Publication Items

News Can Net Eyeballs By Turning Dweebish Data Into Magic Maps [1]

When it comes to telling environment and energy stories, especially about place and scale, data visualizations can turn an average story into a standout. Reporter’s Toolbox takes a look at some recent examples of inspiring data-mapping projects that provide insight into everything from auto emissions and floods to vanishing rivers and whipping winds.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [3]
Climate Change [4]
Disasters [5]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Journalism & Media [7]
Natural Resources [8]
Pollution [9]
Transportation [10]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Alaska and Hawaii [13]
California [14]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [15]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [16]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [17]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [18]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [19]
Northwest (OR WA) [20]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [21]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [22]
International [23]
Visibility:
Public [24]
- Read more about News Can Net Eyeballs By Turning Dweebish Data Into Magic Maps [1]
Another Bad-News Year Ahead for U.S. Coal? [25]

As U.S. coal’s comedown continues, our latest Issue Backgrounder takes a close look at the factors behind the industry’s decline and finds a combination of economics, competition and shifting global markets, along with aging technology, politics and environmental pushback. What’s in store for coal in 2020?

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [26]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [27]
Air [3]
Climate Change [4]
Economy & Business [28]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Politics [29]
Government [30]
Laws & Regulations [31]
Natural Resources [8]
Pollution [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Alaska and Hawaii [13]
California [14]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [15]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [16]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [17]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [18]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [19]
Northwest (OR WA) [20]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [21]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [22]
International [23]
Canada [32]
Mexico [33]
Africa [34]
Antarctica & Arctic [35]
Asia [36]
Australia & Oceania [37]
Central America & the Caribbean [38]
Europe [39]
Middle East [40]
South America [41]
Visibility:
Public [24]
- Read more about Another Bad-News Year Ahead for U.S. Coal? [25]
SEJ Gets High in Fort Collins [42]

Missed the Society of Environmental Journalists’ annual gathering in Fort Collins? Never fear, for our in-house humorist David Helvarg has herein recounted the “highs” (and paranoid lows). Among them: oddball scientists, strolls in a snow storm, bad burros and beet-based dinners. Plus, the secret strategy behind SEJ’s conference site selection.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [43]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [44]
Climate Change [4]
Environmental Politics [29]
Government [30]
Journalism & Media [7]
Natural Resources [8]
Policy [45]
Pollution [9]
Science [46]
Wildlife [47]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [18]
Visibility:
Public [24]
- Read more about SEJ Gets High in Fort Collins [42]
‘Waterfront Porch: Reclaiming Detroit’s Industrial Waterfront As a Gathering Place for All’ [48]

The Detroit River, a key Great Lakes shipping channel, was once the repository of millions of gallons of industrial discharge. But as a new book attests, Detroit’s industrial waterfront has in the last 50 years undergone a remarkable recovery that offers hope for the cleanup of other polluted Rust Belt towns. Read our BookShelf review.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [49]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [5]
Economy & Business [28]
Pollution [9]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [15]
Visibility:
Public [24]
- Read more about ‘Waterfront Porch: Reclaiming Detroit’s Industrial Waterfront As a Gathering Place for All’ [48]
Algae — Society’s Big, Green … and Emerging Menace [50]

It’s poisoning fresh waters across the United States, as well as elsewhere in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa. Blue-green algae is on the rise, lingering later and later into the year. Our new Issue Backgrounder explains the contributing factors behind the potent toxin’s scourge, its societal and public health ramifications, and the many angles and resources to tell the story.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [26]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [44]
Chemicals [51]
Climate Change [4]
Consumer [52]
Disasters [5]
Environmental Health [53]
Health [54]
Journalism & Media [7]
People & Population [55]
Planning & Growth [56]
Pollution [9]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
California [14]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [15]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [21]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [22]
International [23]
Canada [32]
Mexico [33]
Africa [34]
Antarctica & Arctic [35]
Asia [36]
Australia & Oceania [37]
Central America & the Caribbean [38]
Europe [39]
South America [41]
Visibility:
Public [24]
- Read more about Algae — Society’s Big, Green … and Emerging Menace [50]
For ‘Wonky’ Pollution Story, Making the Complex Clear [57]

The latest Inside Story column takes a look at how one reporter turned a series of complex policy stories on renewable energy and pollution into an accessible, localized narrative — and in the process won a Society of Environmental Journalists’ explanatory reporting award. A Q&A about the project with Baltimore Sun’s Scott Dance.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [58]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [3]
Chemicals [51]
Economy & Business [28]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Health [53]
Environmental Politics [29]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [31]
Pollution [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [17]
Visibility:
Public [24]
- Read more about For ‘Wonky’ Pollution Story, Making the Complex Clear [57]
Bikes Make Path for Local Environment Stories [59]

When it comes to bringing environmental stories home to your audience, don’t soft-pedal the topic of bicycling. Bikes are a way in to the issue of climate, as well as health and infrastructure. The most recent TipSheet has more on why you can ride the bike beat for your local reporting

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [60]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [27]
Air [3]
Climate Change [4]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Health [54]
Journalism & Media [7]
Planning & Growth [56]
Pollution [9]
Transportation [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
International [23]
Europe [39]
Visibility:
Public [24]
- Read more about Bikes Make Path for Local Environment Stories [59]
Greenhouse Gas Inventory Key Source for Local Climate Change Stories [61]

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 [51]
Climate Change [4]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [31]
Pollution [9]
Science [46]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [24]
- Read more about Greenhouse Gas Inventory Key Source for Local Climate Change Stories [61]
Air Needs Freshening in Most U.S. National Park Units [62]

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 [60]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [3]
Chemicals [51]
Consumer [52]
Environmental Health [53]
Environmental Politics [29]
Environmental Studies [63]
Forests [64]
Government [30]
Health [54]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [31]
Natural Resources [8]
Pollution [9]
Science [46]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [24]
- Read more about Air Needs Freshening in Most U.S. National Park Units [62]
Big Environmental Impacts on Small Communities Is Story That Must Be Told [65]

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 [43]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [44]
Air [3]
Chemicals [51]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Health [53]
Environmental Politics [29]
Government [30]
Health [54]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [31]
Natural Resources [8]
Policy [45]
Pollution [9]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Alaska and Hawaii [13]
California [14]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [15]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [16]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [17]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [18]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [19]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [21]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [22]
Visibility:
Public [24]
- Read more about Big Environmental Impacts on Small Communities Is Story That Must Be Told [65]

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