Grant to support GIS software for
computer-assisted reporting

Michigan State University journalism students will be better prepared to cover the environment thanks to new computer training provided through the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism.

The Center is teaching aspiring journalists how to use Geographic Information Systems software as part of a School of Journalism computer-assisted reporting class. The software — known as GIS — is increasingly used by journalists to find, investigate and communicate stories.

“It’s clear that GIS is one of the biggest growth areas in computer-assisted reporting,” said David Herzog, author of Mapping the News: Case Studies in GIS and Journalism and a GIS expert with Investigative Reporters and Editors at the University of Missouri.

“Journalists who are savvy with database managers and spreadsheets find that the GIS programs help them to see their data in different ways and uncover geographic patterns that would have otherwise remained hidden.”

Because the software marries geography with data it is particularly useful for environmental reporters. Many have used GIS and Census data to report on sprawl. Others have used GIS to track new construction in floodplains and landslide zones, describe development that is inconsistent with city planning, map encroachment on endangered species habitat and plot concentrations of child lead poisoning in cities.

Reporters with GIS skills can go after environmental stories that would go unreported unless a government expert happened to issue a report, said Dave Poulson, assistant director at the Knight Center. It helps journalists do what they’re supposed to do — decipher information and describe the world for the public.

Poulson is teaching the course with Jessica Moy, director of MSU’s Remote Sensing and GIS Research and Outreach Services. Moy also taught a GIS seminar last summer for professional journalists attending the Knight Center’s Great Lakes Environmental Journalism Training Institute.

The initiative is supported by a $12,000 grant from MSU’s Land Policy Program, a group that coordinates land use research and outreach efforts.

Integrating geography skills into journalism is “ripe for academic inquiry and is a fertile place to mine for great learning opportunities for students,” said Soji Adelaja, director of the Land Policy Program.

“The Land Policy Program is glad to fund this innovative curriculum development project that brings GIS knowledge to future journalists.”

Names in the News

Natalia Botero-Garces, Ph.D., is a post doc at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C. where she is working on research dealing with sweet potatoes.

Elizabeth “Liz” Burch, Ph.D. ’97, has been promoted to associate professor with tenure at Sonoma State University in the Communications Studies Department. She can be reached at 707-664-4059 or Elizabeth.burch@sonoma.edu.

Chad Dally, master’s ’05, is writing Web content for the Pileus Project, a research team that is studying the impact of climate change on agriculture and tourism industries in Michigan. He has previously worked as a publicity intern for the Michigan Nature Association and as a reporter and photographer for Lansing’s City Pulse magazine.

Jim Detjen, director of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, organized a panel discussion on Great Lakes’ environmental issues at the national conference of the Society of Environmental Journalists in Pittsburgh, Pa. on Oct. 22, 2004. He also lead a contingent of MSU students, faculty and staff to the conference, which was held at Carnegie-Mellon University. Other participants include Barb Miller, Dave Poulson, Aileo Weinmann, Debbie Munson, Chad Dally, Tony Richards, Matt Hill, Stefanie Carano, Patrick Wellever, Kai Guo, Jacquelyn Halas, Yu-Ting Lin and Askar Kushkunbaev.

Himani Ediriweera, a participant in the 2005 Great Lakes Environmental Journalism Training Institute, is writing a feature article about the Great Lakes for Time magazine. She is collaborating with Stephen Handelman, a New York correspondent.

Eric Freedman is the author of a paper called “Designing and Implementing the First Environmental and Science Journalism Course for an Uzbekistan Journalism School” that was published in the 2004 edition of Applied Environmental Education and Communication.

Susana Guzman, master’s ’04, is writing about health and environment issues for Rumbo, a new Spanish-language daily newspaper published in Austin, Texas. She and her son Aaron are now living at 8617 Spicewood Springs Road, Apt. 209, Austin, TX 78559. Phone: 512-331-7486 and E-mail: guzmans1@msu.edu.

Annelise Carleton Hug, Ph.D. Fisheries and Wildife ’01, and her husband, Bill, are the parents of Lillianna Rose Hug, who was born on Aug. 13, 2004. The Hugs can be reached at P.O. Box 5313, Bozeman, MT 59717.

Jessica Hulett, ’04, is a reporter for the Ludington Daily News in Ludington, Mich. On Oct. 2 she married Jaked VanderKolk and her new name is Jessica VanderKolk. She can be reached at 231-845-5181 ext. 309 or jhulett@ludingtondailynews.com.

Ivona Lerman, master’s ’01, reports that she works “pretty much 24-7” as the associate editor of the Croatian edition of National Geographic Magazine in Zagreb, Croatia. “The good thing is that in Croatia there are a lot of holidays and a lot more vacation time than in the States,” she reports. “On the downside, salaries are not that great.”

Debbie Munson, master’s ’05, co-authored a joint MSU and Environmental Protection Agency community issue guide on dioxin contamination in the Tittabawassee River in Michigan. She is serving as chair of the Environmental Journalism Association at MSU and as a graduate assistant in the Knight Center. She received a College of Communication Arts and Sciences study abroad scholarship in spring 2004, which enabled her to study photojournalism in Europe during summer 2004.

Alex Nixon, master’s ’04, is writing for Business Direct Weekly, a new Lansing-based newspaper.

Dave Poulson, Knight Center assistant director, is developing a student exchange program with the University of Tasmania which also has an environmental journalism program.  He is also designing a Geographical Information Systems component for MSU’s Computer Assisted Reporting class.

Aileo Weinmann, master’s ’05, is the editor of EJ magazine during the 2004-2005 academic year. In summer 2004 he worked as a teaching assistant for the Australia: Media, Environment & Culture course. As a teaching assistant to Professor Dave Poulson, he built the Web site, australia.jrn.msu.edu, which showcases student essays, photographs and projects, at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. While traveling in Australia he asked his long-time partner, Heather, to marry him. They plan to wed in 2006.

Yuan Ye, master’s ’04, is working as a features writer for Voice of America in the Washington, D.C. area. He is specializing in writing about Chinese and American issues. His address is 1424 N. McKinley Road, Arlington, Va. 22205. His phone number is 202-549-1484 and his e-mail is YuenYe1999@yahoo.com.