In Phoenix, the environment is the headline
Welcome to a special edition of Climate Point.
Like Coachella, but for the environment
Happy Tuesday! I'm Shaun McKinnon, environment editor at The Arizona Republic, part of the Paste BN Network, and I'm your guest newsletter host for this SEJ Takeover edition of Climate Point.
We're here today because the Society of Environmental Journalists was in Phoenix for its 34th annual conference. It's a pretty big deal, for environmental journalists, anyway. Some of the top reporters and writers in the country were at the Omni Hotel on the campus of Arizona State University this weekend, talking about some of the biggest stories of our time.
This year The Arizona Republic has teamed up with SEJ to cover the conference with a team of student journalists, from ASU, the University of Arizona and other schools. They're covering the tours, the speeches, the panel discussions, all the things, and we're bringing you their stories this SEJ Takeover editions of Climate Point.
So rock on, enviroheads, get down, climate-iacs (still workshopping those not quite there). Here's what the cool kids are talking about:
Arizona is the ideal place for environmental journalists to see climate stakes
Greg Burton, The Republic's Executive Editor, helped bring the SEJ conference to Arizona and championed the student newsroom. At the opening ceremony, he talked about why covering the environment is so vital, and he adapted his remarks in this column. An excerpt:
That’s why Arizona is the ideal place for The Society of Environmental Journalists to spend this week exploring the majestic and climate-challenged place we call home. We need a world of journalists to understand how 22 tribal nations, seven and a half million people, 10 national parks and monuments and the nation’s fifth-largest city coexist with limited water and unbridled heat.
In Arizona's high country, restoring forest health is a group effort
PAYSON, AZ — Interagency collaboration is vital in environmental conservation efforts, and the partnership between Salt River Project, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, the National Forest Foundation and the Arizona Game and Fish Department is no different.
Are environmental costs of deep-sea mining worth the benefits? 3 key points to consider
On the floor of the Pacific Ocean, billions of tons of geological materials called nodules hold key minerals like nickel, cobalt and magnesium that are critical for uses like electric cars, powerlines and wind turbines.
4 things experts said about confronting the climate crisis in the Trump era
Environmental leaders from the western U.S. gathered in metro Phoenix to discuss "confronting the climate crisis in the Trump Era" during the Society of Environmental Journalists conference.
Preventing destructive wildfires requires major societal changes, scientist says
The wildfire that destroyed parts of Los Angeles in January also sparked debates on whether it was avoidable. Dominick DellaSala, chief scientist at Wild Heritage, said that it can’t happen without a paradigm shift.
Environmental journalists: Readers are losers in the AI revolution
The rise of artificial intelligence is making it harder for journalists to convey complicated science news about the environment, said panelists at the annual 2025 Society of Environmental Journalism conference in Tempe.
How Trump's plan to fast-track mining projects can hinder access to water
The Trump Administration’s loosened mining regulations can limit access to life-sustaining drinking water, Wyatt Myskow said at the 2025 Society of Environmental Journalists conference in Tempe.
Why connecting underserved communities with critical environmental news takes collaboration
How can news coverage better reach historically marginalized communities facing disproportionate environmental harms?
Climate programs will struggle for support, attention under Trump, speakers say
Reflecting on the first 95 days of President Donald Trump’s administration, panelists at the opening session of the 2025 Society of Environmental Journalists conference were not hopeful for the future.
Gathering data for environment stories in Latino communities can challenge journalists
When reporting on Latino groups for environment and climate stories, data can be difficult to find.
Renewable energy, electric cars have become politicized under Trump, advocates say
Renewable energy sources have become politicized, especially in light of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration earlier this year, advocates say, and electric vehicles have become symbols of the climate crisis in general.
For journalists who cover natural disasters, here are 3 key things to consider
Disaster reporting is crucial for people affected by hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and other events.
Indigenous food educators share their knowledge of Sonoran Desert plants
Two Indigenous food educators showcased the abundance of the Sonoran Desert during a tour for the Society of Environmental Journalists’ annual conference on April 25.
News about the environment abounds. What will make more people read it?
The public’s main source for information about the environment and climate change comes from the news, but not enough people are reading it.
How can Arizona mines produce key minerals and not harm the environment?
After the U.S. imposed new tariffs, China responded by restricting exports of several rare earth minerals critical to American defense and medical technologies.
That's it for today for our SEJ Takeover of Climate Point. Thanks as always for reading and subscribing.
Coverage of the Society of Environmental Journalists conference is supported by Arizona State University’s Cronkite School of Journalism, the University of Arizona, the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and the Arizona Media Association.