Publication Items

Floods, Fires, Dysfunction — Another Year Ahead of Faltering Steps on Environment, Energy [1]

In our annual look-ahead on the environment and energy beat in 2024, we see a bumpy ride on global climate change talks coupled with more climate-driven disasters, even amid the evolving energy transition. And we see possible risks to ocean life from deep sea mining and continuing risks to human life from pollution of air, water and land. Insights in our overview [1] and our full “2024 Journalists’ Guide to Environment & Energy [2]” special report.

SEJ Publication Types:
Special Reports [3]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [4]
Biodiversity [5]
Chemicals [6]
Climate Change [7]
Disasters [8]
Economy & Business [9]
Energy & Fuel [10]
Environmental Health [11]
Environmental Justice [12]
Environmental Politics [13]
Forests [14]
Government [15]
Health [16]
Infrastructure [17]
Laws & Regulations [18]
Natural Resources [19]
Policy [20]
Pollution [21]
Transportation [22]
Waste [23]
Water & Oceans [24]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
International [26]
Visibility:
Public [27]
- Read more about Floods, Fires, Dysfunction — Another Year Ahead of Faltering Steps on Environment, Energy [1]
Electric Vehicles Will Be Burning Rubber in 2024 [28]

As global sales of electric vehicles surge, the positive impact on climate change emissions could be a critical benefit. But as our Backgrounder points out, it’s not as simple as that. There are challenges with politics, tax laws, mineral access, related pollution regulations and union jobs. Get an overview of the issue, in this latest entry in our expanding 2024 Journalists’ Guide to Environment + Energy.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [29]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [7]
Consumer [30]
Energy & Fuel [10]
Environmental Politics [13]
Government [15]
Journalism & Media [31]
Laws & Regulations [18]
Natural Resources [19]
Policy [20]
Pollution [21]
Science [32]
Technology [33]
Transportation [22]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
International [26]
Asia [34]
Europe [35]
Visibility:
Public [27]
- Read more about Electric Vehicles Will Be Burning Rubber in 2024 [28]
Is EV-Driven Demand for Lithium on Collision Course With Environment Concerns? [36]

The push to replace gas-guzzling vehicles with electric-powered alternatives is hitting significant speed bumps. The existing supply of lithium for batteries can’t keep up with demand, and new mining proposals often face opposition from area residents worried about local impacts. Radio reporter David Boraks has been covering one such conflict in North Carolina. He shares his insights and reporting tips.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [37]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [38]
Agriculture [39]
Air [4]
Biodiversity [5]
Climate Change [7]
Consumer [30]
Economy & Business [9]
Energy & Fuel [10]
Environmental Health [11]
Environmental Politics [13]
Government [15]
Journalism & Media [31]
Laws & Regulations [18]
Natural Resources [19]
Policy [20]
Pollution [21]
Technology [33]
Transportation [22]
Water & Oceans [24]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
California [40]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [41]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [42]
International [26]
Asia [34]
Visibility:
Public [27]
- Read more about Is EV-Driven Demand for Lithium on Collision Course With Environment Concerns? [36]
Coming Your Way by Rail Today — A Hazmat Rogues’ Gallery [43]

Environmental reporters can prepare for possible rail accidents involving hazardous materials — like the one that hit East Palestine, Ohio — by having a keener understanding of what hazmat may be regularly carried through their communities. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox guides you to helpful lists of dangerous substances while offering a rundown of nearly a dozen-and-a-half of the worst offenders and their risks.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [44]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [4]
Chemicals [6]
Disasters [8]
Health [16]
Journalism & Media [31]
Transportation [22]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [45]
Visibility:
Public [27]
- Read more about Coming Your Way by Rail Today — A Hazmat Rogues’ Gallery [43]
Finding the Secret Rail Hazmat Routes Near You [46]

Under federal rules, states can decide whether to divulge information about hazardous materials rolling along their railways — and mostly they don’t. Not knowing where and when hazmat trains are traveling or what’s on board creates anxiety and raises the risk for those who live near the tracks. TipSheet offers resources and step-by-step instructions for investigating railway hazmat threats to your community.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [47]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [6]
Disasters [8]
Economy & Business [9]
Energy & Fuel [10]
Environmental Health [11]
Government [15]
Health [16]
Infrastructure [17]
Journalism & Media [31]
Laws & Regulations [18]
Policy [20]
Pollution [21]
Transportation [22]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [45]
International [26]
Canada [48]
Visibility:
Public [27]
- Read more about Finding the Secret Rail Hazmat Routes Near You [46]
Hazmat Highway Routes Key to Keeping Public Safe [49]

In the wake of the train derailment and toxic spill in Ohio, now is a good time for environmental journalists to be ready for the next such accident. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox offers up a data source for another transportation risk — hazardous materials transported via highway. Plus, why rail hazmat data can be trickier to access.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [44]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [6]
Disasters [8]
Environmental Politics [13]
Health [16]
Infrastructure [17]
Journalism & Media [31]
Laws & Regulations [18]
Transportation [22]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [45]
Visibility:
Public [27]
- Read more about Hazmat Highway Routes Key to Keeping Public Safe [49]
Road Salt Spreading a Slippery Slope to Water Pollution [50]

With wintry conditions still present in much of the country, there’s an important local story for environmental reporters to chase. No, not climate change this time. It’s salt. Road salt can end up in bodies of water, damaging the environment and risking human health. TipSheet offers a dash of background and a good dose of questions to ask, plus story ideas and resources to flavor your reporting with.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [47]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [6]
Environmental Health [11]
Health [16]
Journalism & Media [31]
Laws & Regulations [18]
Pollution [21]
Transportation [22]
Water & Oceans [24]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
Visibility:
Public [27]
- Read more about Road Salt Spreading a Slippery Slope to Water Pollution [50]
Cascadia Bioregion Rife With Energy, Environment Troubles To Report in 2023 [51]

Iconic critters like salmon, orca and wolves. Climate controversies like natural gas greenwashing and carbon auctions. And wildfire fallout like “smoke-a-geddon.” These are just some of the wide array of stories worth covering as environmental journalists scan Cascadia, the huge area encompassing Washington, Oregon and Idaho, and stretching from Alaska to Utah. This special TipSheet, part of our 2023 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment, outlines top issues in the region, offering insights, resources and story angles.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [47]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [38]
Agriculture [39]
Air [4]
Biodiversity [5]
Climate Change [7]
Consumer [30]
Disasters [8]
Diversity [52]
Economy & Business [9]
Energy & Fuel [10]
Environmental Health [11]
Environmental Justice [12]
Environmental Politics [13]
Environmental Studies [53]
Fish & Fisheries [54]
Food [55]
Forests [14]
Government [15]
Health [16]
Infrastructure [17]
Journalism & Media [31]
Laws & Regulations [18]
Natural Resources [19]
Planning & Growth [56]
Policy [20]
Pollution [21]
Transportation [22]
Waste [23]
Water & Oceans [24]
Wildlife [57]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
Alaska and Hawaii [58]
California [40]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [41]
Northwest (OR WA) [59]
International [26]
Canada [48]
Visibility:
Public [27]
- Read more about Cascadia Bioregion Rife With Energy, Environment Troubles To Report in 2023 [51]
Should Journalism Educators Mix It Up With Interdisciplinary Projects? [60]

When it comes to working across boundaries in an academic setting, those who teach journalism may be naturals, tapping as they often can into their experience reporting on those from very different backgrounds and disciplines. EJ Academy’s editor, Bob Wyss, shares his experience with a successful project examining self-driving vehicles and explains why fellow journalism educators may want to give interdisciplinary teaching a try.

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ Academy [61]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [31]
Technology [33]
Transportation [22]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
Visibility:
Public [27]
- Read more about Should Journalism Educators Mix It Up With Interdisciplinary Projects? [60]
Burgeoning National EV Trend Helps Drive Local Environment, Climate Stories [62]

The auto market is getting supercharged by California’s recent decision to require all-electric vehicle sales in a little over a decade. The latest TipSheet looks at how this big national trend will affect climate change by cutting CO2 emissions, how California came to have such an outsized impact on the U.S. market and how local environmental reporters can plug in for stories around their communities.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [47]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [4]
Climate Change [7]
Consumer [30]
Energy & Fuel [10]
Environmental Politics [13]
Government [15]
Journalism & Media [31]
Laws & Regulations [18]
Policy [20]
Pollution [21]
Transportation [22]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
California [40]
Visibility:
Public [27]
- Read more about Burgeoning National EV Trend Helps Drive Local Environment, Climate Stories [62]

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