The Center for Environmental Journalism at the University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ at Boulder has selected five journalists as Ted Scripps Fellows in Environmental Journalism for 2002-2003.
The new fellows are Elizabeth Bluemink, an environmental reporter with the Anniston Star in Anniston, Ala.; John Flesher, the Traverse City Correspondent for the Associated Press in Michigan; Douglas McPherson, senior reporter for New Hampshire Public Radio in Concord; Natalie Phillips, senior staff writer at the Anchorage Daily News in Anchorage, Alaska; and David Wilson, a freelance radio producer in Boulder.
The fellows will study environmental science, policy, law and journalism for two semesters at the university and will work on individual research projects. They also will meet in weekly seminars, attend a range of classes of their choice and go on various field trips.
"From wildfires to energy policy to chronic wasting disease, environmental issues are making headlines," said Len Ackland, director of the ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Center for Environmental Journalism. "Our fellowship program helps journalists better understand such issues and, in turn, they help educate the public."
Since 1997, the Scripps Howard Foundation has provided annual grants for its fellowships at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥, named for Ted Scripps, grandson of the founder of the E.W. Scripps Co. Ted Scripps distinguished himself as a journalist who cared about First Amendment rights and the environment.
Following is additional information about the incoming Ted Scripps Fellows:
Elizabeth Bluemink is an environmental reporter with the Anniston Star, where she covers environmental health concerns, two Superfund sites and regional pollution. Through exhaustive investigative work she has broken a number of stories on PCB, lead and mercury contamination by the Monsanto Corp. in Anniston and has reported on the multi-million dollar litigation case against the company. The winner of a first-place award for feature writing in 2000 from the Alabama Associated Press Managing Editors, Bluemink previously worked for the Virginian Pilot. She has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Virginia.
John Flesher is the Traverse City Correspondent for the Associated Press. He covers news and features in northern Michigan, as well as environmental and statewide agricultural issues. Previously he was the AP's Michigan regional reporter in the Washington bureau and an AP reporter in North Carolina. Flesher was AP's Michigan Staffer of the Year in 1995 and a Great Lakes Environmental Issues Fellow at the Michigan State University School of Journalism in 1997. He has a bachelor's degree in English from North Carolina State University.
Douglas MacPherson is a senior reporter for New Hampshire Public Radio in Concord. He specializes in science and natural resource issues. His stories have appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Weekend Edition and Public Radio International's Marketplace. He also has held a variety of positions, from statehouse reporter to producer at NPR's Boston affiliate, WBUR. MacPherson's bachelor's degree is in literary studies from Middlebury College in Vermont.
Natalie Phillips is a senior staff writer at the Anchorage Daily News in Anchorage, where her assignments focus on science and environmental issues. As the paper's former federal court reporter, she covered the class action lawsuit in the Exxon Valdez oil spill trial. Before moving north, Phillips was a reporter and assistant managing editor at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle in Montana and a staff writer at the ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Springs Gazette Telegraph and the Vail Trail in Vail, Colo.Ìý
A recipient of numerous state, regional and national journalism awards, she also has freelanced for a range of publications including TIME magazine, The New York Times and The Washington Post. She has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Montana and has studied in language programs at the University of Salamanca, Spain, and Colegio de Mexico in Mexico City.
David Wilson lives in Boulder, Colo., where he is a freelance radio producer focusing on science and environmental issues. His more than 100 news stories and documentaries have appeared on programs such as Soundprint, Marketplace, Living on Earth, High Plains News and Pacifica Network News. He was previously managing producer at Alternative Radio after several years as news and public affairs director for Boulder-based public radio station KGNU.
Wilson's "Exploring the Universe" program was awarded the American Association for the Advancement of Science's Whitaker Award for best radio documentary series in 2000. Wilson holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ and earned a master's degree in physics from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.
The Center for Environmental Journalism at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ -- the first of its kind in the United States -- dates to 1992. The center is part of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥'s School of Journalism and Mass Communication, which offers small classes with accomplished professionals and renowned scholars, and provides undergraduate and graduate students a solid foundation in modern workplace skills and pioneering research.
For more information on programs and degrees, call (303) 492-5007 or visit the Web site at .