Publication Items

Ag Census Offers Journalists Acres of Data [1]

The latest data from the five-year USDA agriculture census has specialized features that suggest numerous environmental stories — whether on irrigation, pesticides and fertilizer, renewable energy, conservation or more. There’s even a feature that provides data by congressional district. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox has more on the data source and how to use it smartly for your coverage.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Chemicals [4]
Climate Change [5]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Health [7]
Food [8]
Journalism & Media [9]
Pollution [10]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Ag Census Offers Journalists Acres of Data [1]
Philly Steaks Out New Ground [14]

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 [15]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Climate Change [5]
Disasters [16]
Economy & Business [17]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Politics [18]
Food [8]
Government [19]
Health [20]
Infrastructure [21]
Journalism & Media [9]
Natural Resources [22]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [23]
Policy [24]
Pollution [10]
Technology [25]
Transportation [26]
Waste [27]
Water & Oceans [11]
Wildlife [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [29]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Philly Steaks Out New Ground [14]
Six Ways To Cover the Environmental Impacts of Animal Agriculture [30]

Animal agriculture is a massive industry with a vast environmental footprint, so there are plenty of reporting opportunities for journalists on the “eat beat.” In the second of two parts [31], following last week’s examination of diet-related greenhouse gas emissions, food-and-climate journalist Jenny Splitter serves up a variety of story ideas and information sources, plus some thoughts on solutions journalism.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [32]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [33]
Agriculture [3]
Air [34]
Biodiversity [35]
Climate Change [5]
Consumer [36]
Economy & Business [17]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Justice [37]
Environmental Politics [18]
Environmental Studies [38]
Food [8]
Forests [39]
Government [19]
Health [20]
Journalism & Media [9]
Pollution [10]
Waste [27]
Water & Oceans [11]
Wildlife [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
International [40]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Six Ways To Cover the Environmental Impacts of Animal Agriculture [30]
Eat Local for Climate’s Sake? No, Eat Less Meat [31]

Many people who want to reduce their carbon footprint consider the climate impacts of diet, but their efforts may be misdirected. When it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, it turns out what we eat is often more important than where it comes from. Sentient Media’s Jenny Splitter unpacks the locavore myth and explains methane burps, carbon opportunity costs and more. First of two parts [30].

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [32]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [33]
Agriculture [3]
Climate Change [5]
Consumer [36]
Economy & Business [17]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Politics [18]
Environmental Studies [38]
Food [8]
Forests [39]
Government [19]
Health [20]
Journalism & Media [9]
Pollution [10]
Transportation [26]
Waste [27]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
International [40]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Eat Local for Climate’s Sake? No, Eat Less Meat [31]
On the Hunt To Know More About Chronic Wasting Disease [41]

A relative of mad cow disease is working its way across the population of deer and related cervids in North America. And the latest TipSheet cautions that it remains unclear whether this chronic wasting disease can make the leap to humans, such as millions of deer and elk hunters. What environmental journalists need to know about possible risks and precautions.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [42]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Consumer [36]
Environmental Health [7]
Food [8]
Health [20]
Journalism & Media [9]
Wildlife [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
International [40]
Canada [43]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about On the Hunt To Know More About Chronic Wasting Disease [41]
Environmental Digital Storytelling — A Best-in-Show Sampler [44]

As part of its periodic survey of the compelling work by digital journalists using data and multimedia, Reporter’s Toolbox looks at some favorite projects in the last year or so. On the list are granular maps and spinning globes, compelling photo essays and clickable storytelling. But the heart of the best digital journalism, Toolbox reminds us, is that it matters. And these do.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Chemicals [4]
Climate Change [5]
Diversity [45]
Environmental Justice [37]
Fish & Fisheries [46]
Food [8]
Health [20]
Infrastructure [21]
Journalism & Media [9]
Natural Resources [22]
People & Population [47]
Pollution [10]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [48]
International [40]
Canada [43]
Africa [49]
Asia [50]
Europe [51]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Environmental Digital Storytelling — A Best-in-Show Sampler [44]
Covering Food Systems — The Next Climate Action Battleground [52]

Freelance food systems reporter Thin Lei Win believes that if the world doesn’t change the way it produces, processes, transports, consumes and discards food, climate change will worsen and hunger levels will spike. But she also worries that powerful interests want to keep the status quo and cites parallels with the tobacco and fossil fuel industries. More in Freelance Files, including places for freelancers to pitch climate-food stories.

SEJ Publication Types:
Freelance Files [53]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Climate Change [5]
Consumer [36]
Economy & Business [17]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Food [8]
Journalism & Media [9]
People & Population [47]
Policy [24]
Pollution [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
International [40]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Covering Food Systems — The Next Climate Action Battleground [52]
Seabed Mining May Dredge Up Real Minerals, Fishy Worries in 2024 [54]

The mining of the ocean floor has stirred up significant debate, much of which clouds the realities of whether and to what degree it would cause ecological harm to one of the world’s greatest resources. This week’s TipSheet looks more closely at the controversy, which may well come to a head in the coming year. The latest entry in SEJournal’s 2024 Journalists’ Guide to Environment and Energy.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [42]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [33]
Biodiversity [35]
Climate Change [5]
Economy & Business [17]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Politics [18]
Fish & Fisheries [46]
Food [8]
Government [19]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [55]
Natural Resources [22]
Policy [24]
Pollution [10]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
International [40]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Seabed Mining May Dredge Up Real Minerals, Fishy Worries in 2024 [54]
High-Risk Reporting Yields Results on Palm Oil Investigation [56]

The devastation caused by the Amazonian palm oil industry was at the heart of an investigation by Mongabay reporter Karla Mendes. But first she had to face hostile sources, intransigent regulators and a robbery attempt. Ultimately, the project not only won a reporting prize from the Society of Environmental Journalists but brought global awareness and government action. Her experience, in Inside Story Q&A.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [57]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Chemicals [4]
Economy & Business [17]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Justice [37]
Environmental Politics [18]
Food [8]
Forests [39]
Government [19]
Health [20]
Journalism & Media [9]
Natural Resources [22]
People & Population [47]
Pollution [10]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
International [40]
South America [58]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about High-Risk Reporting Yields Results on Palm Oil Investigation [56]
Author Brings Far-Reaching Insight to ‘The Three Ages of Water’ [59]

Leading water expert Peter Gleick’s new book on water’s past, present and future is an ambitious volume that offers a panoramic look at this essential resource — and hope for living in harmony with it in the future. BookShelf Editor Tom Henry calls “The Three Ages of Water” a rare book of breadth and depth, part history and part sustainable remedy. Read his review.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [60]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [5]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Justice [37]
Food [8]
Health [20]
Natural Resources [22]
People & Population [47]
Planning & Growth [61]
Policy [24]
Science [62]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [63]
International [40]
Africa [49]
Asia [50]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Author Brings Far-Reaching Insight to ‘The Three Ages of Water’ [59]

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