Publication Items

Coal Ash — An Overlooked Toxic Story That Won’t Go Away [1]

Obama-era regulation of the toxic waste product coal ash, which was watered down in the face of resistance from coal and electric utilities and further weakened by the Trump administration, has meant many coal-fired power plants simply ignore disposal requirements. That’s per a new report that the latest TipSheet writes can offer journalists useful ways to report an overlooked environmental story in their area.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel [3]
Environmental Health [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [6]
Health [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Pollution [10]
Waste [11]
Water & Oceans [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [14]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about Coal Ash — An Overlooked Toxic Story That Won’t Go Away [1]
On the Persistence of Ocean Plastics [16]

Concerns about seaborne plastic waste go back decades, but science writer Juli Berwald suggests that myths and disinformation about sources and solutions continue to cloud the waters. From lentil-sized nurdles to sprawling fishing nets, 200 million tons of plastic now fill the ocean and, for her, it has become evident that the ocean plastics story is really a land story. But will the newly signed international treaty on plastics offer relief?

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [17]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [18]
Biodiversity [19]
Chemicals [20]
Climate Change [21]
Consumer [22]
Economy & Business [23]
Energy & Fuel [3]
Environmental Health [4]
Environmental Studies [24]
Fish & Fisheries [25]
Government [6]
Infrastructure [26]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Natural Resources [27]
Policy [28]
Pollution [10]
Science [29]
Technology [30]
Waste [11]
Water & Oceans [12]
Wildlife [31]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Alaska and Hawaii [32]
California [33]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [34]
Northwest (OR WA) [35]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [14]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [36]
International [37]
Mexico [38]
Africa [39]
Asia [40]
Europe [41]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about On the Persistence of Ocean Plastics [16]
Toolbox on Nature-Based Solutions and Native/Indigenous Perspectives [42]

As concerns over global warming, the endangerment of plant and animal species, and water rights escalate, many environmentalists are turning to Indigenous people for guidance. As part of a Society of Environmental Journalists special initiative focused on covering climate solutions, we take a closer look at nature-based solutions and Indigenous people with reporter Brian Bull. Check out a resource toolbox and stay tuned for a reporting tipsheet in coming weeks. Plus, be sure to register for a Sept. 28 webinar [43] on covering Indigenous communities and nature-based climate solutions.

SEJ Publication Types:
Special Reports [44]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [18]
Agriculture [45]
Biodiversity [19]
Climate Change [21]
Diversity [46]
Energy & Fuel [3]
Environmental Health [4]
Environmental Justice [47]
Environmental Politics [5]
Fish & Fisheries [25]
Food [48]
Forests [49]
Government [6]
Health [7]
Natural Resources [27]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [50]
People & Population [51]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [52]
Technology [30]
Waste [11]
Water & Oceans [12]
Wildlife [31]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
International [37]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about Toolbox on Nature-Based Solutions and Native/Indigenous Perspectives [42]
Fill Your Plate With Chicken Stories [53]

Chicken production in the United States is a colossal industry controlled by a few vertically integrated companies. On a much smaller scale, it’s also heritage breeds and increasingly popular backyard flocks. As the latest avian flu outbreak makes headlines, journalist Christine Heinrichs looks at environmental reporting opportunities related to poultry pathogens, pollution and more.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [17]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [45]
Biodiversity [19]
Consumer [22]
Economy & Business [23]
Environmental Health [4]
Food [48]
Government [6]
Health [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Policy [28]
Pollution [10]
Science [29]
Waste [11]
Water & Oceans [12]
Wildlife [31]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
California [33]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [54]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [55]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about Fill Your Plate With Chicken Stories [53]
Can Qatar’s World Cup Really Be Carbon Neutral? [56]

Qatar — the world’s highest carbon emitter on a per capita basis — made big promises in its winning bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. But will they deliver? Doha-based journalism professor Craig LaMay writes that while sports megaevent hosts face increasing pressure to address environmental concerns, critical coverage of their follow-through is challenging, especially in countries with no free press or public right to government information.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [17]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [21]
Economy & Business [23]
Energy & Fuel [3]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [6]
Infrastructure [26]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [27]
Technology [30]
Transportation [57]
Waste [11]
Water & Oceans [12]
Region:
International [37]
Canada [58]
Africa [39]
Asia [40]
Europe [41]
Middle East [59]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about Can Qatar’s World Cup Really Be Carbon Neutral? [56]
EPA Leak on Problem Coal Ash Sites Could Yield Local Drinking Water Stories [60]

Closure plans for more than 160 coal ash facilities crisscrossing the United States are under renewed scrutiny by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to a newly leaked list. The latest TipSheet credits that leak with offering local environmental reporters story leads on potential drinking water pollution in their communities. Get the details, plus story ideas and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [20]
Energy & Fuel [3]
Environmental Politics [5]
Health [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Pollution [10]
Waste [11]
Water & Oceans [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [14]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about EPA Leak on Problem Coal Ash Sites Could Yield Local Drinking Water Stories [60]
Septic Systems Often Hide Neglected Local Stories [61]

Millions of Americans rely on their own onsite wastewater treatment, commonly known as septic systems. And many of those systems are connected to private wells. But unless they are properly sited, designed, built and maintained, they can contaminate drinking water, bringing dangerous waterborne illnesses. The latest TipSheet explains how to turn this often ignored issue into a local story.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [20]
Consumer [22]
Environmental Justice [47]
Health [7]
Infrastructure [26]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Planning & Growth [62]
Pollution [10]
Waste [11]
Water & Oceans [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [34]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [14]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about Septic Systems Often Hide Neglected Local Stories [61]
On the Mafia To-Do List? Take Out the Trash [63]

A student op-ed zeroing in on Rome’s trash problem, the role of organized crime and the silencing of Italy’s journalists has won the Society of Environmental Journalists’ first-ever Student Press Freedom Day contest. Our EJ Academy column shares Macy Berendsen’s opinion piece, which asks what the news media there can do to help clean up the Eternal City.

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ Academy [64]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [5]
Journalism & Media [8]
Pollution [10]
Waste [11]
Region:
International [37]
Europe [41]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about On the Mafia To-Do List? Take Out the Trash [63]
A Castoff Bumper Leads to a Literary ‘Autobiography’ of Plastic [65]

Environmental writer Allison Cobb, in “Plastic: An Autobiography,” tells the story of the ubiquitous material through a series of interwoven narratives that range from her own experiences with it (including a discarded plastic car bumper), to the corporate origins of its spread and the way it’s now dangerously carpeting nature and damaging human communities. Contributor Nano Riley has a review in our new BookShelf.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [66]
Topics on the Beat:
Consumer [22]
Environmental Health [4]
Environmental Justice [47]
Health [7]
Pollution [10]
Waste [11]
Water & Oceans [12]
Wildlife [31]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Alaska and Hawaii [32]
International [37]
Canada [58]
Mexico [38]
Africa [39]
Antarctica & Arctic [67]
Asia [40]
Australia & Oceania [68]
Central America & the Caribbean [69]
Europe [41]
Middle East [59]
South America [70]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about A Castoff Bumper Leads to a Literary ‘Autobiography’ of Plastic [65]
Houston Plays Host to First On-Site SEJ Conference Since 2019 [71]

Environmental journalists from around the country and beyond will gather in Houston later this month for the Society of Environmental Journalists’ 31st annual conference. Widely known as the energy capital of the world, this highly diverse city is an ideal place to drill down on the causes and consequences of climate change and other environmental issues of the day.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [72]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [18]
Air [73]
Biodiversity [19]
Chemicals [20]
Climate Change [21]
Disasters [74]
Diversity [46]
Economy & Business [23]
Energy & Fuel [3]
Environmental Health [4]
Environmental Justice [47]
Environmental Politics [5]
Fish & Fisheries [25]
Food [48]
Forests [49]
Government [6]
Health [7]
Infrastructure [26]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
People & Population [51]
Planning & Growth [62]
Policy [28]
Pollution [10]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [52]
Science [29]
Technology [30]
Transportation [57]
Waste [11]
Water & Oceans [12]
Wildlife [31]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [36]
International [37]
Mexico [38]
Central America & the Caribbean [69]
Europe [41]
South America [70]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about Houston Plays Host to First On-Site SEJ Conference Since 2019 [71]

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