Publication Items

RFK Jr. Attacks Some Unwelcome Truth-Telling [1]

When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. threatened to forbid government scientists from publishing in leading medical journals, WatchDog was among those who paid heed to this worrisome move to censor science, and the harm it portends for environmental science, environmental journalism and, ultimately, public health. But as WatchDog warns, it could be just the tip of the iceberg.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Health [3]
Environmental Justice [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Environmental Studies [6]
Health [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Policy [9]
Science [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about RFK Jr. Attacks Some Unwelcome Truth-Telling [1]
NASA Portal Can Lead Reporters to Universe of Data [13]

For environmental journalists looking for data riches to help tell their stories — whether about urban heat islands, sea-surface temperatures or air pollution — NASA has the satellites whose sensors capture insights galore. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox offers an introduction to the U.S. space agency’s incredibly extensive data portal, and how to get started amid the wealth of information (caveat: before it’s gone).

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [14]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [15]
Climate Change [16]
Environmental Health [3]
Environmental Studies [6]
Forests [17]
Government [18]
Journalism & Media [8]
Science [10]
Technology [19]
Water & Oceans [20]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
International [21]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about NASA Portal Can Lead Reporters to Universe of Data [13]
Rethinking Forest Management in the Pyrocene [22]

Recent urban-interface infernos, fueled by climate change, leave no doubt that we have entered the age of runaway fire. Writer and ecologist Lauren Oakes writes that large-scale combustion is permanently reshaping ecosystems and societies as we learn to live with wildfire, not just fight it. Instead of perpetuating problematic approaches to forest management, experts call for confronting the root causes of this crisis and adopting science-informed responses.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [23]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [16]
Disasters [24]
Environmental Politics [5]
Environmental Studies [6]
Forests [17]
Government [18]
Health [7]
Infrastructure [25]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [26]
Natural Resources [27]
Policy [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
California [28]
Northwest (OR WA) [29]
International [21]
Canada [30]
Australia & Oceania [31]
Europe [32]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Rethinking Forest Management in the Pyrocene [22]
Will DOGE Evaporate Crucial Water Data? [33]

Streamflow data gathered by thousands of U.S. Geological Survey gauges helps track the country’s floods and droughts. But it may be lost if the Trump administration follows up on a decision not to renew leases of USGS water science centers that read the gauges and disseminate the measurements. Reporter’s Toolbox on the value of this database and the risk of its loss.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [14]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [34]
Climate Change [16]
Disasters [24]
Environmental Politics [5]
Environmental Studies [6]
Government [18]
Natural Resources [27]
Policy [9]
Science [10]
Water & Oceans [20]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
California [28]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [35]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [36]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Will DOGE Evaporate Crucial Water Data? [33]
From Fear to Fascination — A New Insect Narrative [37]

Media coverage of “bugs” is often sensationalistic and centered on fear and disgust. But conservation photographer and writer Danae Wolfe says journalists should be highlighting the importance, beauty and plight of insects and spiders. Reporting that offers alternative perspectives on these essential creatures can inspire curiosity and admiration, and encourage efforts to protect them. Wolfe on why to write about insects.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [23]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [38]
Agriculture [34]
Biodiversity [39]
Chemicals [40]
Climate Change [16]
Environmental Health [3]
Environmental Studies [6]
Food [41]
Forests [17]
Journalism & Media [8]
Pollution [42]
Science [10]
Wildlife [43]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
International [21]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about From Fear to Fascination — A New Insect Narrative [37]
Analysis: Trump Administration Attacks Science, As Environment Suffers [44]

It’s not just scientists who are being lost to the new administration’s extensive firings of federal workers. A Backgrounder Analysis argues it’s the science itself. It’s happening at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, but also across agencies that conduct research to protect health and the environment, whether around toxic chemicals or on the battleground of climate change science. A frank look at the reality and what’s being lost for journalists and the communities they serve.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [45]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [40]
Climate Change [16]
Economy & Business [46]
Environmental Politics [5]
Environmental Studies [6]
Government [18]
Health [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [26]
Policy [9]
Science [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Analysis: Trump Administration Attacks Science, As Environment Suffers [44]
With Scientific Research Under Attack, Journalists Must Up Their Game [47]

The Trump administration’s offensive against evidence-based research is making clear, accurate reporting on science more important than ever — because people who understand how scientific research works and what it tells us are less likely to be duped by misinformation or pseudoscience. SciLine director Matt DeRienzo on the challenges of the time and new resources to help journalists understand and explain evidence-based research.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [23]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [16]
Consumer [48]
Environmental Studies [6]
Government [18]
Health [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [26]
Pollution [42]
Science [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about With Scientific Research Under Attack, Journalists Must Up Their Game [47]
Desperately Seeking Data? OECD Has Loads [49]

If the possibility of a politically driven dearth of data for your climate and environment reporting has you on edge, the new Reporter’s Toolbox just may have something to soothe your nerves: A data source from beyond the grasp of the Trump administration and outside the boundaries of the United States. Take a quick tour of environmental data from the OECD.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [14]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [34]
Air [15]
Biodiversity [39]
Chemicals [40]
Climate Change [16]
Energy & Fuel [50]
Environmental Studies [6]
Fish & Fisheries [51]
Health [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [27]
Pollution [42]
Transportation [52]
Waste [53]
Water & Oceans [20]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
International [21]
Europe [32]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Desperately Seeking Data? OECD Has Loads [49]
New Angle for Reporting on Oil and Gas Industry — Radioactive Waste [54]

Industry experts and government regulators have long known that radionuclides reside in oil and natural gas. Yet radioactive emissions and waste continue to threaten the lives of workers and community members across the country. Investigative journalist Justin Nobel on the opportunities and urgent need for reporters to drill into a story steeped in questions of accountability, health and justice.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [23]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [38]
Air [15]
Chemicals [40]
Climate Change [16]
Consumer [48]
Economy & Business [46]
Energy & Fuel [50]
Environmental Health [3]
Environmental Politics [5]
Environmental Studies [6]
Government [18]
Health [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [26]
Natural Resources [27]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [55]
People & Population [56]
Policy [9]
Pollution [42]
Science [10]
Technology [19]
Waste [53]
Water & Oceans [20]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [57]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [58]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [59]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [60]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [61]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [35]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [36]
International [21]
Canada [30]
South America [62]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about New Angle for Reporting on Oil and Gas Industry — Radioactive Waste [54]
AI’s Importance in Journalism and Teaching — Part 2 [63]

In Part 2 of a two-part EJ Academy, SEJournal’s Emilia Askari examines changes artificial intelligence is bringing to journalism — among them possibilities for the analysis of data, including on climate and the environment. Plus, ways to use AI tools more effectively and how to track news organizations’ response to and use of AI. Also: Part 1, AI in the classroom [64].

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ Academy [65]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [16]
Environmental Studies [6]
Journalism & Media [8]
Science [10]
Technology [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
International [21]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about AI’s Importance in Journalism and Teaching — Part 2 [63]

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