New York Times Forming "Environmental SWAT Team"

On Thursday, The New York Times will launch a new, crack environmental reporting unit that will pull in eight specialized reporters from the Science, National, Metro, Foreign, and Business desks in a bid for richer, more prominent coverage.

CJR received a copy of an e-mail that the Times's executive editor, Bill Keller, sent to staff in mid-December announcing the newsroom reorganization, in which he describes the paper's rationale:

The Times has a long and distinguished record of covering the complex of issues loosely described as "the environment:" climate change, pollution, endangered land and species, the husbanding of the earth's resources and all the related questions of business, politics, lifestyle and health. For some time we've been plotting a way to pull together the various reporters who work on aspects of the subject, under an editor who will wake up every day thinking of ways to push the story forward, to give it greater energy and focus.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[texasrodeoqueen]

Hey, NYT
check out the latest on a serious problem for us that could affect millions
It's an old mine just above Leadville, CO filled to bursting with toxic mine water. It was an old superfund site that has been ignored and let get to crisis (literally - they have installed a get the hell outta town alarm according to the people I've talked to in Leadville
) It is the headwaters of the Arkansas River which flows through hundreds of towns, provides water for millions downstream. Last I heard the govt was arguing about how this crisis was going to be handled. It sounds a lot like the Tennessee catastrophe waiting to happen.

[texasrodeoqueen]

Great idea! NYT

[little old lady]

Good move, anything the NYTs can do to educate readers, the better. Rampant ignorance exists on "...climate change, pollution, endangered land and species, the husbanding of the earth's resources and all the related questions" which may determine whether we survive or not, and what our quality of life will look like in the Very Near Future.

[wadenelson1]

Wow. Best move the Gray Lady's made in 8 years. Kudos!