Publication Items

What Makes Communities More Survivable in Extreme Heat Events? [1]

When heat waves hit your area, as they did for much of the United States in June, local responses can (and should) go well beyond individual behaviors to address broader area actions — from cool pavements to urban trees. For environmental journalists, that means community-level heat response is an important climate story angle. TipSheet explains, then offers a dozen story ideas, along with reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [4]
Disasters [5]
Health [6]
Infrastructure [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
People & Population [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about What Makes Communities More Survivable in Extreme Heat Events? [1]
Rethinking Rural Reporting — How To Get Past the Cliches [12]

When covering rural America, mainstream media often defaults to stereotypes steeped in politics and ignores the diversity that actually exists there, as expanding news deserts exacerbate the problem. Reporter Claire Carlson on why this matters — including in discouraging investment around climate change or resource industries urban dwellers depend on. Here’s how journalists can report richer, more nuanced stories about rural people and places.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [13]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [14]
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [5]
Diversity [15]
Economy & Business [16]
Environmental Politics [17]
Government [18]
Journalism & Media [8]
People & Population [9]
Policy [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Rethinking Rural Reporting — How To Get Past the Cliches [12]
Is Your Community Ready for Tornadoes? Are You? [20]

With more than 100 tornadoes hitting the United States so far this year, the latest TipSheet takes a closer look at how journalists can help their communities better prepare for these damaging and often deadly windstorms. Plus, more than a dozen story ideas and reporting resources, from questions about warning systems and shelters to sources at weather agencies and for tornado-preparedness advice.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [5]
Journalism & Media [8]
People & Population [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [21]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Is Your Community Ready for Tornadoes? Are You? [20]
New HeatRisk Data Site Helps Warn on Health Threats [22]

As global warming worsens heat-related illnesses, U.S. government agencies have refined a data tool whose greatest value may be to warn people about the extreme heat events that can send them to the emergency room or worse. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox explores the improved HeatRisk site and how its combination of climate and medical considerations refocuses attention on the vulnerable.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [23]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [4]
Disasters [5]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [8]
People & Population [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about New HeatRisk Data Site Helps Warn on Health Threats [22]
Philly Steaks Out New Ground [24]

It just wouldn’t be the Society of Environmental Journalists annual conference recap without the waggish tales of SEJ’s resident wit, David Helvarg, who once again this year skewers the lot of us, sparing not a jot of our five days in Philadelphia. Read on and prepare to snicker.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [25]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [14]
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [5]
Economy & Business [16]
Energy & Fuel [26]
Environmental Politics [17]
Food [27]
Government [18]
Health [6]
Infrastructure [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [28]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [29]
Policy [19]
Pollution [30]
Technology [31]
Transportation [32]
Waste [33]
Water & Oceans [34]
Wildlife [35]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [36]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Philly Steaks Out New Ground [24]
Wildfire Preparedness Is a Story Worth Telling — Before ‘Fire Season’ [37]

Wildfires in the Texas Panhandle are a good reminder that wildfire season now stretches across much of the year, so environmental journalists would do well to look for ways to localize their reporting on wildfire preparedness. The latest TipSheet offers 10 story ideas and half a dozen reporting resources to tell the story of your community’s wildfire risk.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [5]
Journalism & Media [8]
Planning & Growth [38]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [39]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Wildfire Preparedness Is a Story Worth Telling — Before ‘Fire Season’ [37]
Map Model Offers Up Data on Climate Disaster-Proofing [40]

How well are U.S. communities preparing for the threats of climate change? A data-rich climate mapping resource that provides vibrant insight into resilience and adaptation can help reporters better understand the answer, even down to the neighborhood level. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox takes a closer look, including at the many data sets that feed into the resource.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [23]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [5]
Environmental Justice [41]
Journalism & Media [8]
Water & Oceans [34]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Map Model Offers Up Data on Climate Disaster-Proofing [40]
Chemical Safety Board May Have Finally Cleaned Its Slate. What Now? [42]

A key U.S. federal agency tasked with investigating the nation’s industrial chemical accidents has been limping along for years. Now, the latest Issue Backgrounder reports that replenished staffing and a funding boost may mean it’s found its footing. But as the pace of chemical accidents accelerates and safety regulations stagnate, will it make a difference?

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [43]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [44]
Disasters [5]
Environmental Politics [17]
Government [18]
Laws & Regulations [45]
Policy [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
International [46]
Asia [47]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Chemical Safety Board May Have Finally Cleaned Its Slate. What Now? [42]
Spill-Tracking Data Sources Help Cover Hazmat Events [48]

A new Spill Tracker website is a good source of information on chemical spills, albeit one with an agenda. But according to the latest Reporter’s Toolbox, it’s just one among a set of powerful resources for covering dangerous releases, large and small. More on Spill Tracker, plus another half-dozen-plus government and nonprofit data sources on petrochemical incidents.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [23]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [44]
Disasters [5]
Energy & Fuel [26]
Environmental Health [49]
Government [18]
Journalism & Media [8]
Pollution [30]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
International [46]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Spill-Tracking Data Sources Help Cover Hazmat Events [48]
Chemical Plants, Terrorism and Regulations May Be Back on the Agenda [50]

For years, high-risk U.S. industrial facilities fell under a federal anti-terrorism program to ensure their potentially lethal chemicals would not become terrorist targets. But when the program expired last year, something unexpected happened. Veteran chemical industry reporter Jeff Johnson has a behind-the-scenes look at the maneuvering over how best to secure the country’s dangerous chemical stores.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [13]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [44]
Disasters [5]
Environmental Politics [17]
Government [18]
Laws & Regulations [45]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [39]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Chemical Plants, Terrorism and Regulations May Be Back on the Agenda [50]

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