Publication Items

What Is the Half-Life of a Nuclear Revival? Part 2 [1]

Is the United States in the midst of a “nuclear renaissance”? This two-part Backgrounder explores the question, with a look at next-gen reactor design, the (lack of) independence of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and what to do with nuclear waste. Plus, see Part 1 [2] on the government role in developing nuclear power and an earlier effort at industry rebirth.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [3]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [4]
Energy & Fuel [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Laws & Regulations [7]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [8]
Policy [9]
Technology [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
International [12]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about What Is the Half-Life of a Nuclear Revival? Part 2 [1]
What Is the Half-Life of a Nuclear Revival? Part 1 [2]

Is the United States in the midst of a “nuclear renaissance”? This two-part Issue Backgrounder explores that question, beginning in Part 1 with a look at the government’s part in developing nuclear power, including through subsidies, as well as why the new reactors built earlier in the 2000s didn’t really make the case for the industry’s rebirth.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [3]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [4]
Energy & Fuel [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Laws & Regulations [7]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [8]
Policy [9]
Technology [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
International [12]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about What Is the Half-Life of a Nuclear Revival? Part 1 [2]
‘Poisoned for Gold’ Project Pricks Nation’s Conscience [14]

Two Ghanian video journalists traveled their country to document how contamination from illegal gold mining was harming the health of workers and nearby communities. Their resulting reporting not only won acclaim from their peers but also ignited a debate that resulted in the closing of polluting mining operations. Read more about their award-winning project and its impact in Inside Story Q&A.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [15]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [16]
Disasters [4]
Economy & Business [17]
Environmental Health [18]
Environmental Justice [19]
Health [20]
Journalism & Media [21]
Natural Resources [22]
People & Population [23]
Pollution [24]
Waste [25]
Water & Oceans [26]
Region:
International [12]
Africa [27]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about ‘Poisoned for Gold’ Project Pricks Nation’s Conscience [14]
Environmental Journalists in a Perilous Era — A Survival Guide [28]

Political upheaval. Economic uncertainty. Security fears. Today’s environmental journalism landscape is strewn with hazards. But whether you’re a freelancer or a staffer, you don’t have to face them alone. In fact, the best strategies for coping with on-the-job risks and riding out these tumultuous times involve community and collaboration. Contributors Madeline Ostrander and Michael Bradbury share insights and advice.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [29]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [4]
Economy & Business [17]
Government [30]
Journalism & Media [21]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Environmental Journalists in a Perilous Era — A Survival Guide [28]
Fire Sleuths Can Spark Story Ideas With Wildland Urban Interface Data Maps [31]

Communities surrounded by forest can be a beautiful place to live … or a wildfire trap. Environmental journalists can readily map and identify these so-called wildland urban interfaces through a federal government resource, writes the latest Reporter’s Toolbox. More on this data mapping tool and how to use it to track your area’s risk, explore historical trends and layer other data.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [32]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [4]
Environmental Studies [33]
Forests [34]
Government [30]
Journalism & Media [21]
People & Population [23]
Planning & Growth [35]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Alaska and Hawaii [36]
California [37]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Fire Sleuths Can Spark Story Ideas With Wildland Urban Interface Data Maps [31]
Beyond the Fires and Floods — Comprehensively Covering Disasters [38]

Reporting on extreme-weather disasters is complicated, challenging work. Besides covering immediate impacts, there’s the broader context to consider, from climate change to social and political dynamics — all while looking out for your personal safety and well-being. Environmental journalist Colleen Hagerty draws on her own and others’ front-line experiences as she shares insights and advice for telling these high-stakes stories.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [29]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [39]
Disasters [4]
Diversity [40]
Environmental Justice [19]
Government [30]
Journalism & Media [21]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
California [37]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [41]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Beyond the Fires and Floods — Comprehensively Covering Disasters [38]
Is Disaster Aid Backlog Becoming a (Blue State) Disaster? [42]

A critical logjam is emerging for post-disaster aid to U.S. states, $11 billion or more, according to some calculations. At the same time, FEMA, which dispenses much of it, is in the Trump administration’s crosshairs. TipSheet explores how this looks on the ground and how politics play into the backlog, plus offers 10 story ideas and resources for local reporting.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [43]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [39]
Disasters [4]
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [30]
Journalism & Media [21]
Policy [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Is Disaster Aid Backlog Becoming a (Blue State) Disaster? [42]
Winter Storm — Reporting Resources From SEJ Publications [44]

As a major winter storm dumped snow and ice across much of the United States this weekend, taking lives, leaving many without power and stalling transportation, the SEJ Publications team offers resources for winter storm reporting in your region. We’ve got the latest headlines, plus a Toolbox on data sources, and an array of snow-related TipSheets to help tell the local climate story.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [45]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [39]
Disasters [4]
Journalism & Media [21]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Winter Storm — Reporting Resources From SEJ Publications [44]
Trump Tries (and Fails) To Disappear Climate Disaster Data [46]

Even though the United States suffers multiple billion-dollar climate change-related catastrophes, the federal government has ceased sharing the data publicly. And it’s far from the only example of environmental data being blacked out, notes the latest Reporter’s Toolbox. But at least in some cases, civil society organizations have rescued the information and put it back online. See what’s still available.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [32]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [39]
Disasters [4]
Environmental Politics [6]
Environmental Studies [33]
Government [30]
Science [47]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Trump Tries (and Fails) To Disappear Climate Disaster Data [46]
Solutions Stories a Compass for Readers [48]

Get more Voices of Environmental Justice in 2026, as we increase column frequency to bimonthly. And for her first contribution of the year, writer Yessenia Funes calls on climate reporters to offer audiences a sense of hope by leaning into solutions narratives, hard-hitting and data-driven stories that hold the powerful accountable. Expert advice on how to make solutions journalism work.

SEJ Publication Types:
Voices of Environmental Justice [49]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [39]
Disasters [4]
Economy & Business [17]
Environmental Studies [33]
Health [20]
Journalism & Media [21]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
California [37]
International [12]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Solutions Stories a Compass for Readers [48]

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