Publication Items

Use EPA TRI Database To Find Toxic Threats [1]

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 [3]
Air [4]
Chemicals [5]
Disasters [6]
Environmental Health [7]
Government [8]
Health [9]
Journalism & Media [10]
Laws & Regulations [11]
Pollution [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
International [14]
Asia [15]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Use EPA TRI Database To Find Toxic Threats [1]
Styrofoam Container Bans May Be Trending [17]

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 [3]
Chemicals [5]
Consumer [18]
Environmental Politics [19]
Fish & Fisheries [20]
Food [21]
Health [9]
Journalism & Media [10]
Laws & Regulations [11]
Pollution [12]
Waste [22]
Water & Oceans [23]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
California [24]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [25]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [26]
Northwest (OR WA) [27]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Styrofoam Container Bans May Be Trending [17]
SEJ Joins Lawsuits; Press Freedom Tracker Gets Update; Docs on ANWR Drilling Concealed, and More [28]

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 [29]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Biodiversity [30]
Energy & Fuel [31]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Politics [19]
Environmental Studies [32]
Fish & Fisheries [20]
Food [21]
Forests [33]
Government [8]
Journalism & Media [10]
Laws & Regulations [11]
Military [34]
Natural Resources [35]
Policy [36]
Pollution [12]
Wildlife [37]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Alaska and Hawaii [38]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about SEJ Joins Lawsuits; Press Freedom Tracker Gets Update; Docs on ANWR Drilling Concealed, and More [28]
List of Toxics Near Military Sites May Include Leads for Reporters [39]

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 [3]
Chemicals [5]
Consumer [18]
Environmental Health [7]
Health [9]
Journalism & Media [10]
Laws & Regulations [11]
Military [34]
Policy [36]
Pollution [12]
Science [40]
Water & Oceans [23]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about List of Toxics Near Military Sites May Include Leads for Reporters [39]
Doc on Rare Porpoise Wins Sundance Award [41]

An environmental documentary that follows a risk-laden effort to save a rare and elusive porpoise won over audiences at the recent Sundance Film Festival. Correspondent JoAnn Valenti takes a look at the film, along with other documentaries that explore the role of journalists and journalism.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [42]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Biodiversity [30]
Economy & Business [43]
Fish & Fisheries [20]
Journalism & Media [10]
Water & Oceans [23]
Wildlife [37]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [44]
International [14]
Mexico [45]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Doc on Rare Porpoise Wins Sundance Award [41]
Where Does All That Recycling Go? [46]

Where do all those recyclables actually go? This week’s TipSheet dives into the trash to find a story worth telling — of troubling overseas dumping, problematic local incineration and a fraying patchwork of U.S. regulation. Plus, several dozen questions you might want to ask, a pair of pro tips and a dozen resources to track the story in your area.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Air [4]
Consumer [18]
Economy & Business [43]
Government [8]
Journalism & Media [10]
Laws & Regulations [11]
Policy [36]
Pollution [12]
Waste [22]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
International [14]
Asia [15]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Where Does All That Recycling Go? [46]
Border Wall a Way into Environmental Stories [47]

The fierce contest over the Trump border wall has critical environmental implications, both local and regional, per the latest TipSheet. A key suit against the Trump emergency declaration was filed by environmental groups and plans for a border barrier may harm significant wildlife habitat, as well as numerous migrating species, including some that are endangered. Get the back story and why it matters, along with story ideas and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Biodiversity [30]
Environmental Politics [19]
Government [8]
Wildlife [37]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
California [24]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [44]
International [14]
Mexico [45]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Border Wall a Way into Environmental Stories [47]
Climate Scientist Canned, SCOTUS To Rule on Chemical ‘Secrets’ and Army Corps Sued Over Permit Info [48]

A scientist contracted to report on climate impacts for the National Park Service was caught up in a fracas over attempted censorship of her findings. Now she’s been fired. That, plus a FOIA case before the Supreme Court and an enviro group sues the Army Corps of Engineers over info on a permit for a new plastics plant in Louisiana. Read the latest on freedom-of-information issues in this month’s WatchDog TipSheet.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [29]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Chemicals [5]
Climate Change [49]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Politics [19]
Environmental Studies [32]
Government [8]
Health [9]
Journalism & Media [10]
Laws & Regulations [11]
Pollution [12]
Science [40]
Water & Oceans [23]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [50]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [51]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Climate Scientist Canned, SCOTUS To Rule on Chemical ‘Secrets’ and Army Corps Sued Over Permit Info [48]
As Environmental Journalism Education Changes, Challenges Abound [52]

Even as traditional journalism jobs are in decline, innovative educators are finding ways to fill seats in journalism courses. EJ Academy editor Robert Wyss unpacks a recent study that examines the challenges of environmental journalism education and explores how journalism instructors must stretch to focus on preserving the “functions of journalism.” Find out more in our latest EJ Academy column.

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ Academy [53]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Journalism & Media [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [54]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about As Environmental Journalism Education Changes, Challenges Abound [52]
Senate-Passed Public Lands Bill “An Old-School Green Deal” [55]

A rare bipartisan package of public lands measures now moving through Congress is big national news and will yield numerous regional and local stories. The bill permanently authorizes a major conservation fund, expands parks, designates wilderness areas, bars some mining, protects bird species and more. This week’s TipSheet explores why the lands bill matters so much, tracks the legislation’s likely passage and helps you prep your coverage with story ideas and more than half a dozen reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Environmental Politics [19]
Government [8]
Journalism & Media [10]
Natural Resources [35]
Wildlife [37]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Senate-Passed Public Lands Bill “An Old-School Green Deal” [55]

Pages