Publication Items

Former Public Affairs Officers Push Back on Advanced Industry Reaction, Plus Police Scanner Transparency and Ag-Gag Ruling [1]

When the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a press release with favorable industry response to changes in a rule protecting migratory birds — before actually proposing the new rule — a group of former agency officials cried foul. Plus, why encrypted police scanners are a problem and an ag-gag ruling, all in the latest WatchDog opinion column.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Biodiversity [4]
Disasters [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Wildlife [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [12]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [13]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Former Public Affairs Officers Push Back on Advanced Industry Reaction, Plus Police Scanner Transparency and Ag-Gag Ruling [1]
Why Shelter From the (Coronavirus) Storm Isn’t Always Safe [15]

Emergency evacuations are hard to plan under normal circumstances. Now the coronavirus pandemic makes them even more complicated and risky. With the summer disaster season upon us, the latest TipSheet explores how environmental journalists can report on emergency planning under COVID-19, with suggested questions to help you dig up stories.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [16]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [17]
Disasters [5]
Government [7]
Health [18]
Journalism & Media [8]
People & Population [19]
Planning & Growth [20]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
International [21]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Why Shelter From the (Coronavirus) Storm Isn’t Always Safe [15]
Building Materials Data Can Help Construct Environmental Stories [22]

Toxics abound in many building materials, creating indoor environmental hazards for workers and residents alike. To help report the story, Reporter’s Toolbox details a massive database of chemicals and building materials, and explains how to use it to assess their presence in buildings in your community. Plus, story ideas to get you started.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [23]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [24]
Chemicals [25]
Consumer [26]
Disasters [5]
Environmental Health [27]
Health [18]
Journalism & Media [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
International [21]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Building Materials Data Can Help Construct Environmental Stories [22]
Post-COVID-19 City Design May Transform Built Environment [28]

In the aftermath of the pandemic, the so-called built environment is likely to get a thorough reexamination, whether it’s to reconsider commuting, shopping, recreation, eating out or taking in sporting events. Our latest Issue Backgrounder looks at the top ways coronavirus will force us to rethink our cities and how we live in and travel through them.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [29]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [5]
Economy & Business [30]
Health [18]
People & Population [19]
Planning & Growth [20]
Transportation [31]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
International [21]
Europe [32]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Post-COVID-19 City Design May Transform Built Environment [28]
Altered Office Environments Will Likely Greet Workers Returning From Quarantine [33]

The indoor air in offices was already a potential health risk even before COVID-19. But now amid the pandemic coronavirus, not to mention other ever-present biological threats, indoor environmental hazards make it more likely than ever that offices will look and function differently in coming days. TipSheet takes a look and offers more than a dozen story ideas and resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [16]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [24]
Disasters [5]
Economy & Business [30]
Health [18]
Journalism & Media [8]
People & Population [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
International [21]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Altered Office Environments Will Likely Greet Workers Returning From Quarantine [33]
Coronavirus Silence, Secrecy Harms Public Health [34]

Mishandling of vital information by the U.S. government worsened the COVID-19 pandemic, argues the latest WatchDog. The no-holds-barred opinion piece, which notes that coronavirus is as much an environmental story as a public health one, points the finger at the White House and the “Silent CDC,” sifts the wreckage of the testing program and speculates about the dearth of data as the nation reopens.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [7]
Health [18]
Journalism & Media [8]
People & Population [19]
Policy [35]
Science [36]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Coronavirus Silence, Secrecy Harms Public Health [34]
Using Data Sources To Track Climate-Driven Mayhem at Superfund Sites [37]

Hazardous waste and floodwaters don’t typically mix well together. So when a Michigan dam recently burst, and flooded not just the local community, but also threatened a nearby Superfund site, it prompted Reporter’s Toolbox to look at how environmental journalists could track similar threats in their areas, especially as climate change raises the risks of similar disasters.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [23]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [25]
Climate Change [17]
Disasters [5]
Government [7]
Health [18]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Pollution [38]
Waste [39]
Water & Oceans [40]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [41]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [13]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [42]
International [21]
Europe [32]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Using Data Sources To Track Climate-Driven Mayhem at Superfund Sites [37]
Disaster Preparedness Key Amid Pandemic [43]

Unheeded warnings are the hallmark of many disasters. And with coronavirus still hobbling the nation, communities and journalists must now watch for all the ways COVID-19 could make even the most familiar hazards far worse. Prepare with this extensive Backgrounder, which touches on issues around evacuations and emergency readiness when facing storms, fires, toxic releases and more.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [29]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [24]
Chemicals [25]
Disasters [5]
Environmental Health [27]
Government [7]
Health [18]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
People & Population [19]
Planning & Growth [20]
Policy [35]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
California [44]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [41]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [45]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Disaster Preparedness Key Amid Pandemic [43]
Parks Post-Coronavirus Reopening a Political Football? [46]

As the United States restarts fitfully following the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, one source of controversy — and of numerous local or regional environmental stories — is what to do at the nation’s park system. The latest TipSheet explains why public access to these national treasures is so contentious, then provides numerous story ideas and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [16]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [7]
Health [18]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Natural Resources [47]
People & Population [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Parks Post-Coronavirus Reopening a Political Football? [46]
SEJ: Supporting Journalism, Journalists and the Organization During Coronavirus [48]

The coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on….everything. Right when the public needs accurate information the most, journalism has been hit particularly hard. Yet environmental journalism remains essential, especially since the pandemic continues as we enter hurricane, cyclone and wildfire season, and an atmosphere of deregulation persists. Yet impacts on publications are translating to staffing cuts, furloughs and slashed freelance budgets. Here’s a brief update on all SEJ is doing to stay ahead of the impacts, from SEJ President Meera Subramanian.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ Presidents Report [49]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [5]
Journalism & Media [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
International [21]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about SEJ: Supporting Journalism, Journalists and the Organization During Coronavirus [48]

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