Publication Items

Is Climate Disaster Insurance a Worsening Disaster? [1]

The growing disconnect between climate risk and risk insurance for homeowners is leaving millions on the knife-edge of economic disaster. But the latest TipSheet suggests that reality offers environmental journalists an opportunity to navigate the morass, community by community. Get more than a dozen story ideas and reporting resources in the latest column.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [4]
Disasters [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
People & Population [10]
Planning & Growth [11]
Policy [12]
Water & Oceans [13]
Wildlife [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
California [16]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [17]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Is Climate Disaster Insurance a Worsening Disaster? [1]
Kelp — The Understory, Underwater [19]

Massive kelp groves, little-noticed despite their proximity to populated coastlines or their importance to ecosystems and to us humans, face numerous pressures and a drastic decline. In “Forest of the Sea,” author David Helvarg dives into the subject, literally, to help reveal this unique undersea world. BookShelf contributing editor Jennifer Weeks has a review.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [20]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [21]
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Health [22]
Fish & Fisheries [23]
Natural Resources [24]
Pollution [25]
Water & Oceans [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
International [26]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Kelp — The Understory, Underwater [19]
National Seashores Are a Secret Summer Treasure [27]

While less heralded than its national park system, the United States abounds in waterfront treasures that are part of the national seashore and lakeshore program. The latest TipSheet takes you on a guided tour of more than a dozen, from barrier islands and dunes to tidepools and turtles. Plus, a half-dozen reporting ideas for your own region.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Natural Resources [24]
Water & Oceans [13]
Region:
California [16]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [28]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [29]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [30]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [17]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [31]
International [26]
Canada [32]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about National Seashores Are a Secret Summer Treasure [27]
#SEJ2026 Live — Coverage of Conference Tours [33]

SEJournal is providing full coverage of all eight of the day-long tours from the annual Society of Environmental Journalists’ conference, April 15-18, in Chicago. In Part 2, contributors Meg Duff [34], Nathaniel Eisen [35], Nhung Nguyen [36] and Marlowe Starling [37] provide detailed reports from tours focused on the transitioning steel industry, microgrids, climate-friendly crop practices and evolving Midwestern agricultural systems.

Also check out the first round of tour coverage and read all the great work [33] from our team of early-career freelance journalists, part of SEJournal’s live #SEJ2026 Live conference reporting.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [38]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [39]
Agriculture [40]
Air [41]
Biodiversity [21]
Chemicals [42]
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [4]
Economy & Business [43]
Energy & Fuel [44]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Justice [45]
Environmental Politics [6]
Environmental Studies [46]
Food [47]
Forests [48]
Government [7]
Health [49]
Infrastructure [50]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Natural Resources [24]
People & Population [10]
Planning & Growth [11]
Policy [12]
Pollution [25]
Science [51]
Technology [52]
Transportation [53]
Waste [54]
Water & Oceans [13]
Wildlife [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [28]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about #SEJ2026 Live — Coverage of Conference Tours [33]
War and Pizza — #SEJ2026 in Chicago [55]

Nearly as rejuvenating as attending the Society of Environmental Journalists’ annual gathering is perusing the après-conference spoof by contributing quipster David Helvarg. While it seemed he was mostly there unabashedly preselling his forthcoming book, he somehow found time to send up SEJ’s earnest sessions, lambast its blown-up tours and rib its beat dinners. Read his Chicago roast.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [38]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [40]
Air [41]
Chemicals [42]
Climate Change [3]
Economy & Business [43]
Energy & Fuel [44]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Justice [45]
Environmental Politics [6]
Fish & Fisheries [23]
Government [7]
Health [49]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [24]
Policy [12]
Pollution [25]
Science [51]
Waste [54]
Water & Oceans [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [28]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about War and Pizza — #SEJ2026 in Chicago [55]
Why the Silencing of Protest Matters [56]

As the Trump administration and its allies seek to stifle free speech and paint protest as domestic terrorism, Voices columnist Yessenia Funes argues that environmental journalists must heed the impact on the environmental movement we cover. Start with what happened in Standing Rock, which swept back into the news this spring. Funes explains the connection, and where we may be headed.

SEJ Publication Types:
Voices of Environmental Justice [57]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [39]
Climate Change [3]
Energy & Fuel [44]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Justice [45]
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [24]
People & Population [10]
Policy [12]
Pollution [25]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [58]
Water & Oceans [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [28]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [59]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [17]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Why the Silencing of Protest Matters [56]
National Trails System — You Can Get There From Here [60]

A walk in the woods can get you more than a good time — it can get you a good story. TipSheet explores the National Trails System and other trail systems around the United States, which provide scenic and historic high points for your reporting, along with traveler interviews and insights. A dozen story ideas and reporting resources for exploring your area’s natural wonders.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Forests [48]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [24]
Water & Oceans [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about National Trails System — You Can Get There From Here [60]
Report on PFAS Better, With a Better Mapping Tool [61]

If drinking water safety is on your beat, then keeping track of seesawing regulations around PFAS is a challenge. But as Reporter’s Toolbox writes, a powerful government data mapping tool can help you at least locate nearby PFAS facilities at a glance. What it does well and where it sources its underlying data, plus some suggestions on using it for your reporting.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [62]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [42]
Consumer [4]
Environmental Health [22]
Health [49]
Journalism & Media [8]
Pollution [25]
Water & Oceans [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Report on PFAS Better, With a Better Mapping Tool [61]
NASA Earthdata Offers a New Look at What Satellites See Down Here [63]

The capacity to visualize Earth’s ecosystems in detail is an invaluable aid to reporting on the environment. That’s now being bolstered with an ongoing upgrade to NASA’s Earthdata program, fueled by its ranks of satellites. Reporter’s Toolbox says the refurbishment offers treasures for journalists ranging from oceans, groundwater and land surfaces to the biosphere and atmosphere.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [62]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [21]
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Health [22]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [24]
Science [51]
Technology [52]
Water & Oceans [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
International [26]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about NASA Earthdata Offers a New Look at What Satellites See Down Here [63]
‘Poisoned for Gold’ Project Pricks Nation’s Conscience [64]

Two Ghanian video journalists traveled their country to document how contamination from illegal gold mining was harming the health of workers and nearby communities. Their resulting reporting not only won acclaim from their peers but also ignited a debate that resulted in the closing of polluting mining operations. Read more about their award-winning project and its impact in Inside Story Q&A.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [65]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [42]
Disasters [5]
Economy & Business [43]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Justice [45]
Health [49]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [24]
People & Population [10]
Pollution [25]
Waste [54]
Water & Oceans [13]
Region:
International [26]
Africa [66]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about ‘Poisoned for Gold’ Project Pricks Nation’s Conscience [64]

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