Publication Items

Rethinking Forest Management in the Pyrocene [1]

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 [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Environmental Studies [6]
Forests [7]
Government [8]
Health [9]
Infrastructure [10]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Natural Resources [13]
Policy [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
California [16]
Northwest (OR WA) [17]
International [18]
Canada [19]
Australia & Oceania [20]
Europe [21]
Visibility:
Public [22]
- Read more about Rethinking Forest Management in the Pyrocene [1]
National Park Story No Walk in the Park, Post-Budget Cuts [23]

Steep cuts for the U.S. National Park System look likely from the Trump administration, affecting visitors, roiling local businesses and raising political hackles. For environmental journalists, budgets slashed for hundreds of park units could also turn a summer standby story into something closer to disaster coverage. TipSheet has more than a dozen story ideas and reporting resources to cover the park nearest you.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [24]
Topics on the Beat:
Consumer [25]
Environmental Politics [5]
Forests [7]
Government [8]
Journalism & Media [11]
Policy [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Visibility:
Public [22]
- Read more about National Park Story No Walk in the Park, Post-Budget Cuts [23]
From Fear to Fascination — A New Insect Narrative [26]

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 [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [27]
Agriculture [28]
Biodiversity [29]
Chemicals [30]
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Health [31]
Environmental Studies [6]
Food [32]
Forests [7]
Journalism & Media [11]
Pollution [33]
Science [34]
Wildlife [35]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
International [18]
Visibility:
Public [22]
- Read more about From Fear to Fascination — A New Insect Narrative [26]
Covering Wildfire — Expert Advice on Emerging Issues, Recurring Risks [36]

With wildfires becoming more extreme in every way, reporters covering them face new challenges along with familiar hazards. A pair of experienced wildfire journalists and others on the front lines offer advice on dealing with access restrictions, on-the-ground dangers, toxic exposure risks and traumatized survivors — as climate change speeds up the news cycle and misinformation muddies the reporting landscape.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [4]
Forests [7]
Government [8]
Health [9]
Infrastructure [10]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
People & Population [37]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Alaska and Hawaii [38]
California [16]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [39]
Northwest (OR WA) [17]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [40]
Visibility:
Public [22]
- Read more about Covering Wildfire — Expert Advice on Emerging Issues, Recurring Risks [36]
Trump Tariffs Blow Up Long U.S.-Canada Environmental Partnership [41]

As trade wars loom with U.S. allies, including our neighbors to the north and south, another kind of long-standing relationship is under threat — the environmental partnership between the United States and Canada. A Backgrounder Analysis examines deep-rooted ties over energy, water and timber. Does the brewing conflict over trade mean the long bonds over the environment have been broken?

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [42]
Topics on the Beat:
Consumer [25]
Economy & Business [43]
Energy & Fuel [44]
Environmental Health [31]
Environmental Politics [5]
Fish & Fisheries [45]
Forests [7]
Government [8]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Natural Resources [13]
Policy [14]
Water & Oceans [46]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [47]
Northwest (OR WA) [17]
International [18]
Canada [19]
Mexico [48]
Visibility:
Public [22]
- Read more about Trump Tariffs Blow Up Long U.S.-Canada Environmental Partnership [41]
‘A Myriad of Voices’ Tells of Restoring a Swamp in Crisis [49]

When a pair of journalists reported on a degraded Colombian mangrove swamp, they turned to two local fishermen to help tell the story, tapping into their experience as they worked to repair the ecosystem that fed their community. In the latest Inside Story Q&A, reporter Jacobo Patiño Giraldo explains their successful use of primary source solutions journalism.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [50]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [27]
Biodiversity [29]
Environmental Health [31]
Environmental Justice [51]
Fish & Fisheries [45]
Forests [7]
Journalism & Media [11]
Natural Resources [13]
People & Population [37]
Water & Oceans [46]
Region:
International [18]
South America [52]
Visibility:
Public [22]
- Read more about ‘A Myriad of Voices’ Tells of Restoring a Swamp in Crisis [49]
Open Door to Industry for Trump Environmental Agency Appointees [53]

It’s not just the heads of Trump administration environmental agencies who come from the industries they now are entrusted to regulate. The latest TipSheet explains that it’s also the political appointees below them — officials responsible for overseeing air, water, toxic chemicals, Superfund, forests and drilling — who are now likely examples of regulatory capture. A short list. Plus, more from our new Trump 2.0 EJWatch special section [54].

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [24]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [28]
Air [55]
Chemicals [30]
Climate Change [3]
Economy & Business [43]
Energy & Fuel [44]
Environmental Politics [5]
Forests [7]
Government [8]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Natural Resources [13]
Policy [14]
Pollution [33]
Waste [56]
Water & Oceans [46]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Visibility:
Public [22]
- Read more about Open Door to Industry for Trump Environmental Agency Appointees [53]
Telling the Stories of the Silent Sentinels [57]

To many, plants are a merely green backdrop, indistinguishable and inconsequential. But, freelancer Karen Mockler says that such “plant blindness” belies an urgent need for our notice. More than a third of the world’s trees and thousands of other plant species face extinction. Their plight — and their many blessings — offer perceptive journalists a wealth of reporting and storytelling opportunities. Mockler on why to write about plants.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [28]
Air [55]
Biodiversity [29]
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Health [31]
Environmental Justice [51]
Environmental Politics [5]
Environmental Studies [6]
Food [32]
Forests [7]
Government [8]
Health [9]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Natural Resources [13]
Pollution [33]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [58]
Science [34]
Water & Oceans [46]
Wildlife [35]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
California [16]
Northwest (OR WA) [17]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [40]
International [18]
Canada [19]
Visibility:
Public [22]
- Read more about Telling the Stories of the Silent Sentinels [57]
Small Fry — How to Tell Compelling Stories About Obscure Species [59]

Getting people excited about large, charismatic wildlife is easy, but tiny, little-known or less-than-lovable species can be a tough sell. Journalists Bethany Brookshire and Douglas Main on why it’s important to include oddball organisms in your reporting and how to get audiences engaged. Pro tip: Building curiosity and caring for minor-league creatures often means being a bit self-centered.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [29]
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Health [31]
Forests [7]
Journalism & Media [11]
Science [34]
Wildlife [35]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [60]
International [18]
Visibility:
Public [22]
- Read more about Small Fry — How to Tell Compelling Stories About Obscure Species [59]
Making Sense of Jewish Perspectives on the Climate Story [61]

American Jews are heavily involved in climate action in both the political and civic realms. But current events in Israel and Gaza can make it hard for U.S. journalists to cover environmental stories important to Jews at home or abroad. Jewish freelancer Ethan Brown on differences and synergies between Israeli and American Jewish environmentalism and how to approach stories within each community.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [27]
Chemicals [30]
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [4]
Environmental Health [31]
Environmental Justice [51]
Environmental Politics [5]
Forests [7]
Government [8]
Journalism & Media [11]
Military [62]
People & Population [37]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [58]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
International [18]
Middle East [63]
Visibility:
Public [22]
- Read more about Making Sense of Jewish Perspectives on the Climate Story [61]

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