Point Park University Environmental Journalism

12/11/2019

This semester Point Park University Environmental Journalism students from the Point Park School of Communication tackled environmental topics in the Multiplatform Magazine course. This is their reporting:

https://www.pollutedpittsburgh.com

The Environmental Journalism programing is supported by a grant from The Heinz Endowments.

10/19/2019

This weekend the students from the Point Park School of Communication held the third installment of the Point Park University Environmental Journalism Multimedia Workshop. The students partnered with Allegheny CleanWays and the Allegheny Land Trust to bring their stories to life. Thanks to Point Park University photojournalism alumni Holly Tonini, Sean McKeag and Ralph Musthaler for being their mentors this weekend. Thanks to the The Heinz Endowments for their support! Check out their work on the environmental-report.org!!

https://www.environmental-report.org/single-post/2019/10/19/2019-Environmental-Journalism-Multimedia-Workshop

Communication 2019 Environmental Journalism Multimedia Workshop. This year students partnered with the Allgeheny Land Trust and Allegheny CleanWays to documen

10/18/2019

School of Communication students headed to the field today during the Environmental Journalism Multimedia Workshop at the Point Park University Center for Media Innovation. The workshop participants partnered with environmental organizations Allegheny CleanWays and Allegheny Land Trust to document current projects and bring their stories to life. Final project pieces will be posted tomorrow evening.

12/10/2018

Here's a really cool website that allows you to view how much hotter it's gotten in your hometown since you were born. The website is beautifully simplistic and allows you to type in your hometown (or wherever you'd like to see), and all you have to do after that is scroll down. It show's data, tells you different things about the data, and also talks about other places in the world and where data shows they will be by the end of the century.
I lived in Bethel Park and it informed me that the average days over 90 degrees has increased by almost 2 weeks since I was born... and I hate those days, especially in this humidity.
Anyways check it out! It takes a minute or 2, and is rather informative.

See how days at or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit have changed in your lifetime and how much hotter it could get.

12/10/2018

Hi all! Wishing everyone a swift and painless finals week. If you're stressed out... which you probably are (just like me), here's a nice little bit of news to cheer you up. A certain continent starting with the letter "A" has reduced their plastic bag use by 80 percent within 3 months. That's right! You guessed it, that continent is Australia! This is due to a nation wide ban on plastic bags and having supermarkets switching to re-usable bags. With there efforts they've prevented an estimated amount of 1.5 billion plastic bags from entering the environment. Could you imagine if everyone was doing that? While you're studying for and taking those files, just hold onto that thought and try not to smile. :D

Australia has slashed its plastic bag habit by up to 80 percent within just three months, according to Australia's National Retail Association, which is so

12/04/2018

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/20/magazine/palm-oil-borneo-climate-catastrophe.html

A feature story for The New York Times by Abrahm Lustgarten talks about how palm oil has cause mass deforestation and caused immense damage to the tropical rainforests in Indonesia, and how harvesting palm oil creates a bigger carbon footprint than originally thought.
Lustgarten tells a story of traveling through the effected areas and seeing how much damage has been done, to the environment and the people who have to live in that environment. He talks about the history of palm oil and the difficulties in controlling the booming industry.

A decade ago, the U.S. mandated the use of vegetable oil in biofuels, leading to industrial-scale deforestation — and a huge spike in carbon emissions.

12/03/2018

A new climate report shows the effects that climate change has created all around the world to this day, and predicts what is to come in the distant future.

"the 1,656-page assessment lays out the devastating effects of a changing climate on the economy, health and environment, including record wildfires in California, crop failures in the Midwest and crumbling infrastructure in the South. Going forward, American exports and supply chains could be disrupted, agricultural yields could fall to 1980s levels by midcentury and fire season could spread to the Southeast, the report finds."

You can check out the actual report findings here,
https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/

Or you could check out The New York Times article by Coral Davenport and Kendra Pierre-Louis, summarizing the report at,
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/23/climate/us-climate-report.html

This report is an authoritative assessment of the science of climate change, with a focus on the United States. It represents the second of two volumes of the Fourth National Climate Assessment, mandated by the Global Change Research Act of 1990.

11/22/2018

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Hoping that loving family and delicious food keeps everyone warm and merry on this chilly gray day...

On a more sad... actually weird and kind of creepy, note, be careful when you go out to get Christmas Tree's in the coming weeks. They really bring the holiday spirit to a household, but this year there's a new risk of also bringing spotted lanternflys. The spotted lanternfly, a native in East Asia, was discovered in PA 4 years ago and has been increasing in numbers. These bugs like to eat wood and build homes in... wood.

So if you're going out to buy a pre-cut pine tree, make sure you check all the branches for clusters of eggs. It's better to find them before they hatch (duh).

On that note... enjoy your turkey's and your stuffing, and your gravy, and cranberry sauce, and alcohol (if you're 21), and other things that people serve at Thanksgiving. I hope the spotted lanternfly didn't ruin your appetite. :D

Experts fear a small, invasive insect known as the spotted lanternfly could become a silent Scrooge that destroys scores of trees and crops.

11/06/2018

Good Morning everyone! Time to go put on your voting shoes and participate in one of the most important rights we have as Americans. The more people that vote the more the system will start to change. We are starting to see individuals and businesses take action into changing the political landscape. Patagonia, the outdoor clothing company, took a stand aside many others by closing their businesses for today. Patagonia CEO Rose Marcario said,
“As a business, we have a unique ability to take a stand and choose to prioritize the health of the planet over profit, and I think it’s important we take that opportunity when it truly matters. We want to do everything possible to empower citizens to make their voices heard and elect candidates up and down the ballot who will protect our planet.”
So help stand up for your beliefs whether it be environmentally driven or not. GO VOTE!

Many employers are stepping up in the name of democracy

10/24/2018

Dr. Sherri Mason is recieving an unrestricted cash award of $250,000 for her research on the impact microplastics leave in the environment and the damage they can do to human health.
She spoke about her research on microbeads and microfibers in fresh water today at PNC Park.
Her presentation was extremely informative and makes you think about these particles that are small in mass but massive in number. She was asked a question about the danger it poses to the planet and responded with an answer very reminiscent to a George Carlin joke. Dr. Mason said, "The planet is fine. What do we need to do to save our species?"

Article about Sherri's award and work.
http://www.observertoday.com/news/page-one/2018/09/sherri-mason-recipient-of-23rd-heinz-award-to-receive-250000/

10/17/2018

Who's ready to drink clean water straight outta their sinks again!

"The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority has landed a state funding package that will allow the agency to replace nearly 3,000 lead service connections, part of ongoing efforts to prevent lead contamination in tap water"
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/10/17/PWSA-lead-line-replacements-pittsburgh-Pennsylvania-Infrastructure-grant-loan/stories/201810170120

10/12/2018

The premiere of Downstream was a very eye opening experience for those living in the greater Pittsburgh region. It explores the problems with the river city's watersheds and the threat it presents. Written and produced by Gina Cantanzarite and edited and filmed by Glenn Syska and Zak Boyle.
Check out the "Downstream" here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALpjaO2zE2s