Nieman Reports

Spring 2005

Water: A Life Force Harnessed as News

Cover for Spring 2005

Water is the essence of life, and its cleanliness, availability, and our use and abuse of it are stories meriting reporters’ and editors’ attention. Yet as Stuart Leavenworth, who covered water issues for The Sacramento Bee and describes the wide array of issues he took on, reports: “To my chagrin, I had the beat largely to myself for four years. Across the country, papers have tackled problems of water pollution and degradation, but have overlooked fundamental issues of supply—and sustainability. This is curious.”

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Reporting On Water: U.S. and International Coverage

Spring 2005: Introduction

By Melissa Ludtke• Journalist’s Trade• March 15, 2005

Water is the essence of life, and its cleanliness, availability, and our use and abuse of it are stories meriting reporters’ and editors’ attention. Yet as Stuart Leavenworth, who covered water issues for The Sacramento Bee and describes the wide array of issues he took on, reports: “To my chagrin, I had the beat largely to myself for four years. Across the country, papers have tackled problems of water pollution and degradation, but have overlooked fundamental issues of supply—and sustainability. This is curious.” – Melissa Ludtke, Editor Read more

The Owens Lake Project

By David Maisel• Journalist’s Trade• March 15, 2005

Areas on the lakebed that generate dust must be controlled with one of three approved dust-control measures: flooding with shallow sheets of water, establishing native salt-tolerant vegetation, or covering the surface with gravel. Read more

Tsunami Coverage

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