
Daniel Dooley, Attorney, Dooley Herr & Peltzer
Frank Michny, Mid-Pacific Assistant Regional Director, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department of the Interior
Location: S-181, Stanford Graduate School of Business

THE GLOBE:
Trade and Environmental Degradation
America's insatiable demand for cheap resources and manufactured goods from China and other developing markets has contributed to environmental degradation. Are the U.S. companies and consumers exporting pollution getting a free ride on the back of countries with weaker environmental protections? New provisions in U.S. trade agreements require adherence to international environmental and labor standards. Are they effective?
Moderator: Karl Schoenberger, Research Fellow and Visiting Scholar, Human Rights Center, University of California, Berkeley
Panelists:
Sheila Davis, Executive Director, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition
Judy Glazer, Director, Global Social and Environmental Responsibility Operations, Hewlett-Packard
Margrete Strand Rangnes, Senior Representative, Responsible Trade Program, Sierra Club
David Vogel, Professor, Business Ethics and Political Science, Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley
Location: S-182, Stanford Graduate School of Business

THE POLICY:
Environmentally Honest Accounting
Traditional profit/loss accounting does not reflect the significant costs borne by society for environmentally abusive production. The health effects from chemical contamination, from pollution of waterways and soil, from energy production that increases the emission of greenhouse gases and other so-called 'environmental costs' are borne by society. What looks profitable on the balance sheet is often because the 'costs' have been externalized. This panel will bring us behind the real costs of doing business, and the positive effects of painting a more accurate picture on the books.
Moderator: Mark Schapiro, Editorial Director, Center for Investigative Reporting
Panelists:
Randy Hayes, Senior Staff Director, International Forum on Globalization
Barton (Buzz) Thompson Jr., Co-Director, Woods Institute for the Environment and Professor of Natural Resources Law, Stanford University
Mike Wallace, Environmental Analyst, TruCost
Location: S-183, Stanford Graduate School of Business

THE CRAFT I:
Toxicological Curve Balls
The old axiom of toxicology is that "dose makes the poison," with risk of harm increasing as dose increases. Increasingly, however, toxicologists are finding that low doses may be far more toxic than high-doses experiments had predicted, or, conversely, that low doses of a poison may actually prove beneficial. How are regulators handling — or ducking — this issue? And how do we responsibly report on risks associated with such counterintuitive toxicity?
Moderator: Janet Raloff, Senior Editor, Science News
Panelists:
Pete Myers, CEO and Chief Scientist, Environmental Health Sciences
David Ropeik, Risk Communication Consultant, Ropeik and Associates
Location: S-164 (Bishop Auditorium), Stanford Graduate School of Business

THE CRAFT II:
Reporting on the Environment in a Conservative Market
Environmental stories can be a tough sell under the best of circumstances, but when you're reporting in a place where people are prone to see them as "liberal," it can be even tougher. We'll talk about how to address a conservative audience.
Moderator: Laura Forbes, Reporter, KXRM-TV FOX21, Colorado Springs, CO
Panelists:
John Daley, Reporter, KSL-TV, Salt Lake City, UT
Nancy Gaarder, Reporter, Omaha World-Herald
Bruce Ritchie, Growth and Environment Reporter, The Tallahassee Democrat
Location: S-161, Stanford Graduate School of Business

SEJ Membership Meeting
3:45 - 5:00 p.m.
SEJ members are urged to attend their annual membership meeting. Snacks and beverages will be available. Hear from candidates standing for board election and eligible voters will cast ballots to fill seats on the board of directors. Members will also hear brief program, membership and financial reports from SEJ officers and the executive director, and have the opportunity to discuss new business or share concerns.
Location: Arbuckle Cafe, lower level, Stanford Graduate School of Business

CalEPA Press Conference
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
With California leading the charge on global warming, Governor Schwarzenegger says he wants the program to be a model for other states and the nation. California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols will make a major announcement about implementation of this ambitious program, then answer your questions. The landmark Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 established the first comprehensive state climate change program. It requires CARB to adopt regulations, some of which must be in place by January 2010, to cut greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent by 2020.
Cash bar and snacks will be available nearby.
Location: Spruce/Maple Conference Rooms, Sheraton Palo Alto Hotel

Do-It-Yourself Beat Dinners
7:30 - 10:00 p.m.
Whether carpooling to San Francisco, or strolling to downtown Palo Alto, you'll have a wide variety of excellent culinary options and topics of discussion.

ADVANCE SIGN-UP REQUIRED! Sign up for the dinner of your choice by sending an email to the facilitator, with cc: to crigel@sej.org, and please do not change the subject line. Do not assume you are signed up until you receive a reply from the facilitator confirming your spot. Deadline to email your request is 5:00 p.m. Monday, September 3. After that time, contact the facilitator by cell phone to sign up no later than 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 6. See the Beat Dinner flier in your registration packet for facilitator contact information and details. Do not delay. These restaurants are small, so seating is strictly limited.

• Please make your dinner selection carefully and notify your dinner facilitator immediately if you are unable to attend.
• All Palo Alto restaurants are within walking distance of the Sheraton Palo Alto. Meet your dinner facilitator in front of Sheraton at the time indicated.
• Transportation to dinners in San Francisco is by Caltrain and BART, about 1 hour each way. Individuals must purchase tickets at the train station and BART station before boarding ($15.30 roundtrip).
• Some restaurants will not issue separate checks; so be prepared to keep track of the cost of your meal.
• PLEASE TIP YOUR SERVERS WELL. ENJOY!

Discussion Topics:

1. Climate Change Naysayers: Reality Check!
   Note: This dinner is filled.
   Facilitators: Seth Borenstein, The Associated Press, and Kevin Grandia, DeSmogBlog.com
   Restaurant: Taipan, 560 Waverly Street, Palo Alto, (650) 329-9168
   Cuisine: Hong Kong-style Chinese
   Price range: $10-22
   Number of people: 8
   Meeting place and time: front of the Sheraton, 7:30 p.m.
   Email: SBorenstein@ap.org Please do not change the subject line or remove the cc: to crigel@sej.org!
   
   
2. Environmental Justice in San Francisco
   Well before the broader fight to limit global warming became a public priority, the threat of a degraded environment spurred action among grassroots activists in communities across the nation.

   One of the sparks in that movement was born 10 years ago in Bayview-Hunters Point in San Francisco. A determined band of activists worked to bring government and public pressure on industrial polluters who had created a toxic environment in the diverse, working-class neighborhood. Literacy for Environmental Justice has become a model of how communities can defend themselves. LEJ has turned the tide against industrial polluters — a massive shipyard, an inefficient power plant, and a roster of manufacturing plants producing, handling or storing an array of chemicals and solvents. For journalists everywhere, documenting a fight for environmental justice is a natural story: it's a local matter tied to a national phenomena, tucked into a global context.

   To mark the annual meeting of the Society of Environmental Journalists, the Northern California Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists invites you to meet activists from LEJ, student journalists from UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism who chronicled the Bayview-Hunters Point struggle, and environmental writers and editors from throughout the country.

   Facilitator: Ricardo Sandoval Palos, Assistant City Editor, The Sacramento Bee
   Restaurant: Atrium at KQED, San Francisco
   Cuisine: Mexican buffet
   Price: $22; transportation fees: $15.30
   Number of people: 25
   Meeting place and time: front of the Sheraton, 5:30 p.m., train at 5:50 p.m., dinner at 7:30 pm
   Email: rsp1958@gmail.com Please do not change the subject line or remove the cc: to crigel@sej.org!
   
   

3. Paying for Climate Change: Following the Money
   Note: This dinner is filled.
   Projects which can make real greenhouse gas reductions cost real money — and lots of it. Where is that money coming from, who's really paying and how much? And, who's doing the accounting? The Pacific Forest Trust's Forest Climate Program promotes revenue streams that incent private landowners to not deforest or develop their land with the goal of sequestering carbon in healthy forest growth. PFT was actively engaged in the development of the CA Climate Action Registry's forest protocols and is working to secure its use as part of CA's climate change legislation. And last year Boulder, CO became the first US city to pass a municipal carbon tax to fund the city's climate action plan. How effective, viable, and accountable are these funding mechanisms, and others?
   Facilitators: Amy Gahran, Editor, BoulderCarbonTax.org and Laurie Wayburn, President, Pacific Forest Trust
   Restaurant: Osteria, 247 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, (650) 328-5700
   Cuisine: Italian
   Price range: $12-20
   Number of people: 8
   Meeting place and time: front of the Sheraton, 7:30 p.m.
   Email: amy@gahran.com Please do not change the subject line or remove the cc: to crigel@sej.org!
   
   
4. Colony Collapse Disorder: Bees and Buzz, Science and Spin
   Facilitator: Jim Downing, Business Writer, The Sacramento Bee
   Restaurant: Windy's, 168 University Ave., Palo Alto (650) 325-3188
   Cuisine: Chinese
   Price range: less than $15
   Number of people: 12
   Meeting place and time: front of the Sheraton, 7:30 p.m.
   Email: JDowning@sacbee.com Please do not change the subject line or remove the cc: to crigel@sej.org!
   
   
5. Preserving Scientific Integrity: Identifying Misuse and Abuse of Science
   Note: This dinner is filled.
   Facilitators: Peter Waldman, Portfolio, and Peter Gleick, Pacific Institute
   Restaurant: Esperpento, 3295 22nd Street (between Bartlett St. and Valencia St.), San Francisco, (415) 282-8867
   Cuisine: Spanish tapas
   Price range: $25-$35; transportation fees: $15.30
   Number of people: 20
   Meeting place and time: front of the Sheraton, 6:30 p.m. (train at 6:54 pm)
   Email: peter_waldman@condenast.com Please do not change the subject line or remove the cc: to crigel@sej.org!
   
   
6. Climate Change, Kids and Other Forest Issues: A Discussion with U.S. Forest Service Chief Gail Kimbell
   Facilitator: Don Hopey, Environment Reporter, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
   Location: Sheraton Palo Alto, Cypress Room
   Price: $30
   Number of people: 24
   Meeting place and time: 7:30 p.m.
   Email: dhopey@post-gazette.com Please do not change the subject line or remove the cc: to crigel@sej.org!
   
   
7. Are Small Fish Greener?
   Facilitator: Janet Raloff, Science News
   Restaurant: Bangkok Cuisine, 407 Lytton Avenue, Palo Alto, (650) 322-6533
   Cuisine: Thai
   Price range: Less than $15
   Number of people: 8
   Meeting place and time: front of the Sheraton, 7:30 p.m.
   Email: jar@sciserv.org Please do not change the subject line or remove the cc: to crigel@sej.org!
   
   
8. Writing Environmental and Nature Books for Kids: Keeping It Fun but Deep
   Note: This dinner is filled.
   At this dinner we will explore the role of children's books on general science literacy, the craft of writing a good children's book, age-appropriate topics in children's literature, and how to convey information to kids in a way that is fun but substantial.

   A children's book can often have more impact on society than an ephemeral newspaper or magazine article; children's book classics can stay in print for half a century or more and reach thousands or even millions of children, shaping values and culture. A League of Conservation Voters study found that adults got most of their environmental information from materials their children brought home from school. Hence, children's books can educate parents as well as their target audience. Information in children's books written on a third grade reading level is understandable to most adults and can play an important role in the general public's science literacy.

   When writing for children, it is essential to write on a level that is developmentally appropriate. Children second grade and under need to be allowed to experience that sense of wonder of the natural world — a joy and reverence for nature that can last a lifetime. From third grade and up, more serious environmental concerns can be introduced because children are then able to process more complex concepts and see subtleties rather than viewing everything in black and white, bad or good. They can write a good thoughtful letter, take action and make a difference rather than feel scared and frustrated by hearing about the earth's troubles and feeling they have no power to change things.

   In this dinner we will analyze environmental books that are age-appropriate and fun yet deep. We will discuss some age-old formulas mentioned in Joseph Campbell's books about myth and the Hero's Journey, and we will discuss why these formulas still work in societies that are very different from those that existed hundreds of years ago. And we will look at the role of anthropomorphization in books for younger children.

   Facilitator: Lynne Cherry, Center for Children's Environmental Literature
   Restaurant: Bangkok Cuisine, 407 Lytton Avenue, Palo Alto, (650) 322-6533
   Cuisine: Thai
   Price range: Less than $15
   Number of people: 8
   Meeting place and time: front of the Sheraton, 7:30 p.m.
   Email: lncherry@aol.com Please do not change the subject line or remove the cc: to crigel@sej.org!
   Note: This dinner is filled.
   
   
   

9. Thirsty? Climate Change's Global Impact on the Water You Drink
   Note: This dinner is filled.
   Most people don't think about water; they turn on a tap and clean water flows readily. But for more than 1.1 billion people around the world, water is a constant concern. Where will their next drink come from? Will it be clean? Will it last? As the discussion about global warming becomes more prevalent, it is clear that our changing climate will have an impact on water sanitation and water supplies around the world. Climate change is expected to account for about 20% of the global increase in water scarcity. We will discuss issues surrounding climate and water during this beat dinner.
   Facilitator: Monica Trauzzi, Environment and Energy TV
   Speakers: Jeff Albert, Aquaya Institute and Sweta Daga, Communications Manager, Global Water Challenge.
   Restaurant: Bella Luna, 233 University Ave., Palo Alto, (650) 322-1846
   Cuisine: Italian
   Price range: $12-20
   Number of people: 12
   Meeting place and time: front of the Sheraton, 7:30 p.m.
   Email: mtrauzzi@eande.tv Please do not change the subject line or remove the cc: to crigel@sej.org!
   
   
10. Turning around a Troubled Fishery — Enjoy the Catch of the Day at Half Moon Bay
    Note: This dinner is filled.
    The Sustainable Fisheries Group (SFG) is a new alliance with UC Santa Barbara and Environmental Defense. Its goals include fostering ecological gains for marine habitats and fish stocks while preserving fishing heritages and robust working waterfronts along the Pacific west coast.

    The SFG and others have been working with fishermen along California's central coast to transform the trawl groundfishery into a more sustainable and profitable fishery. In recent history, the preponderance of groundfish (a biologically diverse suite comprised of 82 species) have been harvested by 22 bottom trawlers that typically harvest large volumes of fish and sell at relatively low values. Much of the fish, such as black cod, was exported by plane to Asia. One of the primary goals of this new collaborative effort between SFG and local fishermen is to transition much of this fleet from trawling into more selective and finer scale gear — using hook and line, traps, and Scottish seines to harvest fish. This transition is now at a crucial mid-point, and serious discussions amongst various stakeholders have progressed. Efforts are underway to establish a groundfish harvesting cooperative comprised of fishermen and conservation NGOs — the first cooperative along the Pacific west coast.

    The Sustainable Fisheries Group invites journalists to meet two fishermen who port out of Half Moon Bay and are leading the charge to create this novel harvesting cooperative, and to learn about their vision for sustainable fishing. In addition, come enjoy dinner with us and sample the fishermen's freshly caught, sustainable seafood prepared by a local restaurant.

    Facilitators: Jon Christensen, Freelance Writer; Chuck Cook, Project Leader, The Sustainable Fisheries Group; Geoff Bettencourt, Boat Captain, Moriah Lee; and Steve Fitz, Boat Captain, Mr. Morgan
    Location: Half Moon Bay harbor. 90-minute discussion on the boats, then walk to dinner.
    Restaurant: Mezza Luna, 459 Prospect Way, Half Moon Bay, (650) 728-8108
    Cuisine: Sustainable seafood from the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
    Price range: $30
    Number of people: 6
    Meeting place and time: 4:30 p.m. departure. Meeting place TBD; facilitators will provide attendees with details on meeting place. Private van provided.
    Email: ccook@tnc.org Please do not change the subject line or remove the cc: to crigel@sej.org!
    Note: This dinner is filled.
    
    

11. Globetrotting for the Environment: Ways to Make Readers Care About Environmental Issues in Other Parts of the World
    Note: This dinner is filled.
    This popular restaurant never fails to pack 'em in. Caribbean small plate favorites include the black beans and plantains, the fried new potatoes and, of course, the sangria.
    Facilitator: Jim Carlton, The Wall Street Journal
    Restaurant: Cha Cha Cha, 2839 Mission Street (at 24th), San Francisco, (415) 282-0283
    Cuisine: Caribbean
    Price range: $15-$20; transportation fees: $15.30
    Number of people: 15
    Meeting place and time: front of the Sheraton, 6:30 p.m. (train at 6:54 pm)
    Email: Jim.Carlton@wsj.com Please do not change the subject line or remove the cc: to crigel@sej.org!
    
    
12. The Death of Environmentalism?
    In October 2004, Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus argued in an influential essay that environmentalism was incapable of dealing with global warming and should die so that a new ecological politics could be born. Now, Nordhaus and Shellenberger make their case for a new "politics of possibility" to replace the old "politics of limits" — from environmentalism to liberalism to conservatism — grounded in changing social values and an expansive new vision of the future.

    Shellenberger and Nordaus are managing directors of American Environics, a social values research and political strategy firm, and founders of the Breakthrough Institute. Their thinking is already reflected in several specific proposals introduced in Congress, from "The New Apollo Project" to "Health Care for Hybrids" to "Global Warming Preparedness," which have been championed by everyone from Sen. Barack Obama to Sen. Hillary Clinton. Their book will be released on October 4, 2007.

    Facilitators: Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus, authors of the forthcoming "Breakthrough: From the Death of Environmentalism to the Politics of Possibility"
    Restaurant: Chez Zucca, 541 Bryant Street, Palo Alto, (650) 369-0665
    Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Price range: $15-25. Dinner menu; dessert menu (MS Word files).
    Number of people: 15
    Meeting place and time: front of the Sheraton, 7:00 p.m.
    Email: PerryM@americanenvironics.com Please do not change the subject line or remove the cc: to crigel@sej.org!
    
    

13. Privatization of National Parks
    Facilitators: Audrey Cooper, San Francisco Chronicle, and Brian O'Neill, Superintendent, Golden Gate National Recreation Area
    Restaurant: Maya, 303 Second Street, San Francisco, (415) 543-2928
    Cuisine: modern Mexican
    Price range: $16-26, transportation fees: $15.30
    Number of people: 10
    Meeting place and time: front of the Sheraton, 6:30 p.m. (train at 6:54 pm)
    Email: Acooper@sfchronicle.com Please do not change the subject line or remove the cc: to crigel@sej.org!
    
    
14. Greening the Capitol
    Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tasked Dan Beard with making the U.S. House carbon neutral by the end of this Congress, and with reducing the House's energy consumption by 50 percent in 10 years. Dan will discuss the challenges surrounding taking a historic landmark and making it environmentally friendly. He can also talk about the trend underway to make government greener.
    Facilitator: Cheryl Hogue, Senior Reporter, Chemical & Engineering News
    Speaker: Dan Beard, Chief Administrative Officer, U.S. House of Representatives
    Restaurant: Nola's, 535 Ramona Street, Palo Alto, (650) 328-2722
    Cuisine: New Orleans
    Price range: $15-20
    Number of people: 12
    Meeting place and time: front of the Sheraton, 6:45 p.m.
    Email: c_hogue@acs.org Please do not change the subject line or remove the cc: to crigel@sej.org!

Here's a list of restaurants for those not attending beat dinners. Be sure to make a reservation for San Francisco restaurants.

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Saturday, September 8: Stanford University
Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center, 326 Galvez Street.
Stanford Graduate School of Business, 518 Memorial Way.
Memorial Auditorium, 551 Serra Mall.

Each year, SEJ welcomes a diverse group of attendees to its annual conference, including representatives of business, government and environmental groups as well as working journalists, academics and students. Because non-journalists are here, you may see or hear responses to presentations that you might not expect from mainstream journalists. Please bear in mind that these responses — like the presentations themselves — do not necessarily reflect the views of SEJ or any of its members.

Please note that SEJ members will be given preference in question-and-answer sessions.

DRAFT: All Information Subject to Change

7:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Breakfast Plenary:
The Big Picture: Using Satellite Imagery to Enhance Your Reporting
Preregistration and $25 fee required. See registration form.
7:00 - 7:30 a.m. — Join colleagues for a hearty buffet breakfast prior to the panel discussion.
7:30 - 8:45 a.m. — While traditional sources of information may be drying up, new sources are becoming more available. Not too many years ago, we had a phrase for hi-resolution satellite pictures: "Spy photos." Now, through Google Earth and other image providers, the images you would've once been jailed for possessing are now on your desktop, your TV set, your website, and in your newspaper. The not-so-quiet revolution in telling environmental stories through satellite and high-altitude pictures — through real-time data on floods, storms, and earthquakes — is in full swing. Join us for some eye-opening imagery, and listen to space shooters, data wranglers, and aggregators provide tips, insights, and success stories on integrating this high-flying technology into your stories.
Moderator: Peter Dykstra, Executive Producer, Science Technology and Environment, CNN
Speakers:
Luke Blair, Geologist and GIS Expert, Earthquake Hazards Team, U.S. Geological Survey
Mark Brender, Vice President for Marketing and Communications, GeoEye
Michael Jones, Chief Technology Officer, Google Earth
Location: McCaw Hall, Alumni Center

Concurrent Sessions 3
9:00 - 10:15 a.m.

THE CLIMATE:
Feverish Temperatures: Human Health on a Warmer Planet
We are entering an age of new, emerging diseases and older, reappearing ones. Until now, this has been but a subplot in the story of global warming. However, with climate change under way, heat waves, wildfires and tropical disease outbreaks will be producing unprecedented challenges for public health. Are temperature changes already redrawing the distribution of bacteria, insects and plants, and how is that affecting human health? How are governments responding?
Moderator: Francesca Lyman, Freelance Writer and Author, "The Greenhouse Trap: What We're Doing to the Atmosphere and How We Can Slow Global Warming"
Panelists:
Paul Epstein, Associate Director, Center for Health and the Global Environment, Harvard Medical School
Richard Jackson, Adjunct Professor, Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
Joel Scheraga, Director, Global Change Research, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Location: S-170, Stanford Graduate School of Business

THE OCEAN:
Coastlines and Estuaries: Awash in Urban Poisons
One of the biggest and most challenging threats to the health of coastal ecosystems is the foul concoction known as stormwater that flows off most every city's streets after any big rain. And the threat grows as urbanization continues and extreme weather events become more frequent. Experts will share strategies to manage stormwater impacts that are bound to worsen with climate change.
Moderator: Robert McClure, Staff Writer, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Panelists:
Derek Booth, Senior Geologist, Stillwater Sciences, Incorporated
Bruce Ferguson, Franklin Professor, Landscape Architecture, School of Environmental Design, University of Georgia
Laura Funkhouser, Marketing Manager, Forester Communications
Location: S-171, Stanford Graduate School of Business

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH:
Farm to Fork: Food Safety and Security
Industrial food production may have made groceries cheaper and allowed Americans to eat strawberries in January, but its hidden costs are starting to emerge: melamine in pet food, E. coli in spinach and human genes in rice. Come unpack the grocery cart and learn ways to help readers understand what's on their plates.
Moderator: Mike Lee, Environment Reporter, The San Diego Union-Tribune
Panelists:
Rob Atwill, Interim Director, Western Institute for Food Safety and Security, University of California, Davis
Dean Florez, Senator, State of California
Charles Margulis, Spokesperson, Center for Food Safety
Location: S-180, Stanford Graduate School of Business

ENERGY AND RESOURCES:
Future Fuels: How Far Can They Go?
If the petroleum era must pass, can alternative fuels do the job? Advocates and experts will assess the challenges and opportunities associated with leading "future fuels" such as biofuels, electricity in plug-in hybrids and EVs, coal synfuels and hydrogen. How much might each fuel slash petroleum demand and shrink carbon footprints over the next five, ten and twenty years? What barriers (societal, technical and otherwise) must be overcome to push them to large-scale? And just how green will alternative fuels look when they start flowing at the equivalent of a million barrels per day?
Moderator: Peter Fairley, Freelance Journalist
Panelists:
Mark Alexander, Program Manager, Electric Transportation, Electric Power Research Institute
Alex Farrell, Associate Professor of Energy and Resources, Director of the Transportation Sustainability Research Center, University of California, Berkeley
Joan Ogden, Co-Director, Hydrogen Pathways Program, Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis
Ernest Shea, 25x'25 Project Coordinator, Energy Future Coalition
Location: S-181, Stanford Graduate School of Business

THE GLOBE:
Invasive Species: From Ballast Water to Island Invaders
More than ever and faster than ever, people and products are moving between countries, carrying new threats to human health, agriculture and the environment. Exotic species of plants and animals stow away in cargo containers and the ballast water of ships, wreaking havoc on native species and disrupting the food chain in their expanded range. The Bush administration and the shipping industry face several lawsuits seeking tougher regulations to prevent species invasions. Congress, meanwhile, has been unable to figure out what to do about a problem that costs the United States billions of dollars every year.
Moderator: Michael Hawthorne, Reporter, Chicago Tribune
Panelists:
John Berge, Vice President, Pacific Merchant Shipping Association
Benjamin Grumbles, Assistant Administrator, Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Corry Westbrook, Legislative Director, National Wildlife Federation
Susan Williams, Director, Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California, Davis
Location: S-182, Stanford Graduate School of Business

THE POLICY:
Californians on the Front Lines: The Shifting Politics of the Environment
For the past few years West Coast politicians have been defying Washington, by adopting policies to address questions ranging from climate change to ocean depletion. Now, with Democrats in control of Congress, Capitol Hill has decided to imitate these environmental firebrands. Learn how these measures are changing the way America deals with its most pressing environmental challenges.
Moderator: Juliet Eilperin, Reporter, The Washington Post
Panelists:
Jay Inslee, Congressman, U.S. House of Representatives
Stuart Leavenworth, Associate Editor, The Sacramento Bee
Andrew Light, Associate Professor, Philosophy and Public Affairs and Chair, Environmental Studies Program, University of Washington
Fabian Núñez, California Assembly Speaker
Dorothy Rothrock, Vice President, Government Relations, California Manufacturers and Technology Association
Location: S-164 (Bishop Auditorium), Stanford Graduate School of Business

THE CRAFT I:
Computer Workshop: Mapping the Environment
If a picture is worth 1,000 words then a map is worth a bunch more. Mapping hot environmental stories goes back at least 150 years. But nowadays mapping software breaks environmental stories that blow readers away. And it's not just the pretty images. Learn to map and you'll uncover environmental stories that would not otherwise exist. This session includes hands-on training, trial software and other educational materials.
Presenter: Dave Poulson, Associate Director, Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, Michigan State University
Location: Arguello Labs (Address: 427 Arguello Way)

THE CRAFT II:
Disease Detectives: How to Train a Journalistic Eye on Environmental Causes of Illness
Every year, thousands of people call health departments, convinced something in the air, water or soil is making them or someone they know sick. But anyone who's seen "A Civil Action" knows that linking diseases to environmental contaminants can be difficult and deeply controversial. Learn how to report and write compelling, contextual stories by distinguishing what is an unusual disease cluster, understanding cutting-edge DNA fingerprinting research and when a newspaper should conduct its own testing and analysis.
Moderator: Beth Daley, Staff Reporter, The Boston Globe
Panelists:
Chris Bowman, Environment and Energy Reporter, The Sacramento Bee
Dan Fagin, Associate Professor of Journalism and Associate Director of the Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program, New York University
Julie Parsonnet, Professor, Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University
Location: S-161, Stanford Graduate School of Business

Beverage Break
10:15 - 10:45 a.m.
Location: Atrium, Stanford Graduate School of Business

Concurrent Sessions 4
10:45 a.m. - Noon

THE CLIMATE:
Which Way Out? Climate Policy and Politics in 2008 and Beyond
How much do global greenhouse emissions have to fall, by when, to avoid dangerous climate change? What policies will get us there? What are the political chances these policies will be implemented — locally, nationally, globally? What do we do about the climate impacts that are already unavoidable, and bound to intensify for decades to come? Hear four perspectives — from California, Europe, Washington, D.C., and Bangladesh — on where climate policy is heading post-Bush and post-Kyoto.
Moderator: Mark Hertsgaard, Author and Environment Correspondent, The Nation Magazine
Panelists:
Phillip Clapp, President, National Environmental Trust
Kate Hampton, Head of Policy, Climate Change Capital
Humayun Kabir, Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States
Fran Pavley, former Member, California State Assembly
Location: S-164 (Bishop Auditorium), Stanford Graduate School of Business

THE OCEAN:
A Rising Tide of Ocean Plagues
Sea lions and dolphins wash ashore sick or dead, poisoned by an algae-produced neurotoxin. Florida beaches and harbors are regularly littered with dead fish, manatees and other sea creatures. The dynamics of disease are changing, as previously harmless pathogens are becoming killers when combined with man-made contaminants. Some diseases are jumping species, wreaking havoc with wildlife or humans unprepared to handle new illnesses. All these are signs of a warmer, sicker world — one that is changing fast by industrial society.
Moderator: Ken Weiss, Environmental Writer, Los Angeles Times
Panelists:
Patricia Conrad, Professor of Parasitology, Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunobiology, University of California, Davis
Andrew Dobson, Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University
Frances Gulland, Director, Veterinary Science, The Marine Mammal Center
Location: S-171, Stanford Graduate School of Business

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH:
Building for Life: Land-Use Planning for Healthier Communities
Is sprawl killing us, and the planet, too? The nation's epidemic of obesity stems in large part from a lack of physical activity, but could where we live be affecting how much we walk, and weigh? Research has linked density and design of communities with personal activity and health. Denser communities also generate less driving — and fewer greenhouse gas emissions — per household, other research has shown. Hear varying perspectives on the research, and what planners, politicians and average citizens are doing in response.
Moderator: Tim Wheeler, Reporter, The Baltimore Sun
Panelists:
Reid Ewing, Associate and Research Professor, National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education, University of Maryland
Leonard Gilroy, Senior Policy Analyst, Reason Foundation
Katherine Perez, Vice President, Forest City Development, Los Angeles, CA
Ron Sims, King County Executive, Washington State
Location: S-180, Stanford Graduate School of Business

ENERGY AND RESOURCES:
Energy Subsidies: Winners and Losers
Your readers, listeners and viewers are paying more at the pump and on their electricity and heating bills. Maybe they'd like to know how government subsidies for various energy sectors play a role in pricing and supply of traditional fuels...and whether shifting subsidies could help alternative fuels...or efforts to reduce energy demand. Who's plugged into the subsidy pipeline and who's left holding the plug? We'll hear plain-talk analysis from economists, the private sector and subsidy skeptics.
Moderator: Chuck Quirmbach, Environment Reporter and Producer, Wisconsin Public Radio
Panelists:
Ralph Cavanagh, Senior Attorney and Energy Program Co-Director, Natural Resources Defense Council, San Francisco
Lawrence Goulder, Professor of Economics, Stanford University
Yvonne McIntyre, Vice President of Federal and Legislative Affairs, Calpine Corp.
Location: S-181, Stanford Graduate School of Business

THE GLOBE:
On the Green Beat in Asia
The future of the planet's environment may well be determined in Asia, home to 60 percent of the world's population and most of its fastest growing economies. How does the Asian media approach its environmental coverage, what obstacles do they face and how can they be overcome? Enjoy a frank discussion and the opportunity to network with journalists from abroad.
Moderator: James Fahn, Executive Director of Earth Journalism Network and Country Director of Thailand, Internews
Panelists:
Jim Detjen, Director, Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, Michigan State University
Liu Jianqiang, Reporter, Southern Weekend (China)
Harry Surjadi, Executive Director, Society of Indonesian Environmental Journalists
Location: S-182, Stanford Graduate School of Business

THE POLICY:
Green Chemistry: Toward a Less Toxic World
Join us in a discussion about the growing movement to replace hazardous chemicals with safer substances. What is Europe doing with its REACH? How has TSCA failed? And what are states and industries doing in the wake of it all? Nail polish without phthalates? Kitchen shelves without formaldehyde? Come hear what's in the works.
Moderator: Marla Cone, Environmental Writer, Los Angeles Times
Panelists:
John McIsaac, Director of Communications, Columbia Forest Products
Mark Schapiro, Editorial Director, Center for Investigative Reporting
Michael Wilson, Assistant Research Scientist, Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
Location: S-183, Stanford Graduate School of Business

THE CRAFT I:
Exploiting Databases: Environmental Indicators, Risk Screening and TRI
A little-known EPA database offers a super-powerful tool to reporters trying to explain the local impacts of toxic pollution. EPA's Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) spawned AP's December 2005 project, "Unhealthy Air," which generated local spin-offs in 30 states. This computer-lab session will include a free CD with the latest RSEI software and a hands-on introduction to its capabilities.
Moderator: Joseph Davis, Freelance Journalist and WatchDog Project Director/TipSheet Editor, Society of Environmental Journalists
Presenter: David Pace, Editor, The Associated Press
Location: Arguello Labs (Address: 427 Arguello Way)

THE CRAFT II:
Corporate-Created Environmental Education. An Oxymoron?
An abundance of corporate-sponsored materials are finding their way into the hands of school kids learning about the environment: coal coloring books absent mention of mountaintop mining, videos of clear-cuts as a necessary tool of forestry and genetically engineered foods as an answer to population growth. This panel will look at who the major purveyors of ecological curriculum are, and are they presenting accurate information?
Moderator: Lynne Cherry, Author and Director, Center for Children's Environmental Literature
Panelists:
John Borowski, Science Teacher, North Salem High School, Oregon
Allen Kanner, Ecopsychologist, Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood
Michael Sanera, Research Director and Local Government Analyst, John Locke Foundation
Location: S-161, Stanford Graduate School of Business

Lunch
Noon - 1:15 p.m.
We'll have a casual lunch at the Alumni Center and in Stanford's beautiful gardens and picnic areas, followed by the plenary session in the nearby Memorial Auditorium.
Location: McCaw Hall and Ford Gardens, Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center

Plenary: Toward a New Journalism
1:30 - 2:45 p.m.
Environmental journalists seem well poised to jump the digital divide and meet the growing demand for multi-platformed stories. Many of the best examples of multimedia reporting are coming off the Earth beat. Pioneers of new media — mainstreamers, nonprofits, onliners — will share their secrets.
Welcoming Remarks: James Bettinger, Director, John S. Knight Fellowships for Professional Journalists, Stanford University
Moderator: Judy Muller, Associate Professor of Journalism, Annenberg School of Communication, University of Southern California
Speakers:
Amy Gahran, Freelance Journalist
David Ledford, Executive Editor, The News Journal, Wilmington, Delaware
Tom Murphy, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, RedwoodAge.com
Vikki Porter, Director, Knight New Media Center, University of Southern California
Paul Rogers, Environment Writer, San Jose Mercury News and Managing Editor, KQED-TV "QUEST"
Location: Memorial Auditorium

IN THE FIELD
Mini-Tour Bonanza
3:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Sign up at the SEJ information table near registration beginning Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. for the mini-tour of your choice. Space is limited on each mini-tour.