Publication Items

Big Environmental Impacts on Small Communities Is Story That Must Be Told [1]

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 [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Air [4]
Chemicals [5]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Politics [8]
Government [9]
Health [10]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Natural Resources [13]
Policy [14]
Pollution [15]
Water & Oceans [16]
Region:
National (U.S.) [17]
Alaska and Hawaii [18]
California [19]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [20]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [21]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [22]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [23]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [24]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [25]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [26]
Visibility:
Public [27]
- Read more about Big Environmental Impacts on Small Communities Is Story That Must Be Told [1]
Database Helps Track PFAS Drinking Water Contamination [28]

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 [29]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [5]
Consumer [30]
Government [9]
Health [10]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
People & Population [31]
Pollution [15]
Water & Oceans [16]
Region:
National (U.S.) [17]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [20]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [22]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [24]
Visibility:
Public [27]
- Read more about Database Helps Track PFAS Drinking Water Contamination [28]
Sifting Through 'Toxic Secrets' To Nail Polluter [32]

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 [33]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [5]
Environmental Health [7]
Health [10]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
People & Population [31]
Pollution [15]
Water & Oceans [16]
Region:
National (U.S.) [17]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [24]
Visibility:
Public [27]
- Read more about Sifting Through 'Toxic Secrets' To Nail Polluter [32]
FED Tool Tracks Pollution on Federal Lands [34]

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 [29]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [4]
Consumer [30]
Environmental Health [7]
Forests [35]
Government [9]
Health [10]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
People & Population [31]
Pollution [15]
Region:
National (U.S.) [17]
Visibility:
Public [27]
- Read more about FED Tool Tracks Pollution on Federal Lands [34]
“Ocean Outbreak: Confronting the Rising Tide of Marine Disease” [36]

Marine ecologist Drew Harvell’s new book makes the case that the world’s oceans are sick and that few are paying enough attention. According to our latest BookShelf review, her “Ocean Outbreak” takes readers on a panoramic journey through the deep, while equipping reporters to better report problems that go well beyond climate change.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [37]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [38]
Environmental Health [7]
Fish & Fisheries [39]
Natural Resources [13]
Pollution [15]
Water & Oceans [16]
Wildlife [40]
Region:
National (U.S.) [17]
International [41]
Visibility:
Public [27]
- Read more about “Ocean Outbreak: Confronting the Rising Tide of Marine Disease” [36]
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 [3]
Air [4]
Chemicals [5]
Climate Change [38]
Economy & Business [45]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Government [9]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Pollution [15]
Science [46]
Wildlife [40]
Region:
National (U.S.) [17]
California [19]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [21]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [22]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [23]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [25]
Visibility:
Public [27]
- 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 [48]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [5]
Consumer [30]
Environmental Health [7]
Fish & Fisheries [39]
Food [49]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Natural Resources [13]
Pollution [15]
Water & Oceans [16]
Region:
National (U.S.) [17]
Visibility:
Public [27]
- Read more about Follow Fish Advisories To Catch Local Stories [47]
State of the Air Report Spotlights Persistent Pollution Problems [50]

Happen to have any air breathers in your audience? Then the latest State of the Air Report will give you fodder to cover the persistent pollution problems that plague the skies. This week’s TipSheet has the backstory on the fight against air pollution and five smart ways to tell the story from a local-regional context.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [48]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [4]
Chemicals [5]
Climate Change [38]
Government [9]
Health [10]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Natural Resources [13]
Pollution [15]
Region:
National (U.S.) [17]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [22]
International [41]
Asia [51]
Visibility:
Public [27]
- Read more about State of the Air Report Spotlights Persistent Pollution Problems [50]
Between the Lines: Forging a Future for a ‘Forgotten River’ [52]

Washington, D.C.’s long-neglected Anacostia River bears both tragedy and beauty. And author Krista Schlyer plumbs its depths in her most recent book, “River of Redemption.” In this Between the Lines, she speaks of her connection to the urban waterway, as well as her latest reporting on the environmental impact of the border wall.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [37]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [44]
Agriculture [3]
Biodiversity [53]
Chemicals [5]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Politics [8]
Journalism & Media [11]
Natural Resources [13]
People & Population [31]
Policy [14]
Pollution [15]
Water & Oceans [16]
Wildlife [40]
Region:
National (U.S.) [17]
California [19]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [22]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [26]
International [41]
Mexico [54]
Visibility:
Public [27]
- Read more about Between the Lines: Forging a Future for a ‘Forgotten River’ [52]
Track Wetlands Stories with National Inventory Tool [55]

As a battle brews over which U.S. waters are protected, environmental journalists can use an invaluable national database to pinpoint vulnerable wetlands. This week’s TipSheet has more on the National Wetlands Inventory, the backstory on wetlands protection, why it matters, and reporting resources and story ideas.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [48]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [44]
Agriculture [3]
Biodiversity [53]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Politics [8]
Fish & Fisheries [39]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Natural Resources [13]
Pollution [15]
Water & Oceans [16]
Region:
National (U.S.) [17]
Visibility:
Public [27]
- Read more about Track Wetlands Stories with National Inventory Tool [55]

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