Publication Items

Houston Plays Host to First On-Site SEJ Conference Since 2019 [1]

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 [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Air [4]
Biodiversity [5]
Chemicals [6]
Climate Change [7]
Disasters [8]
Diversity [9]
Economy & Business [10]
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Health [12]
Environmental Justice [13]
Environmental Politics [14]
Fish & Fisheries [15]
Food [16]
Forests [17]
Government [18]
Health [19]
Infrastructure [20]
Journalism & Media [21]
Laws & Regulations [22]
People & Population [23]
Planning & Growth [24]
Policy [25]
Pollution [26]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [27]
Science [28]
Technology [29]
Transportation [30]
Waste [31]
Water & Oceans [32]
Wildlife [33]
Region:
National (U.S.) [34]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [35]
International [36]
Mexico [37]
Central America & the Caribbean [38]
Europe [39]
South America [40]
Visibility:
Public [41]
- Read more about Houston Plays Host to First On-Site SEJ Conference Since 2019 [1]
Are Higher Energy Prices Really Biden’s Fault? [42]

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine raises questions about the world energy supply and related environmental consequences (such as pressure to lease U.S. lands for drilling). TipSheet explores the politics — and the reality — of U.S. energy policy in the wake of Ukraine and in the run-up to November’s midterm elections, and asks the question: Do federal policies on pricing really matter?

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [43]
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Politics [14]
Government [18]
Journalism & Media [21]
Natural Resources [44]
Policy [25]
Region:
National (U.S.) [34]
International [36]
Visibility:
Public [41]
- Read more about Are Higher Energy Prices Really Biden’s Fault? [42]
Hydrogen Rainbow May Dazzle, But Journalists Should Eye It Warily [45]

The hype on hydrogen — and it’s various “hues” or forms — suggests environmental reporters should clearly understand how this energy source is produced, as well as the politics and industry PR behind its claims to be clean and climate-friendly. Our latest Issue Backgrounder provides the basics of hydrogen science, while cautioning about the industry’s “color game.”

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [46]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [7]
Consumer [47]
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Politics [14]
Journalism & Media [21]
Science [28]
Transportation [30]
Region:
National (U.S.) [34]
International [36]
Visibility:
Public [41]
- Read more about Hydrogen Rainbow May Dazzle, But Journalists Should Eye It Warily [45]
The Year Ahead Will Spark Abundant Environment News — Both Good and Bad [48]

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 [49].” 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 [50]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [6]
Climate Change [7]
Disasters [8]
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Health [12]
Environmental Justice [13]
Environmental Politics [14]
Government [18]
Health [19]
Infrastructure [20]
Journalism & Media [21]
Laws & Regulations [22]
Policy [25]
Pollution [26]
Transportation [30]
Waste [31]
Water & Oceans [32]
Region:
National (U.S.) [34]
International [36]
Visibility:
Public [41]
- Read more about The Year Ahead Will Spark Abundant Environment News — Both Good and Bad [48]
Deep in the Heart of Complexity … Or, the View From Texas [51]

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 [43]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Air [4]
Chemicals [6]
Climate Change [7]
Disasters [8]
Economy & Business [10]
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Justice [13]
Environmental Politics [14]
Government [18]
Health [19]
Infrastructure [20]
Journalism & Media [21]
People & Population [23]
Planning & Growth [24]
Policy [25]
Pollution [26]
Wildlife [33]
Region:
National (U.S.) [34]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [35]
Visibility:
Public [41]
- Read more about Deep in the Heart of Complexity … Or, the View From Texas [51]
Infrastructure Funding Coming Soon for Cleanup of Orphan Oil Wells [52]

With billions of infrastructure dollars now on the table to clean up orphan oil wells, states are already elbowing their way in for a taste. But as our new Backgrounder explains, the process to ensure they cannot pollute the environment or spew climate-change gasses is a complex one. And the sheer (and largely unknown) number of orphaned wells adds to the complications.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [46]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [7]
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Health [12]
Environmental Justice [13]
Environmental Politics [14]
Government [18]
Health [19]
Infrastructure [20]
Journalism & Media [21]
People & Population [23]
Pollution [26]
Water & Oceans [32]
Region:
National (U.S.) [34]
Visibility:
Public [41]
- Read more about Infrastructure Funding Coming Soon for Cleanup of Orphan Oil Wells [52]
Conflict Over Biden’s Offshore Wind Drive To Generate News in 2022 and Beyond [53]

Offshore wind, which some see as a panacea in the search for climate-friendly energy solutions, is getting a push from the Biden administration. But as noted in this week’s TipSheet, part of our 2022 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment, there are numerous obstacles to the renewable power source, whether from states, coastal property owners and towns, fishing industry and even some environmentalists.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [43]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Climate Change [7]
Economy & Business [10]
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Politics [14]
Fish & Fisheries [15]
Government [18]
Infrastructure [20]
Journalism & Media [21]
Laws & Regulations [22]
Natural Resources [44]
Policy [25]
Water & Oceans [32]
Region:
National (U.S.) [34]
California [54]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [55]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [56]
Northwest (OR WA) [57]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [58]
Visibility:
Public [41]
- Read more about Conflict Over Biden’s Offshore Wind Drive To Generate News in 2022 and Beyond [53]
Challenging Another Year of Oil Company Promises [59]

When disinformation pollutes the debate over the environment and climate change, it’s on journalists to recognize industry PR spin and push back against misleading narratives and false narratives, argues the latest WatchDog Opinion column. A look at the industry “playbook” to delay government action, at deceptive language on energy and news media’s obligation to approach the endless pledges skeptically.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [60]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [7]
Consumer [47]
Economy & Business [10]
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Politics [14]
Journalism & Media [21]
Region:
National (U.S.) [34]
International [36]
Visibility:
Public [41]
- Read more about Challenging Another Year of Oil Company Promises [59]
Congressional Infrastructure Bill Loaded With Local Stories [61]

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 [43]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [6]
Climate Change [7]
Disasters [8]
Economy & Business [10]
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Politics [14]
Government [18]
Infrastructure [20]
Journalism & Media [21]
Laws & Regulations [22]
Policy [25]
Transportation [30]
Water & Oceans [32]
Wildlife [33]
Region:
National (U.S.) [34]
Visibility:
Public [41]
- Read more about Congressional Infrastructure Bill Loaded With Local Stories [61]
Rural Reporter Turns Routine Permit Into Award-Winning Investigation [62]

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 [63]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [6]
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Health [12]
Environmental Politics [14]
Fish & Fisheries [15]
Health [19]
Journalism & Media [21]
People & Population [23]
Pollution [26]
Water & Oceans [32]
Region:
National (U.S.) [34]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [64]
Visibility:
Public [41]
- Read more about Rural Reporter Turns Routine Permit Into Award-Winning Investigation [62]

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