The Bulletin 6/3: Reporter's Tip Sheet

M E D I A

Reporter's Tip Sheet

Earlier this autumn, a new resource was launched for environmental journalists. Still in the development phase, the IFEJ TipSheet promises to provide reporters will story ideas, contact information and details on upcoming events of interest to environmental, science and health reporters.

The IFEJ TipSheet is the initiative of the International Federation of Environmental Journalists and is modeled after a similar newsletter produced by the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ), the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation (RTNDF) and the Environmental Health Center (EHC) in Washington, DC. This resource, however, will focus on issues of international interest.

The biweekly assortment of briefs and information is currently distributed electronically upon request to IFEJ members via the organization's listserver. Hardcopy and fax distribution is being considered for the future. Journalists Terry Collins, Carlos Tautz and Mihaly Hollos are serving as regional editors in Toronto, Rio de Janeiro, and Hungary respectively, and IFEJ hopes to recruit additional partners to represent Asia and Africa.

The three issues to date have included results from scientific studies on environmental health effects and biodiversity, highlights from international conferences, statistics of recent environmental developments, and regional and country-specific happenings in the environmental and health fields. Details of upcoming events as well as research tips and sources for independent information are provided.

The editors aim to collaborate closely with the press departments of international organizations such as the United Nations Environment Program, the World Bank and the World Conservation Union; government agencies; and other "green" news agencies like Greenwire in the US and the Panos Institute in Britain; as well as other sources which are less readily accessible to journalists.

Reporter's reactions to the first few issues have been generally encouraging. It is hoped that journalists will also become more involved in submitting information and story ideas as well as editorial suggestions.

For more information, or if you have ideas for the TipSheet contact,
Terry Collins, e-mail: terryjen@globalserve.net;
Carlos Tautz, tautz@ax.apc.org; or
Mihaly Hollos

Subscriptions are free for IFEJ members upon request, a small fee is charged to non-members, contact
Valentin Thurn, Mauritiussteinweg 7, 50676 Koeln, Germany,
Tel: (49-221) 214-454 or e-mail: v.thrun@link-k.gun.de.

REC * PUBLICATIONS * THE BULLETIN * AUTUMN 1996