Environmental Journalism

Topic Overview
This topic launched the Reporting on Growth and Open Space program in 2006 with a full-day seminar focused on the changing nature of environmental journalism as it has shifted from a narrowly-defined ecology beat to one that takes a more holistic approach and includes land use and related issues. The seminar also introduced some of the difficulties of defining open space and the challenges for journalists. The seminar coincided with release of the Resource Manual’s inaugural section, dedicated to environmental journalism: organizations, contacts, archives, awards, fellowships, and conferences for journalists interested in environmental journalism.

Environmental Journalism for the 21st Century:
Out of the Woods and Into the Great Wide Open
Download Seminar Materials: seminar agenda, speaker bios, seminar presentations and handouts
Download Chapter 1: Environmental Journalism

The Region and Open Space

Topic Overview
This topic explores regional attitudes towards open space and sense of place, and the implications in a rapidly growing region. A second full-day seminar unveiled the results of the 2006 Regional Survey on Growth and Open Space, along with a presentation on the region’s projected future. It also included case studies in advocacy versus informational reporting, a video documentary of rural voices on open space and sense of place, and guided discussion of the political nature of language in regional issues. The Resource Manual contains both a section on Open Space (public and private, protected and unprotected) and the 2006 Regional Survey on Growth and Open Space.

Where We Live: Many Voices, One Region
Download Seminar Materials: seminar agenda, speaker bios, seminar presentations and handouts
Download Chapter 2: Open Space
Download the Chapter 3: 2006 Regional Survey on Growth and Open Space

Land Use

Topic Overview
For the second year of the program, one-hour web-cast panel discussions replaced day-long seminars. The first panel discussion explored the issues of land use regulation and private property rights. These issues are often difficult to resolve as communities grow, and challenging for journalists to cover. The moderator, guest journalist, and panelists engaged in a thoughtful discussion to break down these complex issues and uncover common ground as well as sources of conflict. The panel discussion was web-cast live and recorded for downloading.

The Resource Manual contains a section on Land Use that provides information on national, state and local organizations whose focus is land use planning, along with other resources on this topic.

Land Use Regulation and Private Property Rights
Download Seminar Materials: seminar agenda, speaker bios, seminar presentations and handouts
Download Chapter 4: Land Use

Agriculture

Topic Overview
This topic explores the connections between agriculture as an important part of our regional economy and agriculture as a form of open space and way of life. A panel discussion focused on perceptions and realities of “the new agriculture” in our region, and how it relates to our changing concepts of growth and open space.

Locally-Grown Foods: Fact, Fiction, & Fantasy in the Emerging Open Space Economy
Download Seminar Materials: seminar agenda, speaker bios, seminar presentations and handouts

Air Quality and Water Resources

The first of five topics dealing with the connection of growth & open space issues with other civic issues, this one deals with air quality and water resource issues. There are obvious environmental impacts of land development and conversion of open space, but there are also social and economic dimensions to the changes brought by population growth. Under this topic, the Resource Manual explores themes such as air quality ?non-attainment? designation and respiratory health problems, storm water runoff pollutants and strategies for mitigating development impacts. Podcast and vodcast interviews include local and state experts on air quality and water resource issues, plus National Public Radio environmental journalist Dale Willman.

Visit the Interviews page to download audio and video interviews for this topic
Download Chapter 5: Air Quality and Water Resources

Government and Public Services

This topic will examine how growth and open space issues interconnect with and influence the public sector and its provision of public services at the local level. Specifically, how do population growth, demographic change, physical land development and conversion of open space impact local tax revenues, the cost of providing public services (including regulatory enforcement), the kinds of services needed and how they are provided? Also covered will be impacts on civic engagement, participation in public processes and regional cooperation.

Visit the Interviews page to download audio and video interviews for this topic
Download Chapter 6: Government and Public Services

Business and Economy

This topic will explore how growth and open space issues relate to the economy and business. In particular, how do population growth, demographic change, physical land development and conversion of open space impact economic development, business and workforce recruiting, and the region?s agricultural economy?

Visit the Interviews page to download audio and video interviews for this topic
Download Chapter 7: Business and Economy

Heritage and Culture

This topic will look at local heritage and culture through the lens of growth and open space issues. Sub-topics include the arts, regional history and traditions, local sense of place and regional identity. Also covered will be connections to religion and stewardship.

Visit the Interviews page to download audio and video interviews for this topic
Download Chapter 8: Culture and Heritage

Community Well-Being

This topic will focus on the impacts of growth and open space conservation or conversion on issues on public health and safety, education, and that elusive intangible, social capital.

Visit the Interviews page to download audio interview for this topic
Download Chapter 9: Community Well-Being