Ethanol production and food shortages, energy and climate, energy and politics, asbestos and toxic trailers, land use/abuse were among the topics explored in the best environmental journalism of 2007-2008, according to judges in the seventh annual contest sponsored by the Society of Environmental Journalists.

Thirty-three entries in 11 categories -- including the new Rachel Carson Environment Book Award -- have been designated as finalists in the SEJ Awards for Reporting on the Environment, the world's largest and most comprehensive awards for journalism on environmental topics.

Reporters, editors and journalism educators who served as contest judges pored over 234 entries to choose the finalists representing the best environmental reporting in print and on television, radio, the Internet and in student publications. This year, the judges also chose the best environmental journalism book of 2007.

SEJ will announce the winners Oct. 15 at a gala ceremony in the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center on the first day of SEJ's 18th annual conference. The Rachel Carson Environment Book Award winner will receive $10,000 and a trophy. Each of the other winning entries will receive $1,000 and a trophy.

This year's SEJ finalists can be viewd at: http://www.sej.org/contest/index5.htm