Publication Items

Follow Fish Advisories To Catch Local Stories [1]

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 [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [3]
Consumer [4]
Environmental Health [5]
Fish & Fisheries [6]
Food [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Natural Resources [10]
Pollution [11]
Water & Oceans [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Follow Fish Advisories To Catch Local Stories [1]
State of the Air Report Spotlights Persistent Pollution Problems [15]

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 [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [16]
Chemicals [3]
Climate Change [17]
Government [18]
Health [19]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Natural Resources [10]
Pollution [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [20]
International [21]
Asia [22]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about State of the Air Report Spotlights Persistent Pollution Problems [15]
Between the Lines: Forging a Future for a ‘Forgotten River’ [23]

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 [24]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [25]
Agriculture [26]
Biodiversity [27]
Chemicals [3]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Politics [28]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [10]
People & Population [29]
Policy [30]
Pollution [11]
Water & Oceans [12]
Wildlife [31]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
California [32]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [20]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [33]
International [21]
Mexico [34]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Between the Lines: Forging a Future for a ‘Forgotten River’ [23]
Track Wetlands Stories with National Inventory Tool [35]

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 [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [25]
Agriculture [26]
Biodiversity [27]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Politics [28]
Fish & Fisheries [6]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Natural Resources [10]
Pollution [11]
Water & Oceans [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Track Wetlands Stories with National Inventory Tool [35]
Is Your Favorite River Endangered? Check the List. [36]

The latest release of the annual endangered rivers list provides boatloads of environmental reporting angles, including climate change-related threats like flooding and drought. This week’s TipSheet has the backstory and the new top-10 list, plus 10 suggested starting points for stories and a half-dozen key reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [25]
Climate Change [17]
Consumer [4]
Environmental Health [5]
Fish & Fisheries [6]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [10]
Pollution [11]
Science [37]
Water & Oceans [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Alaska and Hawaii [38]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [39]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [40]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [41]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [42]
Northwest (OR WA) [43]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [44]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [33]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Is Your Favorite River Endangered? Check the List. [36]
Use EPA TRI Database To Find Toxic Threats [45]

The Toxics Release Inventory database, refreshed annually, has long been the foundation of many a good environmental news story. The latest release is now out, and this week’s TipSheet reminds journalists why the searchable online TRI can be such a valuable reporting tool in tracking toxic dangers.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [25]
Air [16]
Chemicals [3]
Disasters [46]
Environmental Health [5]
Government [18]
Health [19]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Pollution [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
International [21]
Asia [22]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Use EPA TRI Database To Find Toxic Threats [45]
Styrofoam Facts — Why You May Want To Bring Your Own Cup [47]

What makes styrofoam good — like its insulating, shock-absorbing qualities that make it suitable for hot coffee cups, coolers, helmets and packing material — is also what makes it bad … for the environment, that is. This month’s Backgrounder looks at the technical and environmental aspects of this long-troubling plastic pollution source.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [48]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [3]
Consumer [4]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Politics [28]
Food [7]
Government [18]
Health [19]
Pollution [11]
Science [37]
Waste [49]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
International [21]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Styrofoam Facts — Why You May Want To Bring Your Own Cup [47]
Styrofoam Container Bans May Be Trending [50]

The first state ban on styrofoam food containers makes this a good time to see how things stand with styrofoam in your area, as the controversial plastic draws negative attention for overflowing landfills, causing litter and polluting waters. More, plus story ideas and reporting resources, in this week’s TipSheet.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [25]
Chemicals [3]
Consumer [4]
Environmental Politics [28]
Fish & Fisheries [6]
Food [7]
Health [19]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Pollution [11]
Waste [49]
Water & Oceans [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
California [32]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [20]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [42]
Northwest (OR WA) [43]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Styrofoam Container Bans May Be Trending [50]
SEJ Joins Lawsuits; Press Freedom Tracker Gets Update; Docs on ANWR Drilling Concealed, and More [51]

The Society of Environmental Journalists is backing right-to-know lawsuits brought by journalism groups, and a collaborative press freedom tracker gets new funding. Meanwhile, at the Interior Department, one watchdog group angles for environmental impact statements on ANWR drilling, while others track possible conflicts of interest by the acting secretary. That and more in the latest WatchDog roundup.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [52]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [25]
Biodiversity [27]
Energy & Fuel [53]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Politics [28]
Environmental Studies [54]
Fish & Fisheries [6]
Food [7]
Forests [55]
Government [18]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Military [56]
Natural Resources [10]
Policy [30]
Pollution [11]
Wildlife [31]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Alaska and Hawaii [38]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about SEJ Joins Lawsuits; Press Freedom Tracker Gets Update; Docs on ANWR Drilling Concealed, and More [51]
List of Toxics Near Military Sites May Include Leads for Reporters [57]

Drinking water contaminated with PFAS for years has caused worry, even outrage, in local communities affected by the toxic chemicals. Now, a military database may help reporters locate contamination sites. This week’s TipSheet has more on the database, along with tips for evaluating your local PFAS story.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [25]
Chemicals [3]
Consumer [4]
Environmental Health [5]
Health [19]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Military [56]
Policy [30]
Pollution [11]
Science [37]
Water & Oceans [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about List of Toxics Near Military Sites May Include Leads for Reporters [57]

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