Publication Items

Pesticide Data Can Ground Food and Farm Stories [1]

A billion pounds of chemicals are used on U.S. crops each year. Designed to protect them, they can also leave residue on foods we eat and enter the waterways we drink from. Reporter’s Toolbox has some key data sources for journalists, whether they’re looking at the big picture or are drilling down locally around issues of pesticide use and human or ecological health.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Chemicals [4]
Environmental Health [5]
Food [6]
Government [7]
Health [8]
Journalism & Media [9]
Pollution [10]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Pesticide Data Can Ground Food and Farm Stories [1]
The Seven Stages of Beach Exploitation (and Restoration) [14]

When most people think of coastal tourist destinations, they imagine beaches lined by palm trees and exclusive resorts. But those are exactly the kind of realities that contribute to the environmental and economic decline of coastal communities and their local residents, argues a new book. Contributing Editor Jenny Weeks has our review in the new BookShelf.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [15]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [16]
Environmental Health [5]
Natural Resources [17]
People & Population [18]
Planning & Growth [19]
Pollution [10]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Alaska and Hawaii [20]
California [21]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [22]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [23]
International [24]
Mexico [25]
Africa [26]
Asia [27]
Australia & Oceania [28]
Central America & the Caribbean [29]
Europe [30]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about The Seven Stages of Beach Exploitation (and Restoration) [14]
Whether Wetlands or Blacktop, Land Cover Database Provides Foundation for Environmental Reporting [31]

For journalists looking to understand the condition of U.S. rangeland, forests or urban pavement, a high-quality government dataset collected via Landsat can help. And for data geeks who want to go a step further and illuminate human impacts on the environment, mapping overlays on the Landsat data can do the trick. Find out more in the new Reporter’s Toolbox.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Studies [32]
Forests [33]
Journalism & Media [9]
Natural Resources [17]
Science [34]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Whether Wetlands or Blacktop, Land Cover Database Provides Foundation for Environmental Reporting [31]
CAFO SNAFU — Why Emissions Data Are So Hard To Find [35]

Sometimes the challenge for environmental reporters is a mess of data. But sometimes it’s just less data. That’s the case with confined animal feed operations, which have been the subject of a years-long political tug of war over tracking emissions harmful to humans and the environment. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox explains, then offers alternate sources for CAFO data.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Air [36]
Economy & Business [37]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Justice [38]
Environmental Politics [39]
Food [6]
Health [8]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [40]
Pollution [10]
Waste [41]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about CAFO SNAFU — Why Emissions Data Are So Hard To Find [35]
When Extreme Weather Amplifies Hazardous Waste Threats [42]

Toxic waste is bad enough when it’s in one spot. But it can be even more dangerous when it is made mobile by climate-induced natural disasters. The latest TipSheet looks at just a few of the problems that can arise — or have already arisen. Plus, story ideas and reporting resources to cover this issue in your locale.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [43]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [36]
Chemicals [4]
Climate Change [16]
Disasters [44]
Environmental Health [5]
Health [8]
Journalism & Media [9]
People & Population [18]
Pollution [10]
Waste [41]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [23]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [45]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about When Extreme Weather Amplifies Hazardous Waste Threats [42]
Environmental Journalists, Idling in Idaho [46]

With the Society of Environmental Journalists’ 32nd annual conference in Boise now behind us, humorist David Helvarg offers a sharp-witted, albeit affectionate, skewering of the five-day gathering, everything from the host state’s politics to the innumerable sessions and the final blowout party. Prepare for punnage. Plus, check out the evolving multimedia coverage [47] of the event, and watch for session audio recordings to come.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [48]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [49]
Climate Change [16]
Economy & Business [37]
Energy & Fuel [50]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Justice [38]
Environmental Politics [39]
Fish & Fisheries [51]
Forests [33]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [9]
Natural Resources [17]
Policy [52]
Water & Oceans [11]
Wildlife [53]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [54]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Environmental Journalists, Idling in Idaho [46]
Reporters Can Address Uncertainty Over Local Risk of Rising Seas [55]

U.S. coastal counties are home to 127 million people, making the risk to life and property of flooding from sea level rise a serious one. But how great that risk is varies widely from place to place. So the latest TipSheet makes the case for environmental journalists to explain the local reality to their audiences. Get context, story ideas and resources to do just that.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [43]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [16]
Diversity [56]
Environmental Justice [38]
Environmental Studies [32]
Journalism & Media [9]
People & Population [18]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [23]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Reporters Can Address Uncertainty Over Local Risk of Rising Seas [55]
Seasonal Fishing Stories Reflect a Changing Environment [57]

As fishing season begins in many parts of the United States, climate change and pollution can make the sport a, well, can of worms. For the latest TipSheet, though, that means insights and stories for environmental journalists. A thumbnail on key issues, with story ideas and reporting resources. Plus, for those going to #SEJ2023 Boise, famed fishing spots.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [43]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [16]
Environmental Health [5]
Fish & Fisheries [51]
Journalism & Media [9]
Pollution [10]
Water & Oceans [11]
Wildlife [53]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [54]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Seasonal Fishing Stories Reflect a Changing Environment [57]
Is EV-Driven Demand for Lithium on Collision Course With Environment Concerns? [58]

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 [59]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [60]
Agriculture [3]
Air [36]
Biodiversity [49]
Climate Change [16]
Consumer [61]
Economy & Business [37]
Energy & Fuel [50]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Politics [39]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [40]
Natural Resources [17]
Policy [52]
Pollution [10]
Technology [62]
Transportation [63]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
California [21]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [54]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [23]
International [24]
Asia [27]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Is EV-Driven Demand for Lithium on Collision Course With Environment Concerns? [58]
2023 Gathering Goes Big in Boise [64]

The Society of Environmental Journalists’ annual conference is back to Boise, two-and-a-half years after the first attempt to meet in the mountainous Northwestern state was sidetracked by the COVID pandemic. Co-chairs Tom Michael and Christy George outline the rich schedule of plenaries, panels, tours and other events that are drawing record interest to the April 19-23 program.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [48]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Biodiversity [49]
Climate Change [16]
Diversity [56]
Energy & Fuel [50]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Politics [39]
Fish & Fisheries [51]
Forests [33]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [9]
Natural Resources [17]
Policy [52]
Water & Oceans [11]
Wildlife [53]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [65]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [54]
Northwest (OR WA) [66]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about 2023 Gathering Goes Big in Boise [64]

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