Episode 37: Water journalism and information flows
“News goes far beyond just what happened yesterday, it is often explaining the how, the why, and hopefully, providing information that helps the public.”
A conversation with Ian James (Los Angeles Times) about water journalism in the Western United States, developing stories, journalistic roles, sourcing data, and reporting on contentious water issues. Released April 22, 2022.
guests on the show
Ian James
Ian James is a reporter who focuses on water in California and the West. He joined the Los Angeles Times in 2021, and before that he was an environment reporter at the Arizona Republic and the Desert Sun. Ian previously worked for the Associated Press as a correspondent in the Caribbean. and as bureau chief in Venezuela. Originally from California, Ian poses questions that produce distinctive stories and contribute to public debates. He deeply examines government decisions and corporate practices to shine light on problems and expose injustices, helping to spark changes. Award-winning projects have examined overexploitation of water by large corporate farms in Arizona, toxic pollution from factories along the U.S.-Mexico border and the consequences of groundwater depletion in farming areas around the world. Ian James is a published author, Pulitzer Center grantee and member of the Society of Environmental Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors. Read most recent articles by Ian James here and follow him on Twitter @ByIanJames.
Transcript
Faith Kearns
Welcome to Water Talk. Today we are excited to have the opportunity to talk with Ian James who is a reporter who focuses on water in California and the western US, more generally. He joined the Los Angeles Times in 2021. And before that he was an environment reporter at the Arizona Republic and the Desert Sun and previously worked for the Associated Press as a correspondent in the Caribbean, and as bureau chief in Venezuela. He is originally from California, and we are really looking forward to talking with Ian today.
I'm really excited to have the chance to talk with Ian, he's the first water journalist that we are going to have on Water Talk. I've been wanting to initiate some conversations with journalists and I can't think of a better person to start with. Ian is someone who I've always thought was very careful in his approach to water issues in California. And I continued to follow his work as he moved to the Arizona Republic because that's the state that I'm originally from and was super interested to see the way that he elevated some of the really important issues around water in Arizona in a new way. I'm really excited to see how he does at the LA Times, which he's only been with for about six months so far. So today, we'll have a chance to talk with him about some of the issues that he's starting to work on at the Times. Sam, Mallika, what are you interested in talking with Ian about?
Mallika Nocco
So many things, I have to say. I really look forward to reading articles from Ian. Whenever I see something that he's written, you know it's gonna be a good read. And it's one of those things where I'll click on it and save it, and I'll be like, alright, I'm gonna read this during lunch because I want to take it all in. And I don't want to just skim through it really quickly.
This leads me to something that I've been thinking about. So today, we are scientists and we have a podcast. So we are trying to communicate via a journalistic output. And we're speaking to a journalist who is working on scientific issues, you know, often. One of the things I actually really appreciate about a lot of Ian's work is how well he does with data in terms of using data, putting data together, and actually using that data to do something that, I think he is really phenomenal at, which is create a story, or also create an argument, create a point of view, create a perspective. So I really appreciate that. And yeah, it's just kind of fun, like okay, so the scientists today are going to interview the journalist.
Sam Sandoval
So in my case, I'm very interested about how he navigates reporting on water in a way that is very objective, but at the same time, he doesn't shy away from the key issues. I think that that for me is very important. The second one is asking for some advice, when we are approached by journalist, how should we approach it? Or when we have some information that may be relevant, what can we do?
Faith Kearns
So Ian, without further ado, we are just so excited to welcome you to Water Talk. You're the first journalist we've had on the podcast, and I'm really looking forward to hearing your perspective on many things. We want to start by asking you a bit more about you and your background and career path. What is your path to your current position with the LA Times been like?
Ian James
Well, thank you for having me. And my path to my current position started in California. I grew up in the Bay Area. And as I was preparing to speak with you, I was thinking about where my interest in water began. And it's hard to say exactly. But as a kid, I did enjoy playing and exploring the creeks in the Bay Area. And that's something that has stayed with me.
I would say my interest in journalism probably began with photography. And I enjoy photographing people and landscapes. And from there, I started doing more writing. I majored in Public Policy Studies and also studied Journalism. And my first jobs involved covering local news in California and Florida. I was writing about local government, and writing about nuclear power. And all along the way I was always interested in telling stories about people in their lives.
I also speak Spanish and so after a few years working in the US, I decided I really wanted to work in Latin America, and so I joined the Associated Press. I worked in Miami for a while. Then I was in New York. I was in the Caribbean. I spent eight years working in Venezuela covering all sorts of political, economic news, and, from time to time, an environmental story. And during that time, I had been reading about climate change and other reporting on water issues. And more and more, I decided this is something I'm really interested in focusing on completely and having this be the area that I'm going to be reporting on. And so I looked for opportunities to do that. I was fortunate enough to find a position that would allow me to do that type of work for the Desert Sun in California.
So I came back to California after many years of reporting elsewhere, and started doing that work right around the time of the last big drought. I was writing about groundwater in the Coachella Valley and the Colorado River, and also traveled to the Central Valley and worked on a project with colleagues looking at groundwater depletion in California and other parts of the world. And since then, I've continued reporting on those subjects both in California, as well as in other parts of the Southwest, in Arizona, where I worked for the past three years, before he joined the LA Times. And I really am fascinated by this work, and I love doing it. And I'm really pleased to be doing it now for the LA Times.
Mallika Nocco
You've been with the LA Times now for about half a year, and then previously had covered California water and environment issues with the Desert Sun, as well as Southwestern water issues more generally with the Arizona Republic. So now that you've kind of come back to California, what issues are you most interested in covering here?
Ian James
One of the issues I've been especially interested in covering is how groundwater is being heavily used in the San Joaquin Valley, particularly during this dry hot period, which is increasingly what California is going to face in the future. And how, despite the approval of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, how many more wells have continued to be drilled, and what the consequences are for people in these areas, and especially for disadvantaged communities.
I worked with a couple of colleagues last year in looking at the areas where groundwater levels have continued to decline the most, as well as how many more wells have been drilled. And we found that over the past year, the number of new agricultural wells drilled has continued to increase, even as the groundwater sustainability plans under SGMA have slowly moved forward. Our analysis also found that more than 6200 agricultural wells have been drilled since that law was passed. So that was one topic that I was really interested in looking at. And I think it was important for us to take a deep look at where SGMA stands. And that's something I plan to continue doing.
Also how the hotter, drier climate and decisions about water are affecting the environment. One recent example was that I learned about a group of people in Bakersfield who've been calling for restoring flows in the Kern River, which has been largely dry for decades, and most of the water goes off in canals. And so I traveled to Bakersfield with a photographer colleague and we met with some of the people who are especially concerned about the Kern River and want to see its flows come back. And part of that work involved, going with them walking through a conservation area to a spot where the last of the Kern River dries up. And that was a story that I thought was especially important and especially during this time, when there are so many pressures on California's water supplies and so much of the water-fed environment of that part of the state has been lost.
And also, as it's been so dry, I've been especially interested in learning about the situation of California's endangered salmon. And so I recently traveled to the area around Shasta Dam where the winter run Chinook salmon have suffered major losses as the water releases from Shasta Dam have become too warm. And I've been interested to talk with state and federal wildlife officials as well as Caleen Sisk, the Chief and Spiritual Leader of the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, about all of the challenges facing salmon and about a new proposal to reintroduce them above Shasta Dam to help the fish survive. So that's another topic that I've been especially interested to delve into, as I've started on this beat
Mallika Nocco
First of all, that is a heck of a six months. Talk about getting into the meat of it all. But I had a follow up about the groundwater well drilling article. I remember reading that, and I just, I thought it was so compelling, because I think many folks, when they think about SGMA, and what it's supposed to be doing, it ran really counterintuitive. And as a scientist, I was really impressed with the data that you introduced. And I think that we all share that in common. And one of the things I like about your reporting a lot is how you really introduce data and make it accessible to many, many people and like you, you know, work to have these great visualizations. So I was wondering if you could just tell us a little bit about what it was like to gather the data for that story to come up with that finding of the increased drilling?
Ian James
Well, I worked with several colleagues on this project. And it involves looking for all available data and then working with our data graphics team in looking at what were some of the ways that we could communicate that information and analyze the data? You know, first of all, a lot of times when we're gathering datasets, we don't really know what we'll find when we're going into it. And that was the case, in this project we were looking at, well, how many new agricultural wells have been drilled each year during this period. And so really that data analysis, which was led by my colleague, Gabrielle LaMarr LeMee, really brought out that information. And so I would just say that it was a team effort, we looked hard at the data and thought about the best ways to communicate what we were finding.
Faith Kearns
To follow up on some of those questions, I'm curious just about your overall process. And sort of, you know, understanding how you find the stories and people you want to cover, and just how you pursue them? Like, for example, I'm curious, you know, do you have complete freedom in the kinds of issues you want to cover? Are there editorial interests that override that at all? Just how you decide what you're going to write about?
Ian James
Yes, I definitely have complete freedom in deciding what to write about. And there often are so many potential angles and stories that we can look at. And so I often find that I'm prioritizing what are going to be some of the strongest, most important stories that we can tell, and also covering the biggest news. So I tune into public meetings, I read scientific studies, I read water policy reports. And I'm always trying to meet new people, whether that's speaking with someone who works in farming, or someone who manages a wetland. And tips are also very important and can be valuable.
One example that comes to mind, in 2015 I had been reporting on bottled water, and where water comes from, that's bottled by companies in California. And I was speaking with people who were concerned about Nestle's use of bottled water from the San Bernardino National Forest. And in talking with them, they had mentioned, “Did you know that it's been many years since Nestle's permit was renewed by the Forest Service and it lists an expiration date that's more than two decades old?” And that stood out to me as one point that we needed to delve into and that was a tip that only came because I was talking with people and listening to what they had to say and their concerns about the situation and from there I began requesting public records and, and investigating more.
I just like to add that sometimes the reporting also involves simply going somewhere and finding people. One example that comes to mind is the New River in Calexico, which, for many years, has been polluted with sewage and industrial pollutants. And this is an issue that has been reported on over the years. And we wanted to go deeper and learn about the experiences of the people who live near the river. And so we didn't know how to find these people, but the first step was simply going there, walking the neighborhood and going door to door and, and hearing about their experiences living next to this polluted river. And we soon met with people who were dealing with the stench, the fumes and on hot days, and sometimes of the year, would be shutting their doors and windows to keep out the stench. And so sometimes I think we go into a story with an idea “this is important”. Why hasn't it been addressed? Why hasn't it been fixed? Who is affected? And focus on those stories of the people who are most affected?
Mallika Nocco
There are so many different people, as well as organizations, working on California water issues on many different scales, from what you mentioned, with just community-based organizations and groups all the way to the state. And everyone is providing different types of information and different perspectives. How do you see the role of journalists in this information ecosystem?
Ian James
Well, I think we have a key role to play in informing the public and that starts with the news. What is the biggest news of the day related to climate change? How it's affecting the drought? What's the situation with California's water supplies?
I often think at a basic level, that a lot of people in California and across the country may not know where their water comes from. And so I think there's a basic information-providing service. I do see it as a public service. It's explaining to people where water comes from. What decisions are being made about water? How that affects people in the environment? Revealing new information that can help inform debates and influence decisions about water.
I think we have a role to play in explaining aspects of how California's water supplies water supplies in the West. And watersheds are changing as a result of global heating and the thirstier atmosphere, the more intensified water cycle. And also, I keep in mind while reporting on water in California, that each watershed has its unique challenges, factors that are influencing the availability of water and decisions about water, water pollution. And so I'm often, you know, approaching each story and topic by learning a lot about that local area, and the unique challenges that it faces.
I also would add that accountability journalism is an important role that we can play when there is mismanagement, wrongdoing, or problems that haven't been adequately addressed, investigating why that is. So I think that news goes far beyond just what happened yesterday. It is often explaining the how, the why, and hopefully providing information that helps the public.
Faith Kearns
Thanks so much. And so one of the things that is so interesting to me is this, that there's been a huge emphasis on diverse sources in news reporting over the past several years. And you know, lots of institutions, particularly from academia and science, have been trying to provide more diverse sources for journalists. And while I do find that some of that work will result in new stories being told in sort of new ways, it still feels like we have a really long way to go. Particularly I find when it comes to California water issues, that journalists can often end up sort of turning to the same sources again and again. And so I'm just wondering, how do you address these issues in your own reporting? And do you maybe have advice for those of us who are really interested in helping to get more diversity of sorts of people and ideas and geographies into the water news?
Ian James
Yes, this is so important. And I see diversity is central in my work, and something that I think about and focus on. I really make a point of seeking out a variety of voices and perspectives. And I don't know that I have any particular insights about how to do better except just to continue talking about it, to continue saying this is important, and to seek out those voices and perspectives to make sure that we're providing a complete picture because if some voices are left out, it really is a detriment to the overall information ecosystem.
Faith Kearns
Yeah, just as a follow up, I'm really curious you know, as you’re doing your own reporting do you keep track of various people and places and ideas that you're reporting on? And sort of try to improve the diversity of your stories over time? Or do you have another process that you're thinking about?
Ian James
I would say my process is not systematic. It is not a formal tracking of the diversity of sources, but it is a general curiosity and interest in having diverse voices in my recording. And so I would say it's a constant focus. But I'm not sort of keeping score in any kind of numerical way. I'm more just thinking, yes, I'm interested in diverse perspectives, and what my story is to reflect that.
Sam Sandoval
Ian, perhaps a follow up question on that one. I know that you speak Español, bienvenido. And one of the things that I really liked about it, or that people that we speak both languages, we can navigate different sources, from los trabajadores del campo, farmworkers, all the way to farmers and decision makers. So how have you found that ability that you have to now include a group that traditionally has not had the voice to include their perspective, their tips?
Ian James
Así es, that is very true. So thanks for the question. And I am very interested in reporting on Spanish speaking communities so I have sought out opportunities to do that. I find that work to be very important, especially when there are people who have maybe not had opportunities to speak to the news media before or share their stories.
And one example that comes to mind would be the project that we did looking at pollution in the border communities in the Calexico area in Mexicali. And I spent several months there talking with people who live around some of the factories and other pollution sources in those communities. Many of them had never had a chance to share their stories before. And all those interviews were in Spanish. And I think it was important that we did that work.
Sam Sandoval
And for the record, I've seen and read many, many of your articles in both English and Spanish. I think it's very impressive for me to have a this type of communication. And that broadens the outlet.
I'm an academic. But also we have a lot of people from the academic sector in our audience. One of the questions that I want to ask is how to better communicate some of our research to journalists? Should we knock on your door? Or should we wait to be found? Tell us what should we do?
Ian James
Well, I think overall, a lot of people in the California water space are doing a very good job communicating on their work. There is a lot of important research coming out lately, as well as policy work. First of all, I don't see major room for improvement there, but I do think as a reporter that a heads up always helps, sometimes ahead of time, when we expect something to come out. Whether that's a new research paper or a new policy paper. At the same time, I think it's also helpful to have conversations before there is a release of some new announcement that it's helpful just to have an ongoing dialogue. And I seek out those opportunities. And I think that can be very helpful as well.
Mallika Nocco
So Ian water can be a very contentious issue in California, as I think as we all kind of know and experience. And this is just because so much is at stake. It's people's livelihood. It's our health. People's income depends on it. How do you navigate working on this very contentious issue as a journalist?
Ian James
Water is such a contentious issue in California. I think it's because people care so deeply about it. And as you say it does affect people's livelihoods and health. Water is just connected to so much in California and throughout the world. And so I see a real important piece of my work in listening to a broad range of perspectives, and really digging into these conflicts, these contentious issues around water.
One example that comes to mind relates to golf courses in southern California. I have done quite a bit of reporting on golf courses, people have strong feelings about how much water is used by golf courses. They do use a lot of water. And, you know, for them to cut back on water use involves quite a bit of investment to try to convert landscape. I have found that in reporting on golf water use, it has been helpful to really dig into the details with different sides of that debate, in terms of how much water should be allocated for that purpose.
Also, in terms of groundwater in the Central Valley, a super contentious issue. The use of water for agriculture, especially in dry years, is vital to the farming economy. And at the same time, there are people living near these farms who have lost access to water, hundreds of people whose wells have gone dry. And so I have tried to really examine these contentious issues and what's at stake. And I think the journalism has an important role there.
Mallika Nocco
I think you make a really great point about the response to this type of contentious issue is just to dig in and really get into the details. Because I feel like sometimes where the conflict can be located, or some of the responses are superficial. That conflict is about being polarized, and being able to just say a couple of talking points quickly that don't really get into those details, so I really appreciate that answer.
Sam Sandoval
And this actually goes back to a what Joaquin Esquivel mentioned two weeks ago: the value of information or misinformation and just the two three talking points or the narrative.
Muchas gracias, thanks. Thanks for being with us on our podcast. And, as always, we would like to finish by asking you, how can we help you? How can we, the three of us and our audience, can support your work, the work that you're doing?
Ian James
One thing you can do, first of all, I would say to everyone is subscribe to the LA Times. I would also say that my door is open. So please get in touch. Share suggestions of topics that I should be covering. I always find that valuable. And I also would say that I think the work that you're doing on this podcast is so valuable in bringing so many voices to the table and going deeply into these issues.