Writing is a vital part of any journalism curriculum, and environmental reporting is no different. The types of required writing courses for a degree or certificate would include a writing and reporting workshop, which teaches a student how to write clearly and accurately with a strong style. These courses also teach the basic principles of journalism. In more advanced workshops, the student may actually write news features and book proposals and outlines. These courses may also focus on the writings of well-known environmentalist authors like David Thoreau, Aldo Leopold, John McPhee and Bill McKibben
Another factor in becoming a environmental reporter is exercising good journalistic judgment and ethical decision making. Courses in this area involve basic ethics, as well as unique ethical decisions that appear when reporting on scientific and environmental issues. Other issues like the first amendment, censorship, libel and transparency may also be covered in these courses.
Modern classes also teach students to use electronic media to advance their stories. This can include courses in television production. These courses will focus on methods to develop a television program based on environmental topics. Computer-assisted reporting courses teach the student how to analyze data that is organized by a computer, such as spreadsheets and databases. Environmental filmmaking classes will teach the student how to produce a short documentary regarding an environmental topic.
At this level, a current events class will focus on recent scientific or environmental discoveries or issues. It will teach the student how to research these stories and the accepted methods for organizing and presenting controversial scientific information to the public. This type of class typically involves class discussions and writing articles on these topics on a regular basis. These courses will also explore topics like environmental law, risk assessment, climate science and epidemiology.