Publication Items

Algae — Society’s Big, Green … and Emerging Menace [1]

It’s poisoning fresh waters across the United States, as well as elsewhere in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa. Blue-green algae is on the rise, lingering later and later into the year. Our new Issue Backgrounder explains the contributing factors behind the potent toxin’s scourge, its societal and public health ramifications, and the many angles and resources to tell the story.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Chemicals [4]
Climate Change [5]
Consumer [6]
Disasters [7]
Environmental Health [8]
Health [9]
Journalism & Media [10]
People & Population [11]
Planning & Growth [12]
Pollution [13]
Water & Oceans [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
California [16]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [17]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [18]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [19]
International [20]
Canada [21]
Mexico [22]
Africa [23]
Antarctica & Arctic [24]
Asia [25]
Australia & Oceania [26]
Central America & the Caribbean [27]
Europe [28]
South America [29]
Visibility:
Public [30]
- Read more about Algae — Society’s Big, Green … and Emerging Menace [1]
Big Environmental Impacts on Small Communities Is Story That Must Be Told [31]

While environmental journalists often focus on regulatory wrestling matches in Washington, D.C., a seasoned New York Times investigative reporter argues the most important stories are those in the real communities where bureaucratic impacts are felt. Three-time Pulitzer winner Eric Lipton makes the case for public service in journalism that tells the environment story from the outside in.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [32]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Air [33]
Chemicals [4]
Energy & Fuel [34]
Environmental Health [8]
Environmental Politics [35]
Government [36]
Health [9]
Journalism & Media [10]
Laws & Regulations [37]
Natural Resources [38]
Policy [39]
Pollution [13]
Water & Oceans [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Alaska and Hawaii [40]
California [16]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [17]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [41]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [42]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [43]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [44]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [18]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [19]
Visibility:
Public [30]
- Read more about Big Environmental Impacts on Small Communities Is Story That Must Be Told [31]
Primer Helps To Prep for Reporting on PFAS [45]

It’s a category of more than 4,000 industrial chemicals that affect our lives nearly every day — and many of which are toxic. So what do journalists need to know to report on the emerging contaminants known as PFAS? Our most recent Issue Backgrounder offers a detailed primer on what PFAS are, where they come from, what their health effects are and how they might be cleaned up.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Chemicals [4]
Consumer [6]
Food [46]
Health [9]
Science [47]
Water & Oceans [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [17]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [44]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [19]
International [20]
Australia & Oceania [26]
Visibility:
Public [30]
- Read more about Primer Helps To Prep for Reporting on PFAS [45]
Urban Farming a Fertile Bed for Crop of Local Stories [48]

The rise of the modern environmental and food movements has shifted urban farming into high gear. For environmental journalists, that could yield a bumper crop of local stories. The latest TipSheet has more, along with questions to ask, story angles to follow and reporting resources to tap.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [49]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [50]
Agriculture [3]
Chemicals [4]
Consumer [6]
Food [46]
Health [9]
Journalism & Media [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
International [20]
Visibility:
Public [30]
- Read more about Urban Farming a Fertile Bed for Crop of Local Stories [48]
SEJ in Press Freedom Case, Chem Secrecy Bill Fails and More [51]

SEJ joined with several dozen other journalism groups to support the right to film police activity in a public place, and bills to block information of importance to environmental reporters failed in Louisiana, California and Iowa, but a Colorado paper was blocked from covering a wild horse roundup. All that in this month’s WatchDog Tipsheet.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [52]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [50]
Agriculture [3]
Air [33]
Chemicals [4]
Climate Change [5]
Economy & Business [53]
Energy & Fuel [34]
Government [36]
Journalism & Media [10]
Laws & Regulations [37]
Pollution [13]
Science [47]
Wildlife [54]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
California [16]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [41]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [42]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [43]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [18]
Visibility:
Public [30]
- Read more about SEJ in Press Freedom Case, Chem Secrecy Bill Fails and More [51]
Between the Lines: Forging a Future for a ‘Forgotten River’ [55]

Washington, D.C.’s long-neglected Anacostia River bears both tragedy and beauty. And author Krista Schlyer plumbs its depths in her most recent book, “River of Redemption.” In this Between the Lines, she speaks of her connection to the urban waterway, as well as her latest reporting on the environmental impact of the border wall.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [56]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [50]
Agriculture [3]
Biodiversity [57]
Chemicals [4]
Environmental Health [8]
Environmental Politics [35]
Journalism & Media [10]
Natural Resources [38]
People & Population [11]
Policy [39]
Pollution [13]
Water & Oceans [14]
Wildlife [54]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
California [16]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [42]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [19]
International [20]
Mexico [22]
Visibility:
Public [30]
- Read more about Between the Lines: Forging a Future for a ‘Forgotten River’ [55]
Track Wetlands Stories with National Inventory Tool [58]

As a battle brews over which U.S. waters are protected, environmental journalists can use an invaluable national database to pinpoint vulnerable wetlands. This week’s TipSheet has more on the National Wetlands Inventory, the backstory on wetlands protection, why it matters, and reporting resources and story ideas.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [49]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [50]
Agriculture [3]
Biodiversity [57]
Environmental Health [8]
Environmental Politics [35]
Fish & Fisheries [59]
Journalism & Media [10]
Laws & Regulations [37]
Natural Resources [38]
Pollution [13]
Water & Oceans [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Visibility:
Public [30]
- Read more about Track Wetlands Stories with National Inventory Tool [58]
Unfolding Mystery Yields Complex Characters, Key Climate Clues [60]

The tale of a failing nation’s climate woes is revealed in a cache of scientific notes hidden in a London attic after their author goes missing. The gripping mystery was unraveled with award-winning skill by journalist Laura Heaton, in our latest “Inside Story” Q&A. Read on and find out the story’s significance for climate adaptation.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [61]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Climate Change [5]
Disasters [7]
Environmental Politics [35]
Journalism & Media [10]
Natural Resources [38]
People & Population [11]
Region:
International [20]
Africa [23]
Visibility:
Public [30]
- Read more about Unfolding Mystery Yields Complex Characters, Key Climate Clues [60]
Want Pesticides With That Kale? [62]

Seemingly healthy foods might not be as healthy as consumers believe. A new list tracking pesticide residue tells a different story, explains this week’s SEJournal TipSheet. Find out what iconic health food is on the “Dirty Dozen” list and which healthy standby makes the “Clean Fifteen.” Plus, the backstory, why pesticide residue matters and resources to report on the issue.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [49]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Chemicals [4]
Consumer [6]
Food [46]
Health [9]
Journalism & Media [10]
Laws & Regulations [37]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Visibility:
Public [30]
- Read more about Want Pesticides With That Kale? [62]
Resiliency Checklist — Is Your Community Ready for the Next Big Flood? [63]

With flood-ravaged Midwestern states in the news, it’s time to ask whether your own community is ready for the “big one.” This week’s TipSheet offers a 10-point Resiliency Checklist to focus your reporting. Track the vulnerability of infrastructure like drinking water and sewage plants, roads, bridges and levees, the adequacy of flood insurance and much more.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [49]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Climate Change [5]
Disasters [7]
Journalism & Media [10]
People & Population [11]
Planning & Growth [12]
Transportation [64]
Waste [65]
Water & Oceans [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [41]
Visibility:
Public [30]
- Read more about Resiliency Checklist — Is Your Community Ready for the Next Big Flood? [63]

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