Publication Items

Solar Panel Stories Can Shine for Local, Regional Reporters [1]

As the solar panel business resurges, the wide scope of possible regional and local story angles — climate, tech, consumer, business, jobs, air quality and grid reliability — make bright prospects for journalists. The latest TipSheet sets out recent political and market developments, along with more than a dozen story ideas and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [4]
Economy & Business [5]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Politics [7]
Government [8]
Infrastructure [9]
Journalism & Media [10]
Natural Resources [11]
Policy [12]
Technology [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
International [15]
Asia [16]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Solar Panel Stories Can Shine for Local, Regional Reporters [1]
DOJ Double-Dribbles on Leak Subpoenas, As Probes Start [18]

Leaks are a vital source of information for the news media, but shifting White House policy on pursuing the source of leaks has created confusion and worry among news practitioners. WatchDog Opinion calls for clearer signals from the Biden administration and renews support for a federal shield law to help journalists protect their sources.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [19]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [8]
Journalism & Media [10]
Laws & Regulations [20]
Policy [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about DOJ Double-Dribbles on Leak Subpoenas, As Probes Start [18]
Drilling for Data on Offshore Wells [21]

For reporters covering the long-standing conflict over offshore drilling, which erupted again this month after a federal judge blocked a halt to new leases, an Interior Department database offers a wealth of data about offshore wells. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox walks you through the maze of bureaucracy behind the database, and then provides detailed guidance on how to make the most of its info.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [22]
Topics on the Beat:
Economy & Business [5]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Health [23]
Environmental Politics [7]
Government [8]
Journalism & Media [10]
Natural Resources [11]
Policy [12]
Water & Oceans [24]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Alaska and Hawaii [25]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [26]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [27]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Drilling for Data on Offshore Wells [21]
Irrigation Districts Are Key to Covering Coming Drought [28]

With megadrought a growing reality, one way into the story is through ubiquitous water management agencies. TipSheet surveys the “waterscape” of these governmental bodies — from local irrigation districts to multi-state regional water compacts — and how focusing on them can yield vital insights for drought stories. Plus, questions to ask and links to reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [29]
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [4]
Disasters [30]
Environmental Health [23]
Environmental Politics [7]
Fish & Fisheries [31]
Government [8]
Infrastructure [9]
Journalism & Media [10]
Laws & Regulations [20]
Natural Resources [11]
People & Population [32]
Planning & Growth [33]
Water & Oceans [24]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Irrigation Districts Are Key to Covering Coming Drought [28]
Before You Cover That Pipeline Protest, Check the Law [34]

At least 16 states currently have critical infrastructure anti-protest laws that could sweep up journalists on the scene, reports the latest TipSheet. The laws, which more states are considering, apply to pipelines, but sometimes other facilities that impact the environment too, like powerlines, dams, port facilities and refineries. How to keep track and avoid going to jail.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [35]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Justice [36]
Environmental Politics [7]
Government [8]
Infrastructure [9]
Journalism & Media [10]
Laws & Regulations [20]
Policy [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [37]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [38]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [26]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [39]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [40]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [41]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Before You Cover That Pipeline Protest, Check the Law [34]
When No News Is Bad News — EPA Uncensors Climate Indicators [42]

A government website that tracked climate change is back after being frozen by the Trump administration. But the return of the EPA’s climate indicator page, argues the new WatchDog opinion column, is just one step in undoing a longer-term and more systematic assault on science that has hobbled truth-seeking journalists. WatchDog on what must come next.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [19]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [35]
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Politics [7]
Environmental Studies [43]
Government [8]
Journalism & Media [10]
Policy [12]
Science [44]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about When No News Is Bad News — EPA Uncensors Climate Indicators [42]
Forest Inventory May Provide Trail Guide to Ongoing Policy Crisis [45]

U.S. forests face damage from drought, climate-driven disease and wildfire. To help track the state of our trees, Reporter’s Toolbox explores a massive set of Forest Service databases that details everything from deforestation and dead fuel status to deforestation and species mix. There’s even info on urban forests and grasslands. A closer look at the Forest Inventory and Analysis program.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [22]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Health [23]
Forests [46]
Government [8]
Journalism & Media [10]
Natural Resources [11]
Science [44]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Forest Inventory May Provide Trail Guide to Ongoing Policy Crisis [45]
Webinar Offers Insight Into Complexities of Environmental Justice Reporting [47]

Long overlooked or misunderstood outside of the communities they affected, issues of environmental equity are now increasingly the focus of both government action and journalistic digging. A recent webinar from the Society of Environmental Journalists explored new developments with this many-layered challenge and offered advice on how it can be better covered. Webinar moderator and reporter Perla Trevizo has a rundown.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [48]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [35]
Diversity [49]
Environmental Justice [36]
Environmental Politics [7]
Government [8]
Health [50]
Journalism & Media [10]
People & Population [32]
Policy [12]
Pollution [51]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Webinar Offers Insight Into Complexities of Environmental Justice Reporting [47]
Storm Surge Maps Help Envision Potential Hurricane Flood Catastrophes [52]

Dangerous storm surge that often follows hurricanes can be the focus of life-saving journalism. Reporter’s Toolbox helps environmental journalists get ahead of storm surge with a key resource — a powerful government database and related maps showing surge hazards. Together with real-time advisories and a better understanding of what causes storm surge, Toolbox helps you better cover this danger.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [22]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [30]
Government [8]
Journalism & Media [10]
People & Population [32]
Water & Oceans [24]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Alaska and Hawaii [25]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [26]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [27]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [40]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [41]
International [15]
Central America & the Caribbean [53]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Storm Surge Maps Help Envision Potential Hurricane Flood Catastrophes [52]
To-Do List for Climate Change Gas Methane Is Long, Challenging … and Newsy [54]

The climate change gas methane, relatively little controlled but with a global warming potential many times that of carbon dioxide, has been much in the news recently and promises to remain there. The latest Backgrounder helps environmental journalists track the problem by detailing methane’s sources — from oil and gas production, agriculture and landfills — and the politics surrounding its regulation.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [55]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [29]
Air [56]
Chemicals [57]
Climate Change [3]
Economy & Business [5]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Politics [7]
Government [8]
Journalism & Media [10]
Laws & Regulations [20]
Policy [12]
Pollution [51]
Waste [58]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
International [15]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about To-Do List for Climate Change Gas Methane Is Long, Challenging … and Newsy [54]

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