Publication Items

How a Distant Chapter in Spice Trade Foretells Today’s Climate Chaos [1]

When Europeans colonized remote Indonesian islands centuries ago to dominate the trade in nutmeg and cloves, they were repeating a pattern of domination of peoples and nature that author Amitav Ghosh argues in his latest book has brought us to the present-day environmental crisis. BookShelf reviewer Melody Kemp offers praise for the book’s strong narrative qualities and incisive historical analysis.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Climate Change [4]
Environmental Justice [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Food [7]
Natural Resources [8]
People & Population [9]
Policy [10]
Region:
International [11]
Asia [12]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about How a Distant Chapter in Spice Trade Foretells Today’s Climate Chaos [1]
Environmental Reporting Through an Indigenous Perspective [14]

Indigenous communities that have tried to live in balance with nature have seen their practices largely ignored. But now many have turned to them for guidance. As part of a special initiative from the Society of Environmental Journalists on covering climate solutions, we offer a tipsheet from journalist Brian Bull on reporting on how Indigenous people use nature-based environmental solutions. Also, check out additional resources [15] and watch video from an earlier webinar [16].

SEJ Publication Types:
Special Reports [17]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [18]
Agriculture [3]
Air [19]
Biodiversity [20]
Climate Change [4]
Diversity [21]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Justice [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Fish & Fisheries [23]
Food [7]
Forests [24]
Government [25]
Health [26]
Journalism & Media [27]
Natural Resources [8]
People & Population [9]
Policy [10]
Pollution [28]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [29]
Water & Oceans [30]
Wildlife [31]
Region:
National (U.S.) [32]
Northwest (OR WA) [33]
International [11]
Canada [34]
Australia & Oceania [35]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Environmental Reporting Through an Indigenous Perspective [14]
Toolbox on Nature-Based Solutions and Native/Indigenous Perspectives [15]

As concerns over global warming, the endangerment of plant and animal species, and water rights escalate, many environmentalists are turning to Indigenous people for guidance. As part of a Society of Environmental Journalists special initiative focused on covering climate solutions, we take a closer look at nature-based solutions and Indigenous people with reporter Brian Bull. Check out a resource toolbox and stay tuned for a reporting tipsheet in coming weeks. Plus, be sure to register for a Sept. 28 webinar [16] on covering Indigenous communities and nature-based climate solutions.

SEJ Publication Types:
Special Reports [17]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [18]
Agriculture [3]
Biodiversity [20]
Climate Change [4]
Diversity [21]
Energy & Fuel [36]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Justice [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Fish & Fisheries [23]
Food [7]
Forests [24]
Government [25]
Health [26]
Natural Resources [8]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [37]
People & Population [9]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [29]
Technology [38]
Waste [39]
Water & Oceans [30]
Wildlife [31]
Region:
National (U.S.) [32]
International [11]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Toolbox on Nature-Based Solutions and Native/Indigenous Perspectives [15]
Fill Your Plate With Chicken Stories [40]

Chicken production in the United States is a colossal industry controlled by a few vertically integrated companies. On a much smaller scale, it’s also heritage breeds and increasingly popular backyard flocks. As the latest avian flu outbreak makes headlines, journalist Christine Heinrichs looks at environmental reporting opportunities related to poultry pathogens, pollution and more.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [41]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Biodiversity [20]
Consumer [42]
Economy & Business [43]
Environmental Health [22]
Food [7]
Government [25]
Health [26]
Journalism & Media [27]
Laws & Regulations [44]
Policy [10]
Pollution [28]
Science [45]
Waste [39]
Water & Oceans [30]
Wildlife [31]
Region:
National (U.S.) [32]
California [46]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [47]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [48]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Fill Your Plate With Chicken Stories [40]
WTO Deal on Fishing Subsidies May Reduce Ocean Overfishing [49]

A new World Trade Organization agreement to limit global overfishing may yield important stories for environmental journalists, as billions of people around the world rely on already heavily exploited fish stocks as their main source of protein. This Backgrounder offers details on the pact and how it tries to address the problem, while providing resources for your reporting.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [50]
Topics on the Beat:
Economy & Business [43]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Justice [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Fish & Fisheries [23]
Food [7]
Government [25]
Journalism & Media [27]
Laws & Regulations [44]
Natural Resources [8]
Policy [10]
Water & Oceans [30]
Wildlife [31]
Region:
National (U.S.) [32]
International [11]
Asia [12]
Europe [51]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about WTO Deal on Fishing Subsidies May Reduce Ocean Overfishing [49]
Farmers Markets Offer Many Local Environmental Stories [52]

Reporters needn’t always go far and wide to find environment angles. A case in point is your local farmers market, which can yield a variety of food-related stories, ranging from food justice and urban agriculture to pesticides and organics. That and a few tasty samples on the side. TipSheet takes a stroll through the aisles for the backstory, plus reporting resources and story ideas.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [53]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [18]
Agriculture [3]
Consumer [42]
Food [7]
Health [26]
Journalism & Media [27]
Region:
National (U.S.) [32]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Farmers Markets Offer Many Local Environmental Stories [52]
‘Big Fish’ Report Hooks Prize With Look at Aquaculture and Environment [54]

The challenges of sustainable aquaculture are at the heart of an extensive reporting project recognized in the Society of Environmental Journalists’ most recent round of reporting awards. In this Inside Story Q&A, Hakai Magazine’s founding editor, Jude Isabella (pictured at left), and author Brian Payton share insights into the series, which looks closely at the industry and its environmental costs.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [55]
Topics on the Beat:
Economy & Business [43]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Justice [5]
Fish & Fisheries [23]
Food [7]
Journalism & Media [27]
Natural Resources [8]
People & Population [9]
Water & Oceans [30]
Wildlife [31]
Region:
National (U.S.) [32]
International [11]
Asia [12]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about ‘Big Fish’ Report Hooks Prize With Look at Aquaculture and Environment [54]
Global Satellite Data IDs Tensions Between Food Production, Biodiversity [56]

A recent study of global cropland expansion highlights several trends that are ripe with environmental news stories. One finding: New farm fields have taken over an area the size of Texas and California combined since the start of the century, an expansion primarily affecting biodiversity-rich natural ecosystems, with Africa leading the cropland boom. Freelancer Gabriel Popkin explores the latest data and the reporting possibilities.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [41]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Biodiversity [20]
Climate Change [4]
Consumer [42]
Economy & Business [43]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Justice [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Environmental Studies [57]
Food [7]
Forests [24]
Journalism & Media [27]
Natural Resources [8]
People & Population [9]
Planning & Growth [58]
Science [45]
Technology [38]
Region:
National (U.S.) [32]
International [11]
Africa [59]
Asia [12]
Europe [51]
South America [60]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Global Satellite Data IDs Tensions Between Food Production, Biodiversity [56]
There Are a Lot More Than 10 Endangered Rivers. Is One Near You? [61]

An annual list of endangered rivers is out, but with it the journalism just begins, since there are numerous troubled river systems, most likely including one near you. The latest TipSheet details how the endangered river list can serve as a template for local reporting and provides story ideas, questions to ask and resources to tap for your coverage.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [53]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [18]
Climate Change [4]
Consumer [42]
Disasters [62]
Energy & Fuel [36]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Politics [6]
Fish & Fisheries [23]
Food [7]
Journalism & Media [27]
Laws & Regulations [44]
Natural Resources [8]
Pollution [28]
Transportation [63]
Water & Oceans [30]
Region:
National (U.S.) [32]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about There Are a Lot More Than 10 Endangered Rivers. Is One Near You? [61]
Houston Plays Host to First On-Site SEJ Conference Since 2019 [64]

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 [65]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [18]
Air [19]
Biodiversity [20]
Chemicals [66]
Climate Change [4]
Disasters [62]
Diversity [21]
Economy & Business [43]
Energy & Fuel [36]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Justice [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Fish & Fisheries [23]
Food [7]
Forests [24]
Government [25]
Health [26]
Infrastructure [67]
Journalism & Media [27]
Laws & Regulations [44]
People & Population [9]
Planning & Growth [58]
Policy [10]
Pollution [28]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [29]
Science [45]
Technology [38]
Transportation [63]
Waste [39]
Water & Oceans [30]
Wildlife [31]
Region:
National (U.S.) [32]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [68]
International [11]
Mexico [69]
Central America & the Caribbean [70]
Europe [51]
South America [60]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Houston Plays Host to First On-Site SEJ Conference Since 2019 [64]

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