The Blue Ridge near Abingdon, VA, looking eastward. Photo by Bill Kovarik.

SEJ's 18th annual conference is hosted by Virginia Tech University in Roanoke, VA, Wednesday-Sunday, October 15-19, 2008. The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center is SEJ's headquarters hotel for the 2008 annual conference ( maps and driving directions).

NOTE: This agenda is a draft only. All information is subject to change. Please check back often; details will be added as speakers confirm. Conference speakers and other information on SEJ's web agenda is posted as soon as it comes in. We will fact-check and edit later in the process. In the meantime, if you see misspellings or other errors, please alert SEJ web manager Cindy MacDonald.

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Wednesday, October 15
Thursday, October 16
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SEJ2008, SEJ's unofficial conference blog.

Kathy Mattea performs at Wednesday evening's Opening Reception. Click to enlarge.

AGENDA

SEJ's 2008 Annual Conference
officially begins Wednesday evening,
October 15, with a dinner reception,
special welcomes, and the
SEJ awards ceremony.

Sunday-Wednesday, October 12-15: The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center
110 Shenandoah Avenue, Roanoke, VA. Maps and driving directions.

Environmental Reporting Boot Camp
Whether you're new to the beat or a veteran wanting to bolster your toolbox, SEJ's second pre-conference boot camp offers something for everyone. Michigan State University's Knight Center for Environmental Journalism will train journalists at a three-day workshop in Roanoke. Boot Camp includes sessions on computer-assisted reporting, investigative techniques, writing, ethics, and topical issues. It includes the all-day Wednesday workshop (see below). Check MSU's Knight Center for details and application. July 28, 2008, deadline. NOTE: U.S. journalists of color can compete for full fellowships that also cover transportation to and from Roanoke.

Wednesday, October 15: The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center
110 Shenandoah Avenue, Roanoke, VA. Maps and driving directions.

Follow SEJ signs to the Shenandoah room, upper level.

Covering Climate Change and Our Energy Future in Rural America
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Follow SEJ signs to the Shenandoah room. Breakfast and lunch are included. Pre-registration and $60 fee required. SEJ members only.
The past, present, and future of coal in Appalachia and the southeastern United States — and therefore much of the nation's energy future — come into sharp focus in a penetrating, day-long analysis kicking off SEJ's annual conference at Virginia Tech.

From the scientific perspective on global climate change to the satellite perspective on changing land patterns; from the ins, outs, and maybes of carbon capture and sequestration, to the science, economics — and wrenching emotional aspects — of mountaintop removal strip-mining; from internationally recognized energy experts like Amory Lovins to a panel of expert journalists steeped in mining these stories....

It's part of a special, in-depth, day-long immersion into coal, climate and the interdependent future of both, sponsored by SEJ with the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, Virginia Tech, and the Yale Project on Climate Change\Yale Forum on Climate Change & The Media.

See below for a full agenda.

Registered reporters will head home with practical insights and expert news sources on issues that play right to the heart of their hometown audiences. Hear from leading regional and local reporters bringing collective decades of newsroom experience in covering and uncovering some of journalism's most compelling stories on energy, coal, and climate change.

All sessions will be at the Hotel Roanoke. Breakfast and lunch are included. Pre-registration and $60 fee required. SEJ members only. (Members: If you've already registered for the conference and wish to add this workshop to your registration, please call Convention Management Services at 800-878-5131 or 517-485-2309 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. EDT.)

Reporting TODAY on America's Emerging Energy Future: Coal, Climate Change, and Energy Options in a Time of Extraordinary Change

8:00 - 8:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast and Registration

8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Program Overview and Introductions
Emcee: Bud Ward, Editor, The Yale Forum on Climate Change & The Media

9:00 - 9:35 a.m.
The Climate Challenge: Setting the Context for Considering our Energy Future Options
Speaker: Jacob Sewall, Assistant Professor of Geosciences, College of Science, Virginia Tech

9:35 - 10:15 a.m.
What on Earth? Observed Changes in Land Features in North America and Eastern U.S. as Shown by Satellite Images
Speaker: Kirsten de Beurs, Assistant Professor of Geography, College of Natural Resources, Virginia Tech

10:15 - 10:30 a.m.
Refreshment Break

10:30 a.m. - Noon
Mountaintop Removal in Context
Moderator: Ken Ward Jr., Reporter, The Charleston Gazette
Speakers: Gene Kitts, Senior Vice President, Mining Services, International Coal Group; Joe Lovett, Executive Director, Appalachian Center for the Economy & the Environment; Ben Stout, Associate Professor of Biology, Wheeling Jesuit University

Noon - 12:45 p.m.
Lunch and Informal Discussion

12:45 - 1:25 p.m.
Winning the Oil Endgame: Principles of and Progress Toward an Oil-Free America
Speaker: Amory Lovins, Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Scientist, Rocky Mountain Institute. Presentation materials.

1:25 - 2:05 p.m.
Exploring Carbon Sequestration: Potential Options
Speaker: Jim Dooley, Senior Scientist, Joint Global Change Research Institute

2:05 - 2:45 p.m.
Future Energy
Speaker: David Roper, Professor Emeritus of Physics, College of Science, Virginia Tech

2:45 - 3:00 p.m.
Refreshment Break

3:00 - 3:40 p.m.
Winning the Coal Endgame: The NegaWatt and Micropower Revolutions
Speaker: Amory Lovins, Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Scientist, Rocky Mountain Institute. Presentation materials.

3:40 - 4:45 p.m.
Reporters and Editors Roundtable
Speakers: James Bruggers, Environmental Reporter, The (Louisville) Courier-Journal; Robert Byers, City Editor, The Charleston Gazette

4:45 p.m.
Concluding Remarks and Adjournment

Location: Shenandoah Room

Registration
2:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Please check in at registration upon arrival to obtain your conference materials and name badge, which you will need to access events, including tonight's opening reception and awards presentation. Sign up for computer lab sessions, beat dinners and mini-tours at the nearby SEJ table. If you didn't sign up ahead of time for the Saturday breakfast session, Saturday evening party or the Sunday morning breakfast and program, there may still be room — please check at registration.
Location: North Entry Foyer, ballroom level

Scientists Poster Session
2:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Come down early and meet with Virginia Tech scientists to get an inside peek at their environmental research. Posters will cover such topics as forestry and carbon exchange, wood waste for energy, passive thermal building construction, lemurs and their predators in Madagascar, value-added products from the Blue Ridge forest, recycling of used pallets into flooring and other products, fisheries and wildlife issues, bird habitats on reclaimed mine lands in Virginia, and much more.
Location: Roanoke Foyer, ballroom level

Meet the Authors
3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Join friends and meet SEJ's renowned authors at this informal gathering. We'll have coffee tables and easy chairs, and the Virginia Tech bookstore will have a pile of books on display and for sale. Listen to short readings, chat with the authors and get your books signed. Cash bar.
Location: Roanoke Foyer, ballroom level

Virginia Tech Bookstore
3:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Visit our onsite bookstore, compliments of Virginia Tech. At the store, you'll find a wide variety of books published by SEJ members, invited speakers and Virginia Tech professors. Also available will be a selection of Virginia Tech logo merchandise. There will be a schedule of author book signings in your registration packet.
Location: Roanoke Foyer, ballroom level

Name badges are required for all events.

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, left, and West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin will welcome conference attendees to the Appalachian region during Wednesday's reception. Photo by Steven Wayne Rotsch, West Virginia Governor's Office. Click to enlarge.

Opening Reception and Dinner
5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Virginia Governor Tim Kaine and West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin will welcome us to the region, with dinner and drinks at this grand, historic, and beautifully restored railroad hotel, the site of most conference activities this year. Joining them to welcome SEJ members to Appalachia will be Grammy Award-winning country singer Kathy Mattea. This West Virginia native will entertain us with a couple of songs from "Coal," her current album of traditional mining songs. This evening's dinner reception and awards ceremony are sponsored by Animal Planet and Planet Green.
Location: Roanoke Ballroom

SEJ Awards for Reporting on the Environment
8:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Philippe and Alexandra Cousteau, grandchildren of the legendary ocean explorer, present SEJ plaques to the winners in the most comprehensive environmental journalism competition in the world. Come see highlights from 234 entries in newspapers, television, radio, online, print, and a new Rachel Carson Book Award. Co-hosted by SEJ board member and NBC Miami reporter Jeff Burnside, this year's SEJ awards gala will be one you won't want to miss.
Location: Roanoke Ballroom

The Late Show: This year, SEJ will feature the premier showings of two movies and a short preview of a new television documentary series. The shows start Wednesday night and continue Thursday and Friday.

Cousteaus: Continuing a Legacy (Documentary Sneak Peek)
9:15 - 10:30 p.m.
Philippe and Alexandra Cousteau share intimate stories of their father, Philippe Sr., and their work to continue his legacy. They will discuss life in one of the most important families in environmental conservation, which was led by their grandfather, Jacques Cousteau. The evening will include a preview of "Oceans," a High Definition Discovery Channel/BBC co-production premiering in the fall of 2008 that explores the state of our world's oceans and major seas. From Mexico across to Eritrea, the Arctic down to Tasmania, Philippe and his team plied the waters of every ocean on the planet exploring and documenting their mysteries.
Moderator: Jeff Burnside, Special Projects Reporter, WTVJ NBC 6 News, Miami
Speakers:
Alexandra Cousteau, Co-Founder, EarthEcho International, and Founder, Blue Legacy
Philippe Cousteau, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, EarthEcho International
Location: Roanoke Ballroom

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Thursday, October 16: In the field, The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center
110 Shenandoah Avenue, Roanoke, VA. Maps and driving directions.

DRAFT: All Information Subject to Change

Registration
6:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Please check in at registration upon arrival to obtain your conference materials and name badge, which you will need to access events. Sign up for computer lab sessions, beat dinners and mini-tours at the nearby SEJ table. If you didn't sign up ahead of time for the Saturday breakfast session, Saturday evening party or the Sunday morning breakfast and program, there may still be room — please inquire at registration.
Location: North Entry Foyer, ballroom level

Day Tours:
Location: Departure from North Entry Courtyard just outside Registration.
Advance registration is required for all Thursday tours. Attendance on each tour is strictly limited, so registering early is important. Departure times vary (see below), but all Thursday tours will return to the Hotel Roanoke about 5:00 p.m. For those looking for some exercise, tours 6, 7, and 8 are your best options. Other tours involve moderate exercise. Tours 5 and 9 are best suited for wheelchair accessibility (contact SEJ headquarters, 215-884-8174, for details). Please dress for outdoors and bring rain gear. A good pair of walking shoes and extra water are always helpful!
Name badges are required for all events.

After the tours, buses will drop attendees near the registration area. Exhibitors will be set up for your first look and independent receptions will be ready and waiting with hors d'oeuvres, drinks, good chat and press kits. Wander down the hallways and into the ballrooms to enjoy these exhibits and receptions.

Almost Level 1: Cutting Down Mountains for Coal

Kayford Mountain, about an hour south of Charleston, WV. Notice how the massive dragline is dwarfed by the scale of the operation. Photo by Vivian Stockman, OHVEC. Click to enlarge.

6:00 a.m. departure, lunch included, $30 fee
Larry Gibson's piece of Kayford Mountain used to be the lowest peak for miles. Now it's the highest. There's no better place to see the effects of mountaintop removal coal mining — a practice that is feeding a growing demand for coal and leveling wide stretches of Appalachia. See an active mine and hear from people who live near the mines and the processing plants and coal trucks that serve them. See mine reclamation and hear from industry representatives who'll tell you why what they're doing is good and necessary. Driving time — 6 hours total. But there will be beautiful scenery, informative speakers, and documentaries on the way. Also, see related event: Mountaintop Removal Flyovers, available to SEJ members from independent sponsors Friday and Saturday.
Tour Leaders:
James Bruggers, Environmental Reporter, The (Louisville) Courier-Journal
Tim Thornton, former Growth and Environment Reporter, The Roanoke Times
Speakers:
Judy Bonds, Co-Director, Coal River Mountain Watch
Jason Bostic, Vice President, West Virginia Coal Association
Theresa Burriss, Assistant Professor of English and Appalachian Studies, and Director of the Learning Assistance and Resource Center, Radford University
Larry Gibson, Keeper of the Mountain
Chris Hamilton, Senior Vice President, West Virginia Coal Association
Andrew Jordon, President, Pritchard Mining's Four-Mile Mine
Deborah Murray, Senior Attorney, Southern Environmental Law Center
Bill Raney, President, West Virginia Coal Association
LaJuana Wilcher, Attorney, English Lucas Priest & Owsley, LLP; former Secretary, KY Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet; and former Assistant Administrator for Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Carl Zipper, Director, Powell River Project

What Are Forests Worth? What Are They For? Can We Sustain Them?
7:00 a.m. departure, lunch included, $30 fee
The southern Appalachians provide a rare look at the changing face of America's forests. Walk onto an acre that was traditionally property of companies like International Paper nowadays and you're likely to find it's owned by something called a REIT or a TIMO... or maybe just some guy named Bob. See how foresters, community groups, and others are spurring a new take on sustainable forestry; how the U.S. Forest Service struggles to balance recreation demands with timber operations; how invasive species are literally eating away Appalachian hillsides; and how emerging "niche" forest products could bolster rural communities. Driving time — 3 hours total.
Tour Leaders:
Robert McClure, Staff Writer, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Kevin Miller, Environmental Reporter, Bangor Daily News
Speakers:
Charles and Marilyn Barnes, Family Foresters and Farmers, Cove Branch Farm
David Carr Jr., Director, Public Lands Program, Southern Environmental Law Center
Jim Chamberlain, Researcher, Southern Research Station, U.S. Forest Service
Ted Coffman, Recreation Staff Officer, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, U.S. Forest Service
Tom Fox, Associate Professor of Forestry, Virginia Tech, and Co-Director, Forest Nutrition Research Cooperative, North Carolina State University/Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Todd Gartner, Manager, Conservation Incentives, American Forest Foundation
Bruce Hull, Professor of Forestry, Virginia Tech
Russ MacFarland, Forester, U.S. Forest Service
Tom McAvoy, Lab Specialist, Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech
David Muhly, Regional Staff, Appalachian Regional Office, Sierra Club
Robert Olszewski, Vice President, Corporate and Environmental Affairs, Plum Creek Timber Company
Mark Wagstaff, Associate Professor, Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism, Radford University
Larry Wiseman, Executive Director, American Forest Foundation

Healthy Food Shed

Polyface cattle grazing. Photo courtesy Polyface Farm. Click to enlarge.

7:30 a.m. departure, lunch included, $30 fee
In the wake of global warming concerns and food-borne illness outbreaks that could be partly the result of growing and processing methods used in industrialized agriculture, consumers are starting to pay attention to how their food is raised and how far it travels. Farmer, writer, and speaker Joel Salatin is the poster child of the local food and farming movement. We'll visit Salatin's 550-acre diversified Polyface Farm in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley and find out why his spread is, in the words of Michael Pollan, "one of the most productive and sustainable farms in America." And we'll hear from other industrious farmers, policymakers and folks serving up everything from food to fiber to fuel in their communities. Finally, we'll take a trip back in time as we visit the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia (where we'll enjoy lunch on Chipotle, a chain restaurant committed to sourcing food locally) and have the opportunity to explore the diverse food ways and farming techniques of the first European settlers to the region as well as the slaves brought over from Africa by force. (We'll even get a chance to sample, and take home, some 300-year-old pre-slavery Nigerian recipes.) Driving time — 3 hours total.
Note: This tour is filled — waiting list only.
Tour Leaders:
Joseph Davis, Freelance Journalist and WatchDog Project Director/TipSheet Editor, Society of Environmental Journalists
Christine Heinrichs, Freelance Writer
Dan Sullivan, Senior Editor, The New Farm, Rodale Institute
Speakers:
Eric Bendfeldt, Area Specialist for Community Viability, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech
Tanya Denckla Cobb, Senior Associate, Institute for Environmental Negotiation
Lyle Estill, Co-Founder, Piedmont Biofuels
Umebe Onyejekwe, Consultant, Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia
Phil Petrilli, Northeast Region Operations Director, Chipotle
Craig Russell, President, Society for Preservation of Poultry Antiquities
Joel Salatin, Farmer, Writer and Food Activist, Polyface Farm
Andy Sarjahani, Director of Sustainability for Housing/Dining, Virginia Tech

A National Treasure at Peril — the Blue Ridge Parkway

Mabry Mill. Photo courtesy FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Click to enlarge.

8:00 a.m. departure, lunch included, $30 fee
Why are the Blue Ridge Mountains "blue"? Join us for the answer, traveling along lush ridgetops that were over-forested in the 1900s to the most photographed site on the parkway, Mabry Mill. The early 1900s community-gathering place today operates as a restored gristmill, sawmill, and blacksmith shop. As the parkway approaches its 75th anniversary, however, America's Favorite Scenic Drive faces environmental issues and federal budgetary shortfalls resulting in 57 unfilled staff positions. Air pollution emanates from coal-fired power sources, the mighty hemlocks are dying, and flourishing development blocks scenic views. Driving time — about 4 hours total.
Tour Leaders:
Tom Denton, former Editorial Page Editor, The Roanoke Times
Don Hopey, Environment Reporter, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Dan Smith, Editor, Valley Business FRONT
Speakers:
Mary Bishop, former Reporter, The Roanoke Times, The Charlotte Observer and The Philadelphia Inquirer
Gregory Brown, Vice President, FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway
Tom Cain, Executive Director, Impact + Amplify
Rupert Cutler, retired City Councilman and official in the Carter Administration
Phil Francis, Superintendent, Blue Ridge Parkway, National Park Service
Catharine Gilliam, Virginia Program Manager, National Parks Conservation Association
David Hill, Landscape Architect and Principal, Hill Studio
Nancy McGehee, Associate Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Virginia Tech
Frank Radford, President, Prudential Radford Realtors
Billy Weitzenfeld, Executive Director, Association of Energy Conservation Professionals

Old River, New Challenge

Two Thursday tours (#6 & 7) offer attendees canoeing and/or kayaking opportunities. Photo of Nick Kovarik by Bill Kovarik.

8:30 a.m. departure, lunch included, $55 fee
The New River, a misnomer if ever there was one, is one of the world's oldest rivers. It's also among the most beautiful. We'll paddle canoes six to eight miles past towering cliffs and rolling meadows. At the put-in, ecologists from Virginia Tech will conduct an electro-fishing demonstration and provide a brief presentation of the New's diverse aquatic species. After taking out, we'll drive a short distance downstream to where the local power company is planning to landfill coal-fired power plant ash in the floodplain of the New. Speakers will address the controversial issue of managing coal combustion residues. Note: You will encounter mild whitewater rapids on this run. Basic canoeing skills preferred. Driving time — 3 hours total.
Tour Leaders:
Gene Dalton, Freelance Writer and Photographer
John Manuel Jr., Freelance Writer
Speakers:
Paul Angermeier, Professor, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Tech
Nathaniel Hitt, Research Associate, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Tech
Tim Mallan, Manager, Environmental Affairs, American Electric Power
James McGrath, Chair, Concerned Citizens of Giles County
George Santucci, Executive Director, National Committee for the New River
Britt Stoudenmire, Concerned Citizens of Giles County, and Canoe the New Outfitters

Journey Down the James
9:00 a.m. departure, lunch included, $55 fee
Follow the E. coli and nutrient trail from mountain farms to the Chesapeake Bay on a canoe journey down the James River. You'll hear how nutrient and sediment runoff impacts water quality for everyone. You'll also see why farming in the mountains affects the bay hundreds of miles downstream as you paddle down about 10 miles of river through farmland and pristine forest. This trip is suitable for beginners, but expect to be on the water between four and six hours with several breaks. Canoes and a limited number of kayaks are available. Driving time — 2 hours total.
Tour Leaders:
Dina Cappiello, Environment/Energy Reporter, The Associated Press
Sarah Watson, Reporter, The (Lynchburg, VA) News & Advance
Speakers:
Arthur Butt, TMDL Modeling Coordinator, Watershed Programs, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Anne Marie Clarke, Watershed Coordinator, Robert E. Lee Soil & Water Conservation District
Robert Curd, Beef Cattle Farmer, Amherst County, VA
Amanda Gray, Water Planning Engineer, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Timothy Mitchell, Director of Utilities, City of Lynchburg
David Sligh, Upper James Riverkeeper, James River Association
Ken Smith, President, Virginia Waterman's Association

The Appalachian Trail — Land with a Past
9:30 a.m. departure, lunch included, $30 fee
Like great chunks of the Appalachian Trail, which goes from Georgia to Maine, the roughly 11 miles of the trail's Catawba Ridge section pass over land that once held buildings. The jewel of this ridge is a rocky overlook, McAfee Knob, federally protected since 1987. The trail protection project marked a backward progression of sorts, from developed to backcountry — a reclamation of industrial and residential lands. Come and hike the trail to McAfee Knob and see the Catawba Valley below, which is slowly being invaded by houses. "See" what used to be on the trail — houses, a swimming pool, hunting camps. At the top, try your hand at geocaching, the latest backcountry enterprise. Hiking distance: 7 miles round-trip. Driving time — 1.5 hours total.
Tour Leaders:
Amy Gahran, Freelance Journalist
Christine Woodside, Freelance Journalist
Speakers:
Clem Henriksen, Geographic Information System (GIS) Professional and Market Analyst, ESRI
Roger Holnback, Executive Director, Western Virginia Land Trust
George Kegley, retired Reporter, The Roanoke Times
Jeffrey Marion, Field Station Leader, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey and Adjunct Professor, Department of Forestry, Virginia Tech
David Startzell, Executive Director, Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Nuclear Power — from Ore to Volts
10:00 a.m. departure, lunch included, $30 fee
There are five stages in the life of nuclear power: mining, processing ore, enrichment of uranium to commercial or weapons grade, fuel fabrication, and utilization in a nuclear power plant. This tour covers the nuclear cycle with visits encompassing three of these stages. We'll visit a 1,000-acre farm proposed as the U.S.'s first uranium mine outside the Southwest. Next, we tour a fuel fabrication facility and a full-scale nuclear plant training center, owned by the French nuclear giant AREVA NP Inc. We'll watch an actual production run, from delivery of the enriched uranium through to the completion of 12-foot-long nuclear fuel rods that power the nation's 104 commercial reactors. At the training center, we will see the inside of a nuclear power plant, with full-sized cutaways of steam generators, reactors, and other equipment. Background materials on SEJ2008, the unofficial conference blog. Driving time — 3 hours total.
Tour Leaders:
Thomas Henry, Environmental Writer, The (Toledo) Blade
Dan Radmacher, Editorial Page Editor, The Roanoke Times
Roger Witherspoon, Contributing Editor, US Black Engineer and Information Technology
Speakers:
Joseph Aylor, Chief Geologist, Virginia Uranium, Inc.
Jim Beard, Curator of Earth Sciences, Virginia Museum of Natural History and Adjunct Professor of Geology, Virginia Tech
Eliot Brenner, Director of Public Affairs, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Andrew Cook, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Areva
Linda Gunter, Media and Development Director, Beyond Nuclear
Jeffrey Johnston, Dan River Basin Association and retired Geologist
Ronald Land, Vice President of Manufacturing, Areva
David Lochbaum, Director, Nuclear Safety Project, Union of Concerned Scientists
Mick Mastilovic, Vice President of Operations, Virginia Uranium, Inc.
Luis Reyes, Regional Administrator, Region II U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office, Atlanta, GA
Norm Reynolds, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Virginia Uranium, Inc.
Walter Simms, Technical Training Center Supervisor, Areva
Katherine Slaughter, Senior Attorney, Southern Environmental Law Center and Virginia special projects, former Mayor of Charlottesville, and founding member and former President of Virginia Conservation Network

Independent Hospitality Receptions and Exhibitor Sneak Peek
5:00 - 9:00 p.m.
After a day of adventure, wind down with old friends and new acquaintances in the maze of exhibits and receptions throughout the ballroom level. Wine and dine with environment and technology exhibitors and independent hosts. Festivities kick off immediately following your return from tours. (Lists of receptions and exhibitors will be in your registration folder.)
Location: Crystal Ballrooms, Roanoke Ballrooms, Roanoke Foyer, Crystal/Roanoke Shared Foyer, Crystal Foyer

"Appalachia" with Ross Spears and Jamie Ross (Documentary Premier)
9:15 - 10:30 p.m.
"Appalachia: A History of Mountains and People" chronicles the riveting history of one of the world's oldest mountain ranges and the diverse peoples who have inhabited it. The series, narrated by Sissy Spacek, will air on PBS in 2009. Attendees will see episode three of the four-part series, "Mountain Revolutions," at the premier.
Location: Washington Lecture Hall, conference level

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Friday, October 17: The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center
110 Shenandoah Avenue, Roanoke, VA. Maps and driving directions.

As a journalism organization that believes in an open society, SEJ each year welcomes a diverse group of attendees to our annual conference. Attendees include 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 presentations or responses to presentations that you might not expect from mainstream journalists. The presentations and any responses do not necessarily reflect the views of SEJ or any of its members.

As our guest, we would ask you to respect our interest in open discussions of environmental issues by thanking all participants in sessions you attend and not disrupting presentations of views you disagree with.

Finally, please respect our rule that SEJ members are given preference during question-and-answer sessions.

DRAFT: All Information Subject to Change

All day, 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

• Registration
  If you didn't pre-register for the Saturday breakfast session, Saturday evening party or the Sunday morning breakfast and program, there may still be room — please inquire at registration.
  Location: North Entry Foyer, ballroom level
• SEJ Information Table
  Sign up here for computer lab sessions, beat dinners and mini-tours. Find information about membership and services, pick up copies of SEJournal, TipSheet, FOI WatchDog and other publications.
  Location: North Entry Foyer, ballroom level

All Day Exhibits
7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Come and browse the wealth of information in this year's exhibits. Talk with experts about their hopes for new environmentally friendly innovations. Learn about educational opportunities. Add to your list of sources. Browse through winners of SEJ's Awards for Reporting on the Environment and other member work in the Reading Room. You'll find a list of exhibitors here, as well as in your registration folder.
Location: Roanoke Foyer, Crystal/Roanoke Shared Foyer, Crystal Foyer

Virginia Tech Bookstore
7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Visit our onsite bookstore, compliments of Virginia Tech. At the store, you'll find a wide variety of books published by SEJ members, invited speakers and Virginia Tech professors. Also available will be a selection of Virginia Tech logo merchandise. There will be a schedule of author book signings in your registration packet.
Location: Roanoke Foyer, ballroom level

Name badges are required for all events.

A valley fill looms above a small community in southern West Virginia. Photo by Vivian Stockman, OHVEC. Flyover courtesy SouthWings. Click to enlarge.

Mountaintop Removal Flyovers
The Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition is teaming up with SouthWings to give journalists a bird's-eye view of one of the most environmentally controversial industry practices in Appalachia. Volunteer pilots will fly participants from the Roanoke Regional Airport into West Virginia for a loop around the coalfields. Morning and afternoon flights are planned for Friday and a morning flight on Saturday, all weather permitting. The tour takes about 3 hours. Space very limited. SEJ members only. Cost: $40, payable to Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition. Participants register in advance and schedule a flight time with OHVEC's Tonya Adkins, 606-286-1442. For more information on the independent organizers of this tour, visit SouthWings and OHVEC. Registration deadline is September 15. Extended to October 10th!

Breakfast with Exhibitors/Craft Breakout Sessions
7:00 - 8:45 a.m.
Join us bright and early for continental breakfast with exhibitors and green technology enthusiasts. Browse the exhibits and talk with experts about a myriad of environmental issues. Then join your colleagues for roundtable discussions on a wide range of craft-related topics (see below).
Location: Roanoke Foyer, Crystal Foyer, Crystal Ballroom

Breakout Breakfast Sessions:
7:30 - 8:45 a.m.
The following four breakouts, concurrent with the Exhibitor Breakfast above, will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, except number four, which is sign-up on site.

1. Making the Science Sing: A Multimedia Workshop for Journalists, Communicators and Researchers
   This breakfast session will take a case-study approach. We'll take a close-up look at a recent piece of environmental research that got heavy coverage in the press. What happened? What are the proper roles of journalists, public-relations practitioners and scientists in translating the rarified language of peer-reviewed science for mass audiences? How are those roles changing with the rise of the Internet? We'll look at all the hits and misses in the coverage of a high-profile study, and will identify lessons to guide future coverage of cutting-edge science.
   Moderator: Dan Fagin, Director, Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program, New York University
   Speakers:
   Sandy Bauers, Environment Reporter, The Philadelphia Inquirer
   Ben Halpern, Project Coordinator, Ecosystem-based Management Program, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California, Santa Barbara
   John Nielsen, former Environment Correspondent, National Public Radio, and Author, Condor: To the Brink and Back — The Life and Times of One Giant Bird
   Location: Crystal Ballroom E



2. Covering Tragedies and Disasters: Trauma on Both Sides of the Pen, Computer and Camera
   Whether you're covering a campus shooting or the worst hurricane in U.S. history, the victims of trauma can be both the subjects of news stories and reporters covering them. A reporter will explain the difficulties of treating hurricane victims with respect while still getting the stories. A Virginia Tech official will discuss the challenges of protecting his school's shooting victims while attempting to meet the media's demands. And an expert on the effects of disasters on journalists will discuss the pitfalls trauma poses for both journalists and those they cover, and what can be done about it.
   Moderator: Mark Schleifstein, Environment Reporter, The Times-Picayune
   Speakers:
   Donna Alvis-Banks, The Roanoke Times
   Lawrence Hincker, Associate Vice President, University Relations, Virginia Tech
   Location: Crystal Ballroom A and B



3. How to Be Your Own FOIA Lawyer
   Never filed a public records request and want to learn how? Filed one and decided it took too long to get a response? Been turned down and want to know how to fight for the records you want? In this now-traditional SEJ session, a law professor and a former government FOIA officer will teach you all you need to know.
   Moderator: Rebecca Daugherty, former Director, FOI Service Center, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and Board Liaison, SEJ First Amendment Task Force
   Speakers:
   Richard Huff, former Co-Director, Office of Information and Privacy, U.S. Department of Justice
   Patrick McGinley, Judge Charles H. Haden Professor of Law, West Virginia University College of Law
   Location: Crystal Ballroom C



4. Newsmaker Breakfast: 2009 Energy Policy Legislation
   U.S. Congressman Rick Boucher, chair of the House Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee, discusses climate change, carbon capture, and clean air legislation pending before his subcommittee and the full House Energy and Commerce Committee in the 110th Congress starting January 2009. Seating limited. SEJ members only. Sign up in advance near the SEJ information table.
   Moderator: Darren Samuelsohn, Senior Reporter, Greenwire
   Speakers:
   Congressman Rick Boucher, Chair, Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee, U.S. House of Representatives
   Eugene Trisko, Counsel, United Mine Workers of America
   Location: Crystal Ballroom D

Welcoming Remarks
9:00 - 9:15 a.m.
Emcees: SEJ's 2008 Conference Co-Chairs Bill Kovarik, Professor, School of Communication, Radford University and Ken Ward Jr., Reporter, The Charleston Gazette
Welcome: Charles Steger, President, Virginia Tech, and U.S. Congressman Rick Boucher of Virginia
Location: Roanoke Ballroom

Opening Plenary
Old King Coal: What's His Role in America's Energy Future?
9:15 - 10:30 a.m.
Coal provides half of America's electricity and is the nation's most abundant domestic fuel source. But burning coal is a major source of greenhouse gases. And mining coal takes a toll on workers, mountains, streams, and forests. What role can — and should — coal have in the nation's future energy diet? Experts on all sides will debate the issue.
Moderator: Bob Edwards, Host, The Bob Edwards Show, XM Satellite Radio
Speakers:
Nick Akins, Executive Vice President for Generation, American Electric Power
Jeff Goodell, Journalist and Author, Big Coal: The Dirty Secret Behind America's Energy Future
Fredrick Palmer, Senior Vice President of Government Relations, Peabody Energy
Cindy Rank, Mining Committee Chair, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy
Location: Roanoke Ballroom

Beverage Break
10:30 - 10:45 a.m.
Location: Roanoke Foyer, Crystal Foyer

Concurrent Sessions 1
10:45 a.m. - Noon

COAL
Almost Level: Mountaintop Removal Overview
Over the past 20 years, coal operators have blasted the tops off countless Appalachian mountains, and buried more than 700 miles of streams with the leftover rock and dirt. Environmental groups and many scientists say the practice is destroying sensitive mountain streams and diverse forests. Coal industry officials and most regional politicians say mountaintop removal provides much needed jobs, flattens the land for future development and really isn't that bad on the environment. Hear from all sides in this lively overview of the most controversial environmental issue in the region.
Moderator: Greg Collard, News Director, WFAE, Charlotte, NC
Panelists:
Steven Gardner, President, Engineering Consulting Services
Wade Gilley, former Chairman, West Virginia Governor's Task Force on Mountaintop Removal
Jack Spadaro, Mining Engineer, Government Whistleblower and Activist
Location: Buck Mountain Room

ENERGY
Must We Grow? The Tensions Between Consumerism and Saving the Planet
As hybrid SUVs and carbon-neutral air travel flood the marketplace, it's not clear if we are getting enough environmental good out of all the greenness we are buying. Can a consumer by definition even be considered green? Is a shopping-oriented society environmentally sustainable? We'll explore what going green means and what needs to happen to get the global economy in step with the environment.
Moderator: Beth Daley, Staff Reporter, The Boston Globe
Panelists:
James Barrett, Executive Director, Redefining Progress
Scot Case, Vice President, TerraChoice Environmental Marketing Inc.
Brian Czech, President, Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy
Location: Crystal Ballroom A

THE CLIMATE
Climate Change and Agriculture
Global warming is already having a significant impact on how we produce our food worldwide. Regions that currently face the most difficult challenges feeding their populations are most likely to be hit hardest as the planet heats up. Some agriculture and development experts say the answer lies in more Green Revolution-type technology, while others argue for a more whole-systems approach that addresses long-term sustainability. Does the answer lie in biotechnology? Precision farming? Eschewing petroleum-based chemicals for a more biological approach? Embracing indigenous knowledge? Come help us find the answers.
Moderator: Dennis Dimick, Executive Editor, National Geographic Magazine
Panelists:
Theo Dillaha, Professor of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, and Program Director, Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management Collaborative Research Support Program
William Hohenstein, Director, Global Climate Change Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Jeffrey Moyer, Farm Director, Rodale Institute and Vice Chair, Crops Committee, National Organic Standards Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Location: Crystal Ballroom E

THE WATER
Can This Bay Be Saved?
Billions of taxpayer dollars have been spent on cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay, North America's largest and historically most productive estuary. The compact between the federal government and the states bordering the bay is often held up as a model of regional collaboration to correct environmental problems. Yet the Chesapeake's water quality today is little better than it was when the effort began 25 years ago. Why not? Hear from veterans of the long-running restoration struggle about the political, scientific and demographic hurdles they've encountered in trying to bring back the bay, and what portents this saga may hold for saving the nation's other coastal ecosystems.
Moderator: Tim Wheeler, Reporter, The Baltimore Sun
Panelists:
Richard Batiuk, Associate Director for Science, Chesapeake Bay Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Bill Street, Executive Director, James River Association
Ann Swanson, Executive Director, Chesapeake Bay Commission
Location: Crystal Ballroom B

THE LAND
Joy Ride or Ecocide? ORVs on Public Lands
The panel will discuss the growing use of Off-Road Vehicles on public lands and the issues related to this use. ORVs include everything from four-wheelers and snowmobiles to jet skis. Problems created by ORVs include water, noise and air pollution, disruption of wildlife, and the spread of weeds. Currently federal and state agencies are grappling with restricting and/or banning these machines from many parts of the public land.
Moderator: George Wuerthner, Freelance Writer and Author, Thrillcraft: The Environmental Consequences of Motorized Recreation
Panelists:
Derb Carter, Director, Chapel Hill Office, Southern Environmental Law Center
Jim Furnish, former Deputy Chief, U.S. Forest Service
Brian Hawthorne, Public Lands Policy Director, BlueRibbon Coalition
Jeff Ruch, Executive Director, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility
Location: Crystal Ballroom C

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Toying with Toxics: Childhood Exposure to Chemicals
Phthalates in rubber duckies. Bisphenol A in baby bottles. Lead in toys. Flame retardants in furniture. Fetuses and young children are the most sensitive of all to the effects of toxic substances, and consumers are beginning to take action on their own in the absence of regulations. Come listen to the latest about the risks to children's health.
Moderator: Marla Cone, Editor in Chief, Environmental Health News, former Environmental Writer, Los Angeles Times and Author, Silent Snow
Panelists:
Marc Edwards, Charles Lunsford Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech
Philip Landrigan, Professor and Chairman, Department of Community & Preventive Medicine, and Professor of Pediatrics and Director, Children's Environmental Health Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Phil Shabecoff, Author, Poisoned Profits
Location: Crystal Ballroom D

THE NATION
Broken Bridges, Straight Pipes: The Environmental Impacts of an Aging Infrastructure
Antiquated city sewer systems are releasing human waste into rivers and streams. Past-their-prime power stations are spewing greenhouse gases. Crumbling highways and railroads, and inadequate public transportation, mean even more pollution. How is our nation's aging infrastructure harming the environment? And, if we don't invest in upgrades now, are we dangerously close to disaster? Join an environmental advocate, a Washington expert, and a civil engineer for answers.
Moderator: Kristin Espeland, Environmental Reporter, Public Radio Partnership, WFPL (Louisville, KY)
Panelists:
Katherine Baer, Senior Director of Clean Water, American Rivers
Andrew Herrmann, District 1 Director, American Society of Civil Engineers, and Partner, Hardesty & Hanover, LLP
Jack Schenendorf, Vice Chair of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, and Of Counsel, Covington & Burling LLP
Location: Mill Mountain Room

THE CRAFT
Environment Reporters of the 21st Century
Who are the environment reporters who provide the general public with most of its information about the environment? Where do they work? Do environmental journalists differ due to regional influences? From what sources do environment reporters get their information? Do environmental journalists in different regions rely on similar news sources? These are just a few of the questions answered by more than six hundred environment reporters in a nationwide series of telephone interviews. Two of the researchers, David Sachsman and James Simon, will present the results of the study and will be joined by SEJ members Bud Ward and Mike Mansur, who will comment on the findings.
Moderator: David Sachsman, West Chair of Excellence, Department of Communication, University of Tennessee
Panelists:
Mike Mansur, SEJournal Editor, and Reporter, The Kansas City Star
James Simon, Professor and Chair, Department of English, Fairfield University
Bud Ward, President, Morris A. Ward, Inc., and Founding Member, SEJ
Location: Washington Lecture Hall

COMPUTER LAB 1
Where's the News? Geodata and Mapping Basics
Attendance is strictly limited. Sign up in advance at the SEJ Information Table.
"Where" is fast becoming one of the most important and engaging "w's" of journalism. With handheld devices and laptop computers, you can map everything from abandoned oil and gas wells to coal-fired power plants, allowing you to make place more central to your reporting than ever before. We'll cover the basics of how to tag content with mapping coordinates, and create interactive maps.
Instructors:
Clem Henriksen, Geographic Information System (GIS) Professional and Market Analyst, ESRI
Matthew Waite, News Technologist, St. Petersburg Times
Location: Roanoke Higher Education Center, Room 610 (sixth floor). Walking directions for computer labs: From the North entry courtyard just outside the doors at registration, turn left on Wells Ave. NE and then left again on Jefferson St. The Roanoke Higher Education Center is located at 108 N. Jefferson St., across the street from the back of the conference center.

COMPUTER LAB 2
Data Part 1: Translating Data into News
Attendance is strictly limited. Sign up in advance at the SEJ Information Table.
Ever wish some agency would issue a report you can hang a story on? Quit wishing and get to work. Crunching data yourself lets you write with authority on issues that otherwise go unreported. Computer-assisted reporting instructor David Poulson gives a crash course in the basics of manipulating data with spreadsheets to blast open fresh avenues of environmental investigation. Download materials. Note: This session is also available Saturday, 9:00 a.m., in Concurrent Sessions 3.
Instructor: David Poulson, Associate Director, Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, Michigan State University
Location: Roanoke Higher Education Center, Room 717 (seventh floor). Walking directions for computer labs: From the North entry courtyard just outside the doors at registration, turn left on Wells Ave. NE and then left again on Jefferson St. The Roanoke Higher Education Center is located at 108 N. Jefferson St., across the street from the back of the conference center.

Keynote Address: R.K. Pachauri, Chairman, IPCC

Dr. R.K. Pachauri

Noon - 1:15 p.m.
Talk about sweeping the awards shows: Climate change won a Grammy, an Oscar, and the Nobel Peace Prize last year. Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" captured the first two, but he shared the Nobel with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The IPCC's Chair, Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, will join us to assess the political will to address our greatest environmental challenge, and how the world's governments, and the world's media, are responding. Are the U.S. media, public, and policymakers up to speed with the science, the politics, and economics of climate change?
Moderator: Peter Dykstra, Executive Producer, CNN Science, Technology, Environment & Weather
Speaker: R. K. Pachauri, Chairman, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Location: Roanoke Ballroom

Network Lunch
1:15 - 2:30 p.m.
Always a popular favorite, grab your lunch (up by the Roanoke Ballroom) and head down to the breakout session in the Washington Lecture Hall or choose a discussion table (in the Ballroom) on a wide range of reporting tips, timely topics, and lively newsmakers.

Network Lunch Table Discussions
Concurrent with the breakout lunch session below, network lunch table discussion groups are first-come, first-served. Here is the list of discussion topics (the list is also in your registration folder).
Location: Roanoke Ballroom

1. Intersex Fish and More: What's Happening in Our Rivers?
   Janet Raloff, Science News; Vicki Blazer, U.S. Geological Survey
2. Fire Retardant Chemicals; Where There's Smoke, There's Fire
   Susanne Rust, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
3. Something Fishy at the Seafood Counter
   Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune
4. EPA Grappling with Cement Kiln Mercury Emissions
   Steven Cook, Bureau of National Affairs
5. Epigenetics: How Chemical Exposures May Be Messing with Your Genes
   Jerrold Heindel, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; Elizabeth Grossman, Freelance Journalist and Author
6. Dirty Dealing: Promises & Pitfalls of Pollution Trading
   Tim Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun; Kurt Stephenson, Virginia Tech
7. Feeling Blue: Air Pollution in the Blue Ridge and Other National Parks
   Don Hopey, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Catharine Gilliam, National Parks Conservation Association
8. Belly Up: The Many Causes of Fish Kills
   Sarah Watson, Lynchburg (VA) News & Advance; Steve Reeser, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
9. Emerald Ash Borer: Worse than Chestnut Blight and Dutch Elm Disease?
   Thomas Henry, The (Toledo) Blade
10. Cooperative Conservation: Getting Along To Get Things Done
    Kevin Miller, Bangor Daily News; David Robertson, Virginia Tech
11. Wilderness: An American Legacy up for Debate
    Emily Corio, West Virginia Public Broadcasting
12. Whence the Endangered Species Act?
    Robert McClure, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
13. Betting the Earth: We're All In on Mass Extinction
    John Kunich, Charlotte School of Law
14. Covering Floods: Before and After
    Penny Loeb, Author; Mark Neuzil, University of St. Thomas
15. Keeping Levee Builders Honest
    Mark Schleifstein, The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune
16. Food Safety vs. Food Security: Government Animal Tracking
    Christine Heinrichs, Author; Mary-Louise Zanoni, Attorney and Freelance Journalist
17. Global Farm Feud: So Much Grain, So Little Food
    Perry Beeman, The Des Moines Register
18. Climate Change: What's Left (Legitimately) to Argue About
    Dan Fagin, New York University; Dean Scott, Bureau of National Affairs
19. Taking the Spin out of Industrial Wind Energy
    Anne Adams, The Recorder (Monterey, VA); Rick Webb, Virginia Wind
20. Why are Weather Forecasters Climate Skeptics?
    Christy George, Oregon Public Broadcasting
21. Kids and Carbon
    Lynne Cherry, Children's Author and Movie Producer
22. SEJournal: Comments and Contributions
    Mike Mansur, SEJournal Editor
23. SEJ 2009 — Madison, Wisconsin
    Chuck Quirmbach, Wisconsin Public Radio; Terry Devitt and Gwen Evans, University of Wisconsin-Madison
24. SEJ 2010 — Missoula, Montana
    James Bruggers, The (Louisville) Courier-Journal; Don Oliver and Dan Pletcher, University of Montana
25. Inside SEJ: Ask a Board Member
    Cheryl Hogue, Vice President for Membership; Peter Thomson, Secretary
26. Meeting of the SEJ First Amendment Task Force
    Rebecca Daugherty, former Director, FOI Service Center, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press; Joseph Davis, Director, SEJ WatchDog Project
27. More FOIA For Ya: Making Them Hand It Over
    Patrick McGinley, West Virginia University; Richard Huff, former Co-Director, Office of Information and Privacy, U.S. Department of Justice
28. Green Goes With Everything: Pitching to Non-Environmental Outlets
    Jennifer Weeks, Freelance Journalist
29. Working Environmental Themes into Multi-Genre Books
    John Manuel Jr., Freelance Writer
30. Gente y Ambiente: Covering Latin American Environmental Issues
    Barbara Fraser, Freelance Journalist
31. Canada's New Government: What Does It Mean for the Environment?
    Saul Chernos, Freelance Journalist

Breakout Lunch Session
Concurrent with the network lunch discussion groups, this session is on first-come, first-served basis.

Emerging Career Options: Digital Media and Your Future
Where can environmental journalists go from here? What opportunities do we have to keep covering the environment, fostering community conversations, and telling great stories — while making a living, and regardless of the fate of traditional news organizations? Which skills (technical, business, networking) can help us, and which are less important? Which mindsets, attitudes, and assumptions will help us move forward? What are we excited about, and scared about? What are the risks and rewards?
Moderator: Amy Gahran, Freelance Journalist
Speakers:
Adam Glenn, Independent News Consultant
Dale Willman, Executive Editor, Field Notes Productions
Leonard Witt, Robert D. Fowler Distinguished Chair in Communication, Kennesaw State University
Location: Washington Lecture Hall

Concurrent Sessions 2
2:45 - 4:00 p.m.

COAL
Carbon Sequestration: Silver Bullet or Black Hole?
Half of U.S. electricity and more than a third of the nation's CO2 emissions come from coal-fired power plants. If coal is to remain part of our energy future in a carbon-constrained world, a new system of technologies must be developed to capture and sequester CO2. However, research is just now getting under way. What is the status of R&D? What works? Who is doing what, how much will it cost and when will technologies be ready? In the meantime, do we continue to build new coal-fired power plants?
Moderator: Jeff Johnson, Senior Correspondent, Chemical & Engineering News
Panelists:
Bruce Braine, Vice President, Strategic Policy Analysis, American Electric Power
Thomas Feeley, Technology Manager, National Energy Technology Lab, U.S. Department of Energy
Sarah Forbes, Senior Associate and CCS Specialist, World Resources Institute
Location: Buck Mountain Room

ENERGY
Energy 101: A Primer for Reporters
The environment beat and the energy beat these days are inextricably linked. If you are new to covering energy, have trouble finding energy angles to pitch to your editors, or are just interested in the topic — this how-to session is for you. You will learn how to mine federal databases to find out where your state or region's energy comes from, what sources generate its electricity, and how much energy it consumes. You will learn how to trove legislation and campaign finance databases to find energy stories with a political slant. And then you will look at examples from reporters who cover energy regionally to see how it is done.
Moderator: Dina Cappiello, Environment/Energy Reporter, The Associated Press
Panelists:
Jonathan Cogan, Press Officer, Energy Information Administration
Catharine Richert, Senate Reporter, Congressional Quarterly
Additional speaker TBA
Location: Crystal Ballroom A

THE CLIMATE
Close Quarters: Could an End to Population Growth Help Stabilize the Climate?
Once a greenhouse-gas emission "cap" clamps down in a cap-and-trade approach to climate change, what happens when population keeps growing? Does everyone just get less of the rationed good? Or might human numbers have a cap of their own? Does population policy have any role to play in addressing climate change — and, if so, what's the policy? Or is it best to leave the linkage alone? This panel will consider human population growth in a carbon-constrained atmosphere, and how environmental journalists can step bravely where many fear to tread in covering a connection that won't go away.
Moderator: Constance Holden, Staff Writer, Science Magazine
Panelists:
Steve Curwood, Host and Executive Producer, "Living On Earth," Public Radio International
Robert Engelman, Vice President for Programs, Worldwatch Institute
Tom Horton, Freelance Writer
Location: Crystal Ballroom E

THE WATER
Hydropower: Past, Present & Future
The old questions about the environmental costs of building big dams haven't gone away — they've just turned up in new places like Asia and South America. We'll talk about the latest news on those projects. In the United States, different questions dominate, such as: Is aging dam infrastructure still safe? Is the boom in "second generation" hydropower — mainly wave and tidal energy projects — a solid green alternative or will these projects create serious environmental problems, too? In light of rising energy prices, what are the prospects of decommissioning more controversial conventional dams? Where in the U.S. are conventional dams still in development?
Moderator: Elizabeth Bluemink, Reporter, Anchorage Daily News
Panelists:
Andrew Fahlund, Vice President for Conservation, American Rivers
Jacques Leslie, Author, Deep Water: The Epic Struggle Over Dams, Displaced People, and the Environment
Julie Smith-Galvin, Director of Communications, U.S. Operations, Brookfield Renewable Power
Location: Crystal Ballroom B

THE LAND
Biodiversity, People, and the Planet: An Appalachian Lesson
An endangered Appalachian salamander and a resident of American suburbia have something in common: Each stays alive by the grace of a functioning ecosystem. However, pollution, population growth, land-use changes and climate change are eroding the integrity of the natural world to a point where many experts believe we are approaching — or perhaps have passed — a tipping point. Appalachia, home to some of the Earth's oldest mountains, is the setting for a dramatic story about the challenges of maintaining biodiversity. Critically endangered aquatic life, smog, agriculture, and urban pressures all combine to make Appalachia a perfect case study whose lessons journalists can carry home and apply anywhere.
Moderator: Randy Loftis, Environmental Writer, The Dallas Morning News
Panelists:
Paul Angermeier, Professor, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Tech
Roberta Hylton, Project Leader, Southwestern Virginia Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
John Kunich, Professor, Charlotte School of Law
Jerry Moles, Consulting Director of Land Stewardship, New River Land Trust
Location: Crystal Ballroom C

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
"Where There's Smoke..." : Job Hazards as Forerunners of Public Hazards
Industries with high worker injury and death rates often — and not coincidentally — turn out to be major polluters or producers of hazardous materials that endanger the public at large. Beyond the well-documented asbestos casualties among workers, for example, lies a largely untold story of developers churning up a far more dangerous form of the mineral fibers in cities — especially in the East. Learn of other examples and reporting tips from the experts.
Moderator: Chris Bowman, Environment and Energy Reporter, The Sacramento Bee
Panelists:
David Egilman, Principal, Never Again Consulting
Celeste Monforton, Researcher, School of Public Health and Health Services, George Washington University
John Yetman, Environmental Health Specialist, Fairfax County Health Department, Virginia
Location: Crystal Ballroom D

THE NATION
Environmental Policy, Public Opinion, and the Election
There will be a new occupant in the White House come January, which will undoubtedly shape environmental issues in the coming years, but how will the 2008 congressional election and other races around the nation impact those issues? We'll discuss that and talk about congressional races with major environmental stakes.
Moderator: Dan Radmacher, Editorial Page Editor, The Roanoke Times
Panelists:
David Jenkins, Government Affairs Director, Republicans for Environmental Protection
William Kovacs, Vice President, Environment, Technology and Public Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
David Sandretti, Communications Director, League of Conservation Voters
Location: Mill Mountain Room

THE CRAFT
The Freelance Pitch-Slam
Writers read prepared pitches in 60 seconds to a panel of 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: Sharon Guynup, Freelance Journalist and Editor, State of the Wild: A Global Portrait of Wildlife, Wildlands, and Oceans
Panelists:
Peter Aldhous, San Francisco Bureau Chief, New Scientist
Ted Chamberlain, Managing Editor, National Geographic News
Dennis Dimick, Executive Editor, National Geographic Magazine
Nicole Dyer, Senior Editor, Popular Science
Louise Lief, Deputy Director, International Reporting Project
Tara Rae Miner, Managing Editor, Orion
Mark Spellun, Editor, Plenty
Location: Washington Lecture Hall

COMPUTER LAB 1
Stories in Sound: Audio Production Basics
Attendance is strictly limited. Sign up in advance at the SEJ Information Table.
These days, audio journalism goes far beyond radio. The evolution of the web, podcasting, and mobile media means that today just about any environmental journalist can make use of audio to tell or expand upon stories. A veteran radio journalist and podcaster will explain the basics of capturing and producing quality audio: which tools you'll need; techniques for recording, editing, and mixing; how to package audio for online distribution; and how to spot opportunities to tell stories with sound. Note: This session is also available Saturday, 9:00 a.m., in Concurrent Sessions 3.
Instructor: Dale Willman, Executive Editor, Field Notes Productions
Location: Roanoke Higher Education Center, Room 610 (sixth floor). Walking directions for computer labs: From the North entry courtyard just outside the doors at registration, turn left on Wells Ave. NE and then left again on Jefferson St. The Roanoke Higher Education Center is located at 108 N. Jefferson St., across the street from the back of the conference center.

COMPUTER LAB 2
Data Part 2: Projects and Stories
Attendance is strictly limited. Sign up in advance at the SEJ Information Table.
An award-winning journalist will show how he creates compelling stories and sites using databases. On the way, you'll learn how fun and valuable it can be to indulge your inner geek by learning about content management systems, data formats, mashups, visualization tools, and more. Brainstorm with Matt about how databases might help your coverage — and your career. Note: This session is also available Saturday, 10:45 a.m., in Concurrent Sessions 4.
Instructor: Matthew Waite, News Technologist, St. Petersburg Times
Location: Roanoke Higher Education Center, Room 717 (seventh floor). Walking directions for computer labs: From the North entry courtyard just outside the doors at registration, turn left on Wells Ave. NE and then left again on Jefferson St. The Roanoke Higher Education Center is located at 108 N. Jefferson St., across the street from the back of the conference center.

SEJ Membership Meeting
4:15 - 5:45 p.m.
SEJ members are urged to attend their annual membership meeting. Hear from candidates standing for board election. 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. Cash bar.
Location: Roanoke Ballroom

Independent Press Briefing and Reception
6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Freedom to Speak? A Report Card on Federal Agency Media Policies and Practice
The news has been full of stories about government censorship of science and federal agencies blocking scientists from speaking freely about their research to the media and the public. Sometimes, an agency's desire to "control the message" has led to the suppression of information and the censorship of the government's own experts.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is hosting this press briefing on a newly-released analysis of media policies at 15 federal agencies — as well as an investigation into how those policies were put into practice, based on interviews with reporters, scientists, and public affairs officials.

It turns out that some government agencies perform very well. Others don't.

Does Fish and Wildlife Service rank better or worse than the Environmental Protection Agency? Do the agencies you cover make the grade?

Please join us for the news — and a bit of booze. Beer, wine and snacks will be served. More information.

Speakers: Timothy Donaghy, Analyst for the UCS Scientific Integrity Program; Francesca Grifo, Director of the UCS Scientific Integrity Program
Location: Roanoke Ballroom

Want to continue the discussion? Sign up at the SEJ Information Table beginning Wednesday for tonight's Beat Dinner #3: Unmuzzling Science: Breaking Through the Governmental and Professional Barriers. Celeste Monforton, The George Washington University School of Public Health and Francesca T. Grifo will discuss what it will take to restore transparency and accountability to federal science in a new administration.

Beat Dinners
7:00 p.m. - whenever
Downtown Roanoke provides a wide variety of excellent culinary options, with all but one of the selected restaurants within walking distance (and the exception is just a 5-minute drive). Dress code is casual. Pay for your own meal. (This information is also available in your registration folder.)

ADVANCE SIGN-UP REQUIRED! Sign up for the dinner of your choice at the SEJ Information Table. Sorry, no wait list.

MEETUP AND TRANSPORTATION:

• Please select your dinner group carefully. Notify your dinner leader immediately if you are unable to attend, and cross your name off the sign-up sheet.
• Meet your dinner leader in the Roanoke Ballroom in the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center at 7:00 p.m. Reservations are for 7:30 p.m. Dinner No. 15 requires a short drive; we have arranged for a few cars to drive you there. If you'd like to use a taxi during the conference, call Yellow Cab Company in Roanoke (540) 345-7711.
• All prices are for entrees only (unless otherwise noted). Any side dishes, tax, tip, and drinks are extra. Some restaurants will not issue separate checks. Be prepared to keep track of the cost of your meal.
• Please tip your servers well. ENJOY!

Discussion Topics:

1. Rooting Out Solutions: The Forest Service Tackles Climate Change
   Moderator: Julie Leibach, Audubon Magazine
   Speaker: Ann Bartuska, Deputy Chief for R&D, U.S. Forest Service
   Restaurant: Arzu (private room), 213 Williamson, 540-982-7160
   Cuisine: Italian Mediterranean
   Price range: $23 for everything except drinks, tax, and tip (see sign-up sheet for entrée selection types available)
   Maximum group: 50
   
   
2. Dinner on the Wild Side: Conversations with 10 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service PIOs
   Moderator: Randy Loftis, The Dallas Morning News
   Restaurant: Arzu (private room), 213 Williamson, 540-982-7160
   Cuisine: Italian Mediterranean
   Price range: $23 for everything except drinks, tax, and tip (see sign-up sheet for entrée selection types available)
   Maximum group: 50
   
   
3. Unmuzzling Science: Breaking Through the Governmental and Professional Barriers
   Speakers: Francesca Grifo, Director, Scientific Integrity Program, Union of Concerned Scientists; Celeste Monforton, The George Washington University School of Public Health
   Restaurant: Nico's Ristorante (private room), 125 Campbell Ave., 540-342-4444
   Cuisine: Italian
   Price range: $14-32
   Maximum group: 10
   
   
4. Eco-sins? Should Journalists Treat Environmental Issues As Ethical Issues?
   Speakers: Erik Assadourian, Worldwatch Institute; Mark Neuzil, University of St. Thomas
   Restaurant: Tong's Thai, 19 Salem Ave., 540-344-7732
   Cuisine: Thai
   Price range: $10-15
   Maximum group: 8
   
   
5. Out in the Field: Covering Agriculture's Environmental and Health Impacts
   Speaker: Al Cross, Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues
   Restaurant: La Finca, 27 Campbell Ave., 540-343-0801
   Cuisine: Mexican
   Price range: $5-12
   Maximum group: 8
   
   
6. Ecotourism Trends Above and Below the Waves
   Speaker: Anne Bolen, SeaWeb
   Restaurant: Wasabi's, 214 Market St., 540-904-6254
   Cuisine: Sushi/Japanese
   Price range: $10-20
   Maximum group: 8
   
   
7. Green Investing: Can It Change the World?
   Speaker: Erin Ailworth, The Boston Globe
   Restaurant: Nawab, 118A Campbell Ave., 540-345-5150
   Cuisine: Indian
   Price range: $14-20
   Maximum group: 8
   
   
8. Whither Journalism: Emerging Directions
   Speakers: Christine Heinrichs, Author; Leonard Witt, Kennesaw State University
   Restaurant: Blues BBQ, 107 Market St., 540-344-5683
   Cuisine: Carolina BBQ
   Price range: $8-20
   Maximum group: 8
   
   
9. Tropical Forests, Biodiversity and People: What's the Latest?
   Speaker: Bill Allen, University of Missouri
   Restaurant: Nawab, 118A Campbell Ave., 540-345-5150
   Cuisine: Indian
   Price range: $14-20
   Maximum group: 8
   
   
10. Teaching Environmental Journalism: Thinking Globally and Reporting Locally
    Speaker: Carolyn Johnsen, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Restaurant: Trios (private room), 315 Market St., 540-904-5887
    Cuisine: Inspired Southern
    Price range: $18-22
    Maximum group: 10
    
    
11. New Clues in High-Stakes Bee Death Probe
    Speaker: Bette Hileman, Independent Journalist
    Restaurant: Corned Beef, 107 S. Jefferson, 540-342-3354
    Cuisine: American Grill
    Price range: $9-18
    Maximum group: 8
    
    
12. Does the Surge In All Things Green Mean More Green for Freelancers?
    Speakers: Glen Blouin, Freelance Journalist and Author; Stefan Milkowski, Freelance Journalist
    Restaurant: La Finca, 27 Campbell Ave., 540-343-0801
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Price range: $5-12
    Maximum group: 8
    
    
13. The Competition for Water
    Speakers: Paul Faeth, Global Water Challenge; Peter Friederici, Northern Arizona University
    Restaurant: Nawab, 118A Campbell Ave., 540-345-5150
    Cuisine: Indian
    Price range: $14-20
    Maximum group: 8
    
    
14. Localizing Environmental Health: Finding the Stories and Scientists in Your Community
    Speakers: Gwen Collman, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; Susanne Rust, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
    Restaurant: Horizon (upstairs room), 215 Market St., 540-342-5133
    Cuisine: Eclectic American
    Price range: $17-30
    Maximum group: 10
    
    
15. The Changing Climate of Ocean Biodiversity
    Speakers: Jackie Savitz, Senior Scientist and Pollution Campaign Director, Oceana; Dale Willman, Field Notes Productions
    Restaurant: Roanoker, Note: Requires a short drive, to 2522 Colonial Ave., 540-344-7746
    Cuisine: American Southern
    Price range: $10-14
    Maximum group: 8
    
    

"Blackout" with Peter Bull, Justin Weinstein and Mark Schapiro (Documentary Preview)
9:30 - 11:00 p.m.
After dinner, come join us for the late show. "Blackout" explores the rising use of coal for electricity against a backdrop of global climate change. Set for release in 2009, the documentary is produced by the Center for Investigative Reporting, with writer/producer/director Peter Bull, co-producer Justin Weinstein, and Mark Schapiro, editorial director of CIR. The documentary examines rising global C02 emissions; the prospects for renewable energy; and the promise and reality of carbon capture and sequestration.
Location: Washington Lecture Hall, Conference Level

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Saturday, October 18: The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center
110 Shenandoah Avenue, Roanoke, VA. Maps and driving directions.

As a journalism organization that believes in an open society, SEJ each year welcomes a diverse group of attendees to our annual conference. Attendees include 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 presentations or responses to presentations that you might not expect from mainstream journalists. The presentations and any responses do not necessarily reflect the views of SEJ or any of its members.

As our guest, we would ask you to respect our interest in open discussions of environmental issues by thanking all participants in sessions you attend and not disrupting presentations of views you disagree with.

Finally, please respect our rule that SEJ members are given preference during question-and-answer sessions.

DRAFT: All Information Subject to Change

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

• Registration
  If you didn't pre-register for the Saturday breakfast session, Saturday evening party or the Sunday morning breakfast and program, there may still be room — please inquire at registration.
  Location: North Entry Foyer, ballroom level
• SEJ Information Table
  Sign up here for Saturday mini-tours. Find information about membership and services, pick up copies of SEJournal, TipSheet, FOI WatchDog and other publications.
  Location: North Entry Foyer, ballroom level

Exhibitor Tables
7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Come and browse the wealth of information in this year's exhibits. Talk with experts about their hopes for new environmentally friendly innovations. Learn about educational opportunities. Add to your list of sources. Browse through winners of SEJ's Awards for Reporting on the Environment and other member work in the Reading Room. You'll find a list of exhibitors here, as well as in your registration folder.
Location: Roanoke Foyer, Crystal/Roanoke Shared Foyer, Crystal Foyer

Virginia Tech Bookstore
7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Visit our onsite bookstore, compliments of Virginia Tech. At the store, you'll find a wide variety of books published by SEJ members, invited speakers and Virginia Tech professors. Also available will be a selection of Virginia Tech logo merchandise. There will be a schedule of author book signings in your registration packet.
Location: Roanoke Foyer, ballroom level

Continental Breakfast (for those not registered for the breakfast plenary)
7:00 - 8:45 a.m.
Location: Roanoke Foyer, Crystal Foyer