Publication Items

Greenhouse Gas Inventory Key Source for Local Climate Change Stories [1]

A long-standing EPA inventory of greenhouse gasses has been gussied up of late, making it easier than ever to comb the data for global warming stories in your community. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox continues its new data journalism focus with a look at this resource, and how to use the info in it smartly.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [3]
Chemicals [4]
Climate Change [5]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Pollution [9]
Science [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Greenhouse Gas Inventory Key Source for Local Climate Change Stories [1]
Air Needs Freshening in Most U.S. National Park Units [13]

The nation’s parks are generally thought to be pristine natural havens. But a recent study finds the overwhelming majority suffer from air pollution problems like smog and ozone. That makes for important local and regional news stories, per the latest biweekly TipSheet. Get background, story ideas, resources and more.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [14]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [3]
Chemicals [4]
Consumer [15]
Environmental Health [16]
Environmental Politics [17]
Environmental Studies [18]
Forests [19]
Government [20]
Health [21]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Natural Resources [22]
Pollution [9]
Science [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Air Needs Freshening in Most U.S. National Park Units [13]
Big Environmental Impacts on Small Communities Is Story That Must Be Told [23]

While environmental journalists often focus on regulatory wrestling matches in Washington, D.C., a seasoned New York Times investigative reporter argues the most important stories are those in the real communities where bureaucratic impacts are felt. Three-time Pulitzer winner Eric Lipton makes the case for public service in journalism that tells the environment story from the outside in.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [24]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [25]
Air [3]
Chemicals [4]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Health [16]
Environmental Politics [17]
Government [20]
Health [21]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Natural Resources [22]
Policy [26]
Pollution [9]
Water & Oceans [27]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Alaska and Hawaii [28]
California [29]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [30]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [31]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [32]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [33]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [34]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [35]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [36]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Big Environmental Impacts on Small Communities Is Story That Must Be Told [23]
Database Helps Track PFAS Drinking Water Contamination [37]

Millions of people across the United States are believed to be drinking PFAS-contaminated water. And a growing database could prove an invaluable resource for environmental journalists trying to get a handle on that public health risk. Our latest biweekly Reporter’s Toolbox, recently refocused on data journalism tools and techniques, explains how to tap the expanding PFAS data.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [4]
Consumer [15]
Government [20]
Health [21]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
People & Population [38]
Pollution [9]
Water & Oceans [27]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [30]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [32]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [34]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Database Helps Track PFAS Drinking Water Contamination [37]
Sifting Through 'Toxic Secrets' To Nail Polluter [39]

A lengthy investigation yielded one small-market environmental reporting team an award-winning project examining the adequacy of a toxic solvent cleanup in a polluted community. Our latest “Inside Story” talks with a team member behind the project to learn about the challenges, the lessons learned and advice for others tracking similar problems.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [40]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [4]
Environmental Health [16]
Health [21]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
People & Population [38]
Pollution [9]
Water & Oceans [27]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [34]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Sifting Through 'Toxic Secrets' To Nail Polluter [39]
FED Tool Tracks Pollution on Federal Lands [41]

A revamped Reporter’s Toolbox begins today with a new focus on data resources for environmental journalists. The now biweekly column starts with a look at a massive database designed for federal land managers that reporters can use to scan dozens of pollution data sets about air quality and more in parks, forests and other federal lands.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [3]
Consumer [15]
Environmental Health [16]
Forests [19]
Government [20]
Health [21]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
People & Population [38]
Pollution [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about FED Tool Tracks Pollution on Federal Lands [41]
SEJ in Press Freedom Case, Chem Secrecy Bill Fails and More [42]

SEJ joined with several dozen other journalism groups to support the right to film police activity in a public place, and bills to block information of importance to environmental reporters failed in Louisiana, California and Iowa, but a Colorado paper was blocked from covering a wild horse roundup. All that in this month’s WatchDog Tipsheet.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [43]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [44]
Agriculture [25]
Air [3]
Chemicals [4]
Climate Change [5]
Economy & Business [45]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Government [20]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Pollution [9]
Science [10]
Wildlife [46]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
California [29]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [31]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [32]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [33]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [35]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about SEJ in Press Freedom Case, Chem Secrecy Bill Fails and More [42]
Follow Fish Advisories To Catch Local Stories [47]

Toxic chemicals and disease-causing microorganisms can be found in some fresh-caught fish. And that means local stories for environmental journalists, who can pick up on problems through federal and state fish advisories. The latest TipSheet explains the health impacts and how they’re regulated, plus questions to ask and story ideas, including an environmental justice angle.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [14]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [4]
Consumer [15]
Environmental Health [16]
Fish & Fisheries [48]
Food [49]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Natural Resources [22]
Pollution [9]
Water & Oceans [27]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Follow Fish Advisories To Catch Local Stories [47]
Is Your Local Landfill Leaking Methane? [50]

It’s a good case for the global-local nexus: The potent greenhouse gas methane may be leaking from your local landfill. And this week’s TipSheet explains the latest news developments in this long-standing controversy, as well as policy disputes over capturing the gas. Plus, get story ideas and questions to ask for your local reporting.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [14]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [44]
Air [3]
Chemicals [4]
Climate Change [5]
Consumer [15]
Environmental Politics [17]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Waste [51]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
California [29]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [30]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [32]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [34]
Northwest (OR WA) [52]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [36]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Is Your Local Landfill Leaking Methane? [50]
Politics Putting Down Stakes Over Oil, Gas Leasing on Federal Lands [53]

The leasing of public lands to drill for oil and gas may seem a labyrinthine topic. But it could be time to get wonky and, ahem, drill down on it, as the politics of 2020 bring the controversial practice to the fore. The latest Backgrounder helps get you up to speed on the story.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [54]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [5]
Economy & Business [45]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Politics [17]
Government [20]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Natural Resources [22]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
International [55]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Politics Putting Down Stakes Over Oil, Gas Leasing on Federal Lands [53]

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