This late-breaking session has been added to the Society of Environmental Journalists’ 16th Annual Confence, coming up in Burlington, Vermont on the week of Oct. 23, 2006. The DeSmogBlog will be there to report on the action. Here’s the write-up…

“Are environmental journalists getting the climate change story wrong? Are we overly receptive to spin? Are we playing up the fear factor and skirting inconvenient uncertainties? A staffer for Senator  James Inhofe (R-OK) thinks liberal groups are funding scientists to exaggerate the dangers of climate change. Come listen to his critique of SEJ members’ reporting, hear the response from some of his targets and weigh in yourself.”

Moderator: Christy George, Producer, Oregon Public Broadcasting

Speakers:

– Seth Borenstein, Science Correspondent, The Associated Press
– Marc Morano, Director of Communications, Environment and Public Works Committee, U.S. Senate
– Andrew Revkin, Environment Reporter, The New York Times

Marc Morano is, of course, the “brains” behind Jim Inhofe (which is frightening for all kinds of reasons), while Seth Borenstein and Andy Revkin are two of the smartest and best informed reporters in the business. It is, on one hand, embarrassing to imagine Borenstein and Revkin on the same podium with the likes of Morano. But, for sheer entertainment value, the session alone should make the trip to Vermont worthwhile.

The DeSmogBlog team will be there and we will be blogging sessions as we go. Look for coverage to start on Friday, Oct. 27, when we expect the action to heat up.