Publication Items

Why the Latest TRI Update Should Be in Your Sights for Stories [1]

Each year brings another update of the Toxics Release Inventory database. And each year, it gets ignored or downplayed by too many news outlets. As the new Reporter’s Toolbox points out, not only does the latest iteration of TRI have some notable updates but it also offers plenty of room for localizable stories. Here’s how to mine the resource.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [3]
Environmental Justice [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [7]
Policy [8]
Pollution [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Why the Latest TRI Update Should Be in Your Sights for Stories [1]
Houston Plays Host to First On-Site SEJ Conference Since 2019 [12]

Environmental journalists from around the country and beyond will gather in Houston later this month for the Society of Environmental Journalists’ 31st annual conference. Widely known as the energy capital of the world, this highly diverse city is an ideal place to drill down on the causes and consequences of climate change and other environmental issues of the day.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [13]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [14]
Air [15]
Biodiversity [16]
Chemicals [3]
Climate Change [17]
Disasters [18]
Diversity [19]
Economy & Business [20]
Energy & Fuel [21]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Justice [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Fish & Fisheries [23]
Food [24]
Forests [25]
Government [26]
Health [27]
Infrastructure [28]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [7]
People & Population [29]
Planning & Growth [30]
Policy [8]
Pollution [9]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [31]
Science [32]
Technology [33]
Transportation [34]
Waste [35]
Water & Oceans [36]
Wildlife [37]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [38]
International [39]
Mexico [40]
Central America & the Caribbean [41]
Europe [42]
South America [43]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Houston Plays Host to First On-Site SEJ Conference Since 2019 [12]
EPA TSCA Database Back on the Street [44]

A key federal database on toxic chemicals, kneecapped under the Trump administration, is now back. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox reports that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last week resurfaced the ChemView service, and explains the background law that fuels its data, while offering tips on how to make smart use of the database as it expands in coming years.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [3]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [26]
Health [27]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [7]
Pollution [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about EPA TSCA Database Back on the Street [44]
The Year Ahead Will Spark Abundant Environment News — Both Good and Bad [45]

Even as the climate crisis countdown story continues, a wide range of environment and energy issues are on journalists’ watchlist for the year ahead, per an analysis from our “2022 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment [46].” The overview looks at 13 key trends to track in 2022 and beyond — including infrastructure, pandemics, environmental justice, energy, chemicals, plastics and, of course, climate.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [47]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [3]
Climate Change [17]
Disasters [18]
Energy & Fuel [21]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Justice [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [26]
Health [27]
Infrastructure [28]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [7]
Policy [8]
Pollution [9]
Transportation [34]
Waste [35]
Water & Oceans [36]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
International [39]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about The Year Ahead Will Spark Abundant Environment News — Both Good and Bad [45]
Deep in the Heart of Complexity … Or, the View From Texas [48]

As the Society of Environmental Journalists prepares for its annual conference in Houston this March, the SEJournal asked Texas-based reporter Greg Harman to explore the Lone Star State's most critical stories for 2022. Here, in this special Texas-focused TipSheet, are leads, resources, encouragements and challenges.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [49]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [14]
Air [15]
Chemicals [3]
Climate Change [17]
Disasters [18]
Economy & Business [20]
Energy & Fuel [21]
Environmental Justice [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [26]
Health [27]
Infrastructure [28]
Journalism & Media [6]
People & Population [29]
Planning & Growth [30]
Policy [8]
Pollution [9]
Wildlife [37]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [38]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Deep in the Heart of Complexity … Or, the View From Texas [48]
Reporters Reveal ‘Decades of Deceit’ Over Underground Water Contamination [50]

A trove of confidential documents about a well-known groundwater pollution problem helped journalists Paul LaRocco and David M. Schwartz uncover how much had actually been hidden about the contamination’s severity and how it could have been kept from worsening. In the latest Inside Story Q&A, LaRocco and Schwartz share the story behind their award-winning investigation.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [51]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [3]
Disasters [18]
Economy & Business [20]
Environmental Health [22]
Health [27]
Journalism & Media [6]
Military [52]
Pollution [9]
Water & Oceans [36]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [53]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Reporters Reveal ‘Decades of Deceit’ Over Underground Water Contamination [50]
New Reporting Network Aims To Make Connections in the Mississippi Basin [54]

The Mississippi River and its tributaries drain more than 40% of the continent, but most coverage of environmental stories within the Mississippi Basin is localized and siloed. The recently launched Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk hopes to help news outlets provide region-wide reporting that contextualizes issues like climate change-driven flooding and the Gulf of Mexico dead zone.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [47]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [55]
Chemicals [3]
Climate Change [17]
Disasters [18]
Economy & Business [20]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Justice [4]
Fish & Fisheries [23]
Government [26]
Infrastructure [28]
Journalism & Media [6]
Pollution [9]
Transportation [34]
Waste [35]
Water & Oceans [36]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [56]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [57]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [58]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [59]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [53]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [60]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [38]
International [39]
Canada [61]
Mexico [40]
Central America & the Caribbean [41]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about New Reporting Network Aims To Make Connections in the Mississippi Basin [54]
When Reporting on Toxic Hotspots, Go Deeper With Cancer Registries [62]

As awareness grows about how pollution can cause certain cancers, it’s smart to look beyond cancer risk and also explore available information about actual cancer cases. Reporter’s Toolbox explains how extensive data collected regularly in state-level cancer “registries” can take your coverage on the pollution-public health connection to another level. Plus, avoiding pitfalls in reporting possible clusters.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [15]
Chemicals [3]
Disasters [18]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Justice [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Environmental Studies [63]
Government [26]
Health [27]
Journalism & Media [6]
People & Population [29]
Pollution [9]
Science [32]
Waste [35]
Water & Oceans [36]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [53]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [60]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about When Reporting on Toxic Hotspots, Go Deeper With Cancer Registries [62]
Congressional Infrastructure Bill Loaded With Local Stories [64]

The massive infrastructure measure signed into law last week is a potential mother lode of stories for environmental journalists. If that is, they can figure out where the money is going. The latest TipSheet takes an initial look at the $1.2 trillion plan and offers guidance on how to track down reportable local and regional projects.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [49]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [3]
Climate Change [17]
Disasters [18]
Economy & Business [20]
Energy & Fuel [21]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [26]
Infrastructure [28]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [7]
Policy [8]
Transportation [34]
Water & Oceans [36]
Wildlife [37]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Congressional Infrastructure Bill Loaded With Local Stories [64]
Rural Reporter Turns Routine Permit Into Award-Winning Investigation [65]

It was a seemingly mundane legal notice about a surface water discharge permit. But when Wyoming journalist Angus Thuermer Jr. took a closer look, he discovered that it would mean massive discharges of pollutants into local waters. Inside Story explains how Thuermer revealed the truth about the plans, prompting local protests and, ultimately, a withdrawal of the permit.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [51]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [3]
Energy & Fuel [21]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Politics [5]
Fish & Fisheries [23]
Health [27]
Journalism & Media [6]
People & Population [29]
Pollution [9]
Water & Oceans [36]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [59]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Rural Reporter Turns Routine Permit Into Award-Winning Investigation [65]

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