Publication Items

Before You Cover That Pipeline Protest, Check the Law [1]

At least 16 states currently have critical infrastructure anti-protest laws that could sweep up journalists on the scene, reports the latest TipSheet. The laws, which more states are considering, apply to pipelines, but sometimes other facilities that impact the environment too, like powerlines, dams, port facilities and refineries. How to keep track and avoid going to jail.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Energy & Fuel [4]
Environmental Justice [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [7]
Infrastructure [8]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [10]
Policy [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [13]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [14]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [15]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [16]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [17]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [18]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Before You Cover That Pipeline Protest, Check the Law [1]
To-Do List for Climate Change Gas Methane Is Long, Challenging … and Newsy [20]

The climate change gas methane, relatively little controlled but with a global warming potential many times that of carbon dioxide, has been much in the news recently and promises to remain there. The latest Backgrounder helps environmental journalists track the problem by detailing methane’s sources — from oil and gas production, agriculture and landfills — and the politics surrounding its regulation.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [21]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [22]
Air [23]
Chemicals [24]
Climate Change [25]
Economy & Business [26]
Energy & Fuel [4]
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [10]
Policy [11]
Pollution [27]
Waste [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
International [29]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about To-Do List for Climate Change Gas Methane Is Long, Challenging … and Newsy [20]
Native Tribal Nations Push for Changes in Public Lands [30]

As Native tribal nations successfully exert ancestral rights to land stewardship across the West, journalists covering these developments must first grasp the legal principles that underpin Native governmental sovereignty. But also key is to create and sustain relationships with Native community members. Veteran environment and Indigenous affairs reporter Debra Krol lays out the basics for effective reporting from Indian Country.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [31]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Climate Change [25]
Environmental Politics [6]
Fish & Fisheries [32]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [10]
People & Population [33]
Policy [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
International [29]
Canada [34]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Native Tribal Nations Push for Changes in Public Lands [30]
Lawn Chemicals May Make Fertile Soil for Local Environmental Stories [35]

Lawns can be as much bane as boon for homeowners that care for them throughout the United States. But when their maintenance involves the use of pesticides and fertilizers, they become a much wider concern for community health and the surrounding environment. The latest TipSheet combs through the grass for a better understanding of the problem, and offers ideas and resources for local environmental coverage.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [22]
Chemicals [24]
Consumer [36]
Environmental Health [37]
Health [38]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [10]
Pollution [27]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Lawn Chemicals May Make Fertile Soil for Local Environmental Stories [35]
Wastewater Ponds Often a Local Story Worth Stirring Up [39]

The tale of a toxic wastewater pit menacing a Florida community is a story that could be told in communities around the nation. As the latest TipSheet warns, these waste sites can turn into ticking time bombs. But in reporting the story locally, the first thing to know is which of the many kinds of wastewater ponds to look for. Here’s a rundown.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [22]
Chemicals [24]
Disasters [40]
Health [38]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [10]
Pollution [27]
Waste [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [15]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [17]
International [29]
Canada [34]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Wastewater Ponds Often a Local Story Worth Stirring Up [39]
Replacing the Nation’s Lead Lines Begins With Locating Them [41]

One especially ambitious element of the Biden infrastructure plan would swap out millions of lead pipes. It’s a massive, costly endeavor, but could remove from the country’s water supply a neurotoxin that harms human health, especially of kids and the poor. TipSheet looks at the new plan and offers ideas for reporting the story in your area.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Health [37]
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [7]
Health [38]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [10]
People & Population [33]
Water & Oceans [42]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [13]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [15]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Replacing the Nation’s Lead Lines Begins With Locating Them [41]
Local Water, Sewer Projects May Flow From Infrastructure Funding [43]

The push for federal infrastructure legislation may mean money for local water and sewage projects under a long-standing and broadly bipartisan program called WIFIA. The new TipSheet explains how the program works and why the latest developments could spell news for local environmental reporters. Plus, story ideas and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [7]
Health [38]
Infrastructure [8]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [10]
Planning & Growth [44]
Policy [11]
Pollution [27]
Water & Oceans [42]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Local Water, Sewer Projects May Flow From Infrastructure Funding [43]
Infrastructure Week All Year — But Will That Infrastructure Be Green? [45]

A much-anticipated infrastructure bill in Congress could help address the United States’ poorly rated roads, pipes and powerlines. But could the massive measure also do the heavy lifting for much-needed climate policy? The latest Backgrounder takes a deep dive into the context around climate-friendly infrastructure legislation, and looks ahead on what’s expected and how to report it.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [21]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Climate Change [25]
Consumer [36]
Energy & Fuel [4]
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [7]
Infrastructure [8]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [10]
Planning & Growth [44]
Policy [11]
Pollution [27]
Technology [46]
Transportation [47]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Infrastructure Week All Year — But Will That Infrastructure Be Green? [45]
Biden Rollbacks of Trump Energy-Efficiency Cuts Generate Local Stories [48]

From cardigans to orange tans, the history of presidential politics around energy efficiency has been an odd one. But the story of so-called nega-watts is actually a compelling one. And with new efficiency rules being eyed by the Biden administration, it’s also time for reporters to explore the local angle to energy savings. Our latest TipSheet explains how.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [25]
Consumer [36]
Energy & Fuel [4]
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [10]
Policy [11]
Science [49]
Technology [46]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Biden Rollbacks of Trump Energy-Efficiency Cuts Generate Local Stories [48]
Grid Data Can Guide Reporting on Power Disasters [50]

The power and water fiasco that followed a deep freeze in Texas was a predictable debacle and, thus, a warning signal to journalists covering disasters and climate-driven weather extremes. To help, the latest Reporter’s Toolbox provides a rundown of data sources about power grids, from local, regional and national entities, and recommends you start tracking the numbers and be prepared.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [51]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [25]
Consumer [36]
Disasters [40]
Energy & Fuel [4]
Government [7]
Infrastructure [8]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [10]
Planning & Growth [44]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [52]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [18]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Grid Data Can Guide Reporting on Power Disasters [50]

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