Technology, technology, technology. Lately, I can’t go anywhere without someone bringing up a dot-com or new Palm Pilot game. And frankly, I’m getting sick of it.
Everything has its own Web address, whether it be for potato chips or a television special on Mt. Vesuvius. Everyone claims to have more information, so valuable to be referenced but not included in the 20-second commercial or within an article—this magazine included.

With all this new technology, little mention is given to the effects of technology. Know that little twinge you get in your wrist when you’ve been working on the computer keyboard too long? Or the headache you get from staring into the computer monitor for hours on end? Ever wonder where your old 286K computer was taken when you turned it in for a souped-up iMac?

A Taste of the Topics

In this issue of EJ, formerly known as the newsletter EJ News, we will address some of the indirect effects of technology.

• One group of Michigan State University students takes a look at how children are injuring themselves by spending too much time playing computer games. Our cover story, the article focuses on adults who are disabled because they failed to utilize proper typing techniques and ergonomics. The investigation was inspired by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s proposed law that would have required businesses to pay worker’s compensation for injuries such as repetitive strain injury and carpal tunnel syndrome. Then the question arose: What about kids who start injuring themselves at a younger age than those adults who just contracted carpal tunnel syndrome as adults? President Bush refused to sign the OSHA bill in February 2001.
• Niki Mayercak, an MSU sophomore, focuses on the exorbitant amount of electronics equipment being dumped each year. Some say landfills are not equipped to keep the levels of electronics’ toxics out of our drinking and surface waters. Others say it’s too expensive to recycle these items.
• Ecoterrorists have committed extensive financial and physical damage to three major universities in the past few years: Oregon State, University of Washington and Michigan State. Stephen Meador, a master’s student involved in the environmental journalism program at MSU, delves into the ecoterrorists’ reasoning and the researchers’ hesitation to offer information to the general public. Another hesitation: to even conduct the biotechnology research in the first place.
• At least one of us refuses to submit to the beckons of technology. Brad Bedoe, a journalism senior involved in the environmental journalism program at MSU, profiles “Barn Doctor” Steve Stier. Instead of relying on strong electrical machinery, Stier disassembles old barns with his bare hands.
• Jeremy Herliczek, a photojournalism instructor and Master’s student in visual journalism at MSU, recently returned from Guatemala. Some of his photographs are included in his photo essay on Guatemala’s cultural environment. He is also a partner in the Global Workshop, LLC, a business specializing in documentary photography and cross-cultural communication.
• Eric Freedman, an assistant professor of journalism at Michigan State University, tells the haunting tale of the extinction of the thylacines (a.k.a. Tasmanian tigers). In September 1936, the last thylacine died in captivity. Since then, there have been several reported sitings of what looks like the “menace” to sheep herds in Australia.
• Freedman’s Australia study abroad class members compiled a series of short nature essays about the land down under. The students reflect on ecotourism, wildlife, Aboriginal land rights, development, illness and dreamtime.

New ’Tude

I’m sure by now, you’ve gotten a hint at what it is we’re trying to do here. Just in case you need a little clarification, this is now a magazine (rather than a newsletter, which it was before) focusing on environmental and environmental journalism issues. Primarily, this magazine will be beneficial for:

• environmental, health and science journalists;
• journalism educators—both high school and college level;
• anyone interested in the environment, health and science.
  

We intend for this magazine to jumpstart new ideas in the above-mentioned peoples’ minds, perhaps to serve as a seed starter for an article to be published in your newspaper. Or to offer ideas for journalism educators to attempt in their classes.

In the meantime, take a slow, in-depth gander at our new spread. The art director, Randy Yeip, spent countless hours manipulating the type and turning the pages into dazzling artwork on gloss. Yeip is a second year master’s student in the journalism program and recently started a publication design business, Raydar Media. (Psssst: He will be graduating in May in case personnel at any publications out there are looking for a talented and creative designer.)

I hope you enjoy our new publication. If you have any suggestions or comments on our new look, we look forward to receiving letters to the editor. Contact information is printed in the masthead on the opposite page.