Publication Items

Unpacking Puerto Rico’s Water Crisis [1]

Puerto Rico is suffering from months of water rationing. But for journalists to fully cover this many-layered water story requires a real understanding of how the U.S. territory's politics and history have brought it to this crossroads, argues columnist Yessenia Funes. That, plus a capacity to listen to affected communities, report on solutions and consider partnerships with local journalists.

SEJ Publication Types:
Voices of Environmental Justice [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Justice [3]
Environmental Politics [4]
Government [5]
Health [6]
Infrastructure [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [9]
People & Population [10]
Policy [11]
Water & Oceans [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Unpacking Puerto Rico’s Water Crisis [1]
‘Trade Secrets’ Keep Journalists, Public in the Dark [15]

So-called confidential business information is a major obstacle to the dissemination of knowledge about environmental threats for the public, cautions WatchDog Opinion. Part of the problem is how federal agencies treat requests for confidentiality, and so is the way environmental laws handle the issue. A look at the worst offenders, and a call for journalists to break through the veil of secrecy.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [16]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [17]
Economy & Business [18]
Environmental Politics [4]
Government [5]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [19]
Policy [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about ‘Trade Secrets’ Keep Journalists, Public in the Dark [15]
Oysters, Boisterous or Scarce, Fuel Local Environment Stories [20]

The world may be your oyster, but if you’re an environmental journalist, the oyster may also be your story. The latest TipSheet points out (amid numerous tasty serving tips) that oysters say a great deal about the health of local waters … and of the humans who consume the mollusk. Get a dozen-plus oyster story ideas and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [21]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [22]
Environmental Health [23]
Fish & Fisheries [24]
Food [25]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [9]
Pollution [26]
Water & Oceans [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
California [27]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [28]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [29]
Northwest (OR WA) [30]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [31]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Oysters, Boisterous or Scarce, Fuel Local Environment Stories [20]
Are We Ready for the Next Pandemic? [32]

If you’ve been pondering what recent Cyclospora, Legionella and Ebola outbreaks tell us about the state of preparedness for future pandemics, Backgrounder has some sobering insights. A reminder of the uneven response to COVID-19 and a look forward at how current Trump administration policy has weakened public health structures and likely left us unready for what’s ahead.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [33]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [34]
Government [5]
Health [6]
People & Population [10]
Policy [11]
Science [35]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
International [36]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Are We Ready for the Next Pandemic? [32]
Wildfire Data, With Its Hair on Fire [37]

As wildfires rage in the U.S. West, Canada and other hot spots around the globe, reporters covering this environmental hazard in the United States can access high-quality data of exceptional timeliness via the Watch Duty app, finds the latest Reporter’s Toolbox. The tool offers everything from emergency notifications to data deep dives, all smartly integrated in its mapping interface.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [38]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [34]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
California [27]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [39]
Northwest (OR WA) [30]
International [36]
Canada [40]
Europe [41]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Wildfire Data, With Its Hair on Fire [37]
Extremely Hot Weather Cooks Up Unusually Awful Air Pollution [42]

Summertime and the livin' is smoggy. American air may be clearer now than when the Clean Air Act was passed in 1970, but pollutants still abound. Heat and sunlight stoke chemical reactions that exacerbate health hazards. And worsening wildfires mix in harmful smoke. The latest TipSheet has more than a dozen story ideas and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [21]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [43]
Air [44]
Chemicals [17]
Climate Change [45]
Energy & Fuel [46]
Environmental Health [23]
Government [5]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [19]
Pollution [26]
Transportation [47]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
International [36]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Extremely Hot Weather Cooks Up Unusually Awful Air Pollution [42]
Taming the Freight Beast [48]

The U.S. freight system delivers significant environmental impacts nationwide, especially in states that host major rail-and-road hubs and seaports. Meanwhile, new federal laws and policies are making it harder to curtail pollution generated by freight trucks, trains and warehouses. Journalist John Lippert looks at how the public, private and nonprofit sectors are rising to this challenge.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [49]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [43]
Air [44]
Climate Change [45]
Consumer [50]
Economy & Business [18]
Energy & Fuel [46]
Environmental Health [23]
Environmental Justice [3]
Environmental Politics [4]
Government [5]
Health [6]
Infrastructure [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [19]
Policy [11]
Pollution [26]
Technology [51]
Transportation [47]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
California [27]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [52]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Taming the Freight Beast [48]
Great Lakes Steelmaking at a Crossroads [53]

The Great Lakes region is a top steel producer, but its coal-fired steel mills are also a major source of planet-warming emissions and health-harming pollution. Climate advocates, community members and workers have been pushing to clean up these facilities for decades. Now, foreign funding offers new hope for revitalizing and decarbonizing the region’s steel industry. Canary Media’s Maria Gallucci explains.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [49]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [43]
Air [44]
Climate Change [45]
Economy & Business [18]
Energy & Fuel [46]
Environmental Politics [4]
Government [5]
Health [6]
Natural Resources [9]
Pollution [26]
Technology [51]
Water & Oceans [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [52]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [31]
International [36]
Asia [54]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Great Lakes Steelmaking at a Crossroads [53]
Extreme Heat Will Get You This Summer. Watch Out! [55]

With the approach of what looks like an unusually hot summer, the latest TipSheet offers guidance on covering extreme heat, starting with the step-by-step basics of understanding heat’s health impacts, from dehydration to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Plus, get 10 story ideas and reporting resources to cover the dangers of extreme heat locally.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [21]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [45]
Disasters [34]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
International [36]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Extreme Heat Will Get You This Summer. Watch Out! [55]
Graphic Content — Journalistic Lessons From Crossing Genres [56]

Today’s teens are growing up in a world of conspicuous climate change, often directly affected by its consequences. Despite their youth, some are at the forefront of the fight against this threat. Freelance journalist and author Meera Subramanian — co-creator of a new nonfiction graphic novel about young climate campaigners — on teens as sources, activism as a topic and the pleasures of collaboration. See a sample of the book [57].

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [49]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [43]
Biodiversity [22]
Climate Change [45]
Disasters [34]
Diversity [58]
Environmental Health [23]
Environmental Justice [3]
Environmental Politics [4]
Environmental Studies [59]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [8]
Pollution [26]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [60]
Science [35]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [29]
International [36]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Graphic Content — Journalistic Lessons From Crossing Genres [56]

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