Publication Items

Harnessing the Power of Global Forest Watch for Data-Driven Reporting on Land Cover Change [1]

Whether trees fall to chain saws or go up in smoke, deforestation is a major climate change driver. But on-the-ground reporting on forest loss is often challenging. Global Forest Watch provides worldwide land cover change data and tools that can help journalists contextualize deforestation events. Mongabay editor Morgan Erickson-Davis explains the power of this free online platform and shares her favorite features.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Biodiversity [4]
Climate Change [5]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Studies [7]
Forests [8]
Journalism & Media [9]
Natural Resources [10]
Science [11]
Technology [12]
Wildlife [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
International [15]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Harnessing the Power of Global Forest Watch for Data-Driven Reporting on Land Cover Change [1]
Spurt in Hydro Relicensing To Leave U.S. Awash in Environmental Stories [17]

Hundreds of hydropower dams in the United States will see their licenses expiring in the next decade, generating years-long federal relicensing processes. That prospect calls for close local and regional coverage of the complicated balance between renewable energy needs with negative environmental impacts. The latest TipSheet explains the licensing process and the dam backstory, along with a dozen story ideas and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [18]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [19]
Climate Change [5]
Consumer [20]
Energy & Fuel [21]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Politics [22]
Fish & Fisheries [23]
Infrastructure [24]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [25]
Natural Resources [10]
Policy [26]
Water & Oceans [27]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
California [28]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [29]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [30]
Northwest (OR WA) [31]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Spurt in Hydro Relicensing To Leave U.S. Awash in Environmental Stories [17]
Philly Steaks Out New Ground [32]

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 [33]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Climate Change [5]
Disasters [34]
Economy & Business [35]
Energy & Fuel [21]
Environmental Politics [22]
Food [36]
Government [37]
Health [38]
Infrastructure [24]
Journalism & Media [9]
Natural Resources [10]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [39]
Policy [26]
Pollution [40]
Technology [12]
Transportation [41]
Waste [42]
Water & Oceans [27]
Wildlife [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [43]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Philly Steaks Out New Ground [32]
Courage and Caring — Documentary Celebrates Environmental Icon Stewart Udall [44]

While the name of Stewart Udall, U.S. interior secretary through the tumultuous 1960s, may have faded from public memory, his influence on environmental policies is still felt today. Contributor Francesca Lyman shines the spotlight on a new documentary about Udall and his legacy, and talks with director John de Graaf about Udall’s insights and inspiration.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [45]
Biodiversity [4]
Climate Change [5]
Energy & Fuel [21]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Justice [46]
Environmental Politics [22]
Environmental Studies [7]
Forests [8]
Government [37]
Infrastructure [24]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [25]
Natural Resources [10]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [39]
Policy [26]
Pollution [40]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [47]
Transportation [41]
Water & Oceans [27]
Wildlife [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
California [28]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [48]
Northwest (OR WA) [31]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [49]
International [15]
Central America & the Caribbean [50]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Courage and Caring — Documentary Celebrates Environmental Icon Stewart Udall [44]
LNG To Fuel Conflict, Profit, Warming in Coming Years [51]

A partisan debate has flared over liquified natural gas, as industry, environmentalists and politicians wrangle over LNG’s role in climate change and the energy transition, heating and electricity prices, and international and domestic U.S. politics. Backgrounder lays out LNG’s history, starting with the fracking boom and bringing it up to speed with the war in Ukraine and upcoming presidential elections.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [52]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [19]
Chemicals [53]
Climate Change [5]
Energy & Fuel [21]
Environmental Politics [22]
Government [37]
Laws & Regulations [25]
Natural Resources [10]
Policy [26]
Pollution [40]
Technology [12]
Transportation [41]
Water & Oceans [27]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Alaska and Hawaii [54]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [43]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [55]
International [15]
Canada [56]
Mexico [57]
Asia [58]
Europe [59]
Middle East [60]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about LNG To Fuel Conflict, Profit, Warming in Coming Years [51]
Finding Your Way Through the Forest of Forest Data [61]

Forests are full of environmental stories, from timber sales and wildlife habitat to climate change and hunting. And for reporters in search of resources to report them, the U.S. Forest Service offers an immense array of datasets to match the hundreds of millions of acres of land under its domain. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox gets you started on using the vast Forest Service data collection.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [62]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Climate Change [5]
Environmental Health [6]
Forests [8]
Government [37]
Journalism & Media [9]
Natural Resources [10]
Policy [26]
Wildlife [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Finding Your Way Through the Forest of Forest Data [61]
How Ice Fishing Can Break the Ice on Your Local Climate Story [63]

What does dragging an old car onto an ice-covered lake have to do with informing your community about the perils of climate heating? Potentially a good deal. The latest TipSheet explains how waning winters and the potential impact on the entertaining tradition of ice fishing can serve as an entry into more serious matters. A dozen story ideas and resources to get you started.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [18]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [5]
Environmental Health [6]
Fish & Fisheries [23]
Journalism & Media [9]
Natural Resources [10]
People & Population [64]
Water & Oceans [27]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [29]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [65]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [43]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [48]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [30]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about How Ice Fishing Can Break the Ice on Your Local Climate Story [63]
'Gaslit' Project Spotlights Challenges of Teaching Investigative Journalism [66]

Research, collaboration, human-centered storytelling and the ineluctable element of time — all these were among the facets of a complex, award-winning investigative report run by a team of students at Arizona State University on excessive and harmful natural gas flaring. How the project came together, and the lessons learned, in the new EJ Academy from column co-editor and longtime educator Bob Wyss.

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ Academy [67]
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel [21]
Environmental Studies [7]
Journalism & Media [9]
Natural Resources [10]
Pollution [40]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [65]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [49]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about 'Gaslit' Project Spotlights Challenges of Teaching Investigative Journalism [66]
In Their Own Words — Story Insights From SEJ’s 2023 Award Winners [68]

When Inside Story co-editor Rocky Kistner reviewed video statements from first-place winners of the Society of Environmental Journalists 2023 reporting awards, he found a series of striking insights into the work of environmental journalism. From environment as a true crime story and going beyond the headlines, to covering communities at risk and through powerful interests, a look at nine highly effective approaches to telling environmental stories.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [69]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [4]
Chemicals [53]
Climate Change [5]
Economy & Business [35]
Energy & Fuel [21]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Justice [46]
Environmental Politics [22]
Forests [8]
Government [37]
Health [38]
Infrastructure [24]
Journalism & Media [9]
Natural Resources [10]
People & Population [64]
Policy [26]
Pollution [40]
Waste [42]
Water & Oceans [27]
Wildlife [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
California [28]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [29]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [43]
International [15]
Africa [70]
South America [71]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about In Their Own Words — Story Insights From SEJ’s 2023 Award Winners [68]
‘Carbon Colonialism’ Details the Exporting of Degradation, Climate Collapse [72]

The climate change debate is often so focused on fossil fuels and mining that it ignores impacts in economic, political, neo-colonial and social terms, writes BookShelf’s Melody Kemp in her review of “Carbon Colonialism: How Rich Countries Export Climate Breakdown.” Why concepts like corporate social responsibility do little to stem the losses that come with such development.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [73]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [19]
Climate Change [5]
Consumer [20]
Economy & Business [35]
Energy & Fuel [21]
Environmental Justice [46]
Environmental Politics [22]
Forests [8]
Health [38]
Natural Resources [10]
People & Population [64]
Policy [26]
Pollution [40]
Region:
International [15]
Asia [58]
Europe [59]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about ‘Carbon Colonialism’ Details the Exporting of Degradation, Climate Collapse [72]

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