Textbooks and Syllabi

Textbooks often used in environmental journalism classes:

• Allen, S. (1999). "Environmental Risks and the Media." Routledge.
• Anderson, A. (1997). "Media, Culture and the Environment." Routledge.
• Blum, D., Henig, R., Knudson, M.,  (2005). "A Field Guide for Science Writers." Oxford University Press; 2nd edition.
• Cohn, V., Cope L. (2001). "News & Numbers: A Guide to Reporting Statistical Claims and Controversies in Health and Other Fields." Wiley-Blackwell; 2nd edition.
• Cox, R., Pezzullo, P. (2006, 2009). "Environmental Communication and the Public Sphere." Sage Publishing; 5th edition (2017).
• Friedman, S., Dunwoody, S., Rogers, C. (1999). "Communicating Uncertainty: Media Coverage of New and Controversial Science." Routledge.
• Frome, M. (1998). "Green Ink: An Introduction to Environmental Journalism." University of Utah Press.
• Greenberg, M., Lewis, J., Rogers, R., Sachsman, D., West, B. (2003). "The Reporter's Environmental Handbook." Rutgers University Press.
• Luechtefeld, L. (2004). "Covering Pollution: An Investigative Reporter's Guide." Investigative Reporters and Editors, and Society of Environmental Journalists. More information.
• Neuzil, M., Kovarik, B. (1996). "Mass Media and Environmental Conflict: America's Green Crusades." Sage.
• Neuzil, M. (2008). "The Environment and the Press: From Adventure Writing to Advocacy." Northwestern University Press.
• Sachsman, D., Simon, J., Valenti, J. (2010). "Environmental Reporters in the 21st Century." Routledge.
• Sachsman, D., Valenti, J. (2020). "Routledge Handbook of Environmental Journalism." Available in hardback, paperbook and ebook. See the SEJournal BookShelf review.
• Chapter (Environmental Reporters in a Time of Change) by Sachsman, D., Valenti, J. (2023). "Routledge Handbook of Environment and Communication." Available in hardback and ebook.
• Schwartz, D. (2006). "Writing Green: Advocacy & Investigative Reporting about the Environment in the Early 21st Century." Loyola College/Apprentice House.
• Williams, E. (2007). "Grassroots Journalism: A Practical Manual." Dollars & Sense.
• Wyss, B. (2007 1st edition/ 2018 2nd edition). "Covering the Environment: How Journalists Work the Green Beat." Routledge.

 

Course syllabi for environmental journalism classes:

• Columbia University, Environmental Reporting, M. Holloway (Fall 2003)
• Cornell University, Science Writing for Mass Media, B. Lewenstein (Fall 2003)
• Lehigh University, Basic Science, Environmental and Technical Writing, K. Friedman
• Lehigh University, Environment, The Public and The Media, S. Friedman (Fall 2003)
• Loyola University New Orleans, Covering the Environmental Beat, R. Thomas (Spring 2003)
• Loyola University New Orleans, Environmental Communication, R. Thomas (Fall 2003)
• University of Michigan, Environmental Journalism: Reporting about Science, Policy & Public Health, E. Askari and J. Halpert (Fall 2020)
• Michigan State University, Environmental Film Making, J. Jabara and J. Detjen (Fall 2002)
• Michigan State University, Environmental Investigative Reporting, D. Poulson (Fall 2003)
• Michigan State University, Environmental Reporting Lab Crossing Borders: Reporting on U.S.-Canada Transborder Environmental Issues, E. Freedman (Fall 2020). Schedule.
• Michigan State University, Health and Science Writing, J. Detjen (Fall 2003)
• Michigan State University, Reporting about Health, Science and Environmental Controversies, J. Detjen (Spring 2004)
• Michigan State University, Reporting on Sprawl and the Environment, D. Poulson (Spring 2001)
• Michigan State University, Reporting on the SEJ 10th National Conference in East Lansing, MI, J. Detjen (Fall 2000)
• Michigan State University, Senior Seminar: Case Studies in Science, Environmental & Health Controversies, J. Detjen (Fall 1997)
• New York University, Current Topics in Science, Health and Environmental Journalism, D. Fagin (Fall 2019)
• New York University, Environmental Reporting, D. Fagin (Spring 2020)
• Princeton University, Crossing the Climate Change Divide, M. Subramanian (Fall 2019)
• Princeton University, From Songbirds to Warhawks: Climate Change As Threat (& Opportunity) Multiplier, M. Subramanian (Spring 2020)
• Roger Williams University, Special Topics in Journalism: Communicating Science and Environment, B. Motta (Fall 2021)
• University of St. Thomas, Environmental Journalism, M. Neuzil
• State University of New York at Albany, Environmental Journalism, D. Willman (Fall 2002)
• University of Victoria (Canada), Environmental Journalism, P. Fairley 

If you teach environmental journalism at the university level, please add your syllabus to this list by e-mailing it to SEJ Web Content Manager Cindy MacDonald. Most syllabi are in PDF format, requiring the free Adobe Reader ®.

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