The Society of Environmental Journalists
The Society of Environmental Journalists is the only U.S.- based membership organization of working journalists dedicated to improvements in environmental reporting. SEJ programs are designed to build a stronger, better-educated, and more closely connected network of professional journalists and editors who cover the environment and environment-related issues. SEJ`s primary goal is to advance public understanding of critically important environmental issues through more and better environmental journalism.
Company details
Find locations served, office locations
- Business Type:
- Non-governmental organization (NGO)
- Industry Type:
- Publishing / Media / Marketing
- Market Focus:
- Globally (various continents)
- Year Founded:
- 1990
About Us
The Society of Environmental Journalists is the only North-American membership association of professional journalists dedicated to more and better coverage of environment-related issues. SEJ’s mission is to strengthen the quality, reach and viability of journalism across all media to advance public understanding of environmental issues.
SEJ is an independent, nonpartisan grassroots educational group dedicated to the highest standards of public service journalism. SEJ’s 2009 operating budget of $1,010,018 (audited figure) was underwritten by foundations, universities, earned income, media company contributions and individual gifts.
The organization was founded in 1990 by award-winning print and broadcast journalists on staff with The Philadelphia Inquirer, USA Today, National Geographic, Turner Broadcasting/CNN, Scripps Howard News Service, Minnesota Public Radio and others. SEJ’s membership now includes more than 1,500 highly qualified journalists, editors, educators and students working in print, broadcast and online news media throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and 27 other countries. Members and others who use SEJ services report environmental news and information to millions of readers, listeners and viewers worldwide, on a daily basis.
In 2010, SEJ was co-winner of the Gulbenkian International Prize, which distinguishes an individual or institution 'whose thoughts or actions make a decisive contribution to and have significant impact on understanding, defending or fostering the universal values of the human condition.'
SEJ established a Diversity Task Force in 2010 to foster and promote greater coverage and understanding of environmental issues that affect minority and other marginalized communities
Vision & Mission
Vision
Credible and robust journalism that informs and engages society on environmental issues.
Mission
The mission of the Society of Environmental Journalists is to strengthen the quality, reach and viability of journalism across all media to advance public understanding of environmental issues.
SEJ provides critical support to journalists of all media in their efforts to cover complex issues of the environment responsibly. Through combined efforts of board, staff, members, and appropriate partners, SEJ offers unique educational programs and services for working journalists, educators, and students, including annual and regional conferences; daily EJToday news service; quarterly SEJournal; biweekly TipSheet and other publications; FOI WatchDog project; SEJ Awards for Reporting on the Environment; members-only listservs; mentoring program; website-based resources; and a lively membership network of journalists and academics.
SEJ also acts to raise awareness among philanthropists, editors, news managers, publishers, and other key decision-makers in the media on the value and importance of environmental news reporting.
Objectives
All programs and services of the Society of Environmental Journalists are designed by journalists to address the following objectives:
- to build a stronger and more closely connected network of educated environmental journalists and editors;
- to stimulate more and better coverage of a range of critically important environmental issues;
- to encourage addition or expansion of environmental reporting positions within broadcast, print, and internet news organizations;
- to increase use of information resources, training, and educational events that are already available to journalists and editors who may be covering the environment;
- and to foster the creation of important new information resources and training opportunities.