Publication Items

Could Hackers Poison Your Local Drinking Water? [1]

A computer hacker nearly succeeded recently in rendering a local Florida facility a source of poisonous drinking water. And the risk of other such hacks is real, even as the vulnerabilities are hidden behind stringent U.S. secrecy laws. The latest TipSheet explores dangers to our drinking water supply — which go well beyond future hacking.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Consumer [3]
Disasters [4]
Government [5]
Health [6]
Infrastructure [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
People & Population [10]
Pollution [11]
Technology [12]
Water & Oceans [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [15]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [16]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Could Hackers Poison Your Local Drinking Water? [1]
Biden’s EPA, Science Agencies, Face Test of News Media Openness [18]

Testimony from the incoming EPA administrator, along with a little-noticed memo on scientific integrity to Biden’s agency heads, suggest promising changes in government openness. But WatchDog contends the proof is yet to come and offers some advice to the administration. Plus, a letter from SEJ [19] listing some of the things Biden can do to improve relations with the news media.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [20]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [21]
Government [5]
Journalism & Media [8]
Policy [22]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Biden’s EPA, Science Agencies, Face Test of News Media Openness [18]
Top Biden Climate Advisor, Others Preview 2021 Energy and Enviro News [23]

President Biden’s national climate advisor Gina McCarthy joined an outspoken U.S. senator and a roundtable of elite journalists last week to preview dramatic changes possibly ahead in U.S. and international climate policy, environmental justice, clean energy and more. Get the upshot from the Society of Environmental Journalists’ 2021 Guide to Energy & Environment event. Plus, watch video of the full program [24].

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [25]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [26]
Energy & Fuel [27]
Environmental Politics [21]
Government [5]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
People & Population [10]
Policy [22]
Science [28]
Water & Oceans [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
California [29]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [30]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [31]
Northwest (OR WA) [32]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [33]
International [34]
Europe [35]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Top Biden Climate Advisor, Others Preview 2021 Energy and Enviro News [23]
Super-Heated Year Ahead on Energy & Environment News [36]

The Biden administration has moved rapidly to reset energy and environment policies dramatically shifted by the Trump White House. But how quickly can such a reversal occur, what are the priorities and what are the critical pathways for change? To help sort out the latest news and track larger trends, SEJournal offers this overview and analysis, part of our extensive “2021 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment [37].”

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [38]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [39]
Air [40]
Biodiversity [41]
Chemicals [42]
Climate Change [26]
Consumer [3]
Disasters [4]
Economy & Business [43]
Energy & Fuel [27]
Environmental Politics [21]
Government [5]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Planning & Growth [44]
Policy [22]
Pollution [11]
Science [28]
Transportation [45]
Waste [46]
Water & Oceans [13]
Wildlife [47]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
International [34]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Super-Heated Year Ahead on Energy & Environment News [36]
Biden Nominees Foretell Aggressive Action on Climate, Environmental Justice [48]

Key picks for President Biden’s environment and energy team suggest top priorities, among them an aggressive, whole-government climate change agenda. The latest Backgrounder assesses choices to pursue Biden’s international and domestic climate policies, as well as historic selections for EPA and Interior, and more. Plus, dive into SEJournal’s expanding “2021 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment [37]” special report.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [49]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [50]
Climate Change [26]
Energy & Fuel [27]
Environmental Politics [21]
Government [5]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Policy [22]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
California [29]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [15]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [30]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [51]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [33]
International [34]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Biden Nominees Foretell Aggressive Action on Climate, Environmental Justice [48]
Assange Case Raises Free Press Concerns; Pushback on ‘Murder the Media’ Message [52]

The Espionage Act case against controversial figure Julian Assange is a wedge that could later be used to restrict press freedoms for journalists and so should be dropped by the incoming Biden administration, argues the new WatchDog opinion column. That, plus why the “murder the media” message signals the need for a law to make it a crime to assault journalists.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [20]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [50]
Government [5]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Policy [22]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Assange Case Raises Free Press Concerns; Pushback on ‘Murder the Media’ Message [52]
Public Health Infrastructure Emerges As Critical Environmental Story [53]

A pandemic and a weakened public health framework underscore how essential is the public health reporting function of environmental journalism. The latest TipSheet entry in our ongoing special report, “2021 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment [54],” explores what’s ahead and asks are health agencies too hollowed out to serve? Plus, story ideas and extensive reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [4]
Economy & Business [43]
Environmental Health [55]
Environmental Politics [21]
Government [5]
Health [6]
Infrastructure [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
People & Population [10]
Planning & Growth [44]
Policy [22]
Science [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
International [34]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Public Health Infrastructure Emerges As Critical Environmental Story [53]
Environmental Issues Likely To Find Their Way to Courts in 2021 [56]

Environmental journalists may want to brush up on their legalese for 2021, as the likelihood of legal challenges over environmental policies — and Trump-era rollbacks — increases. Our Issue Backgrounder, the newest entry in our growing special report, “2021 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment [54],” looks at potential legal conflicts over climate change, pipelines, drilling, auto emissions, clean water and more.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [49]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [40]
Climate Change [26]
Environmental Politics [21]
Government [5]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Policy [22]
Pollution [11]
Water & Oceans [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Environmental Issues Likely To Find Their Way to Courts in 2021 [56]
Renewables To Flourish Further in 2021 [57]

Energy markets may mean more than government action in the ongoing effort to cut global warming emissions. But industry spin makes it tough to sort out the facts. The latest TipSheet, part of our expanding “2021 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment [54]” special report, has context on tech advances, shifting demand and the impact of subsidies. That, plus six top developments to watch.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [50]
Climate Change [26]
Consumer [3]
Economy & Business [43]
Energy & Fuel [27]
Environmental Politics [21]
Government [5]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Natural Resources [58]
Policy [22]
Pollution [11]
Technology [12]
Transportation [45]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Renewables To Flourish Further in 2021 [57]
South Slow To Adapt to Rising Sea Levels, Other Climate Impacts [59]

Preparations for the inevitable impacts of the climate crisis in the South, the country’s most vulnerable region, have been hit or miss. And one of the toughest challenges — preparing coastal communities for inevitable flooding from sea level rise — is just beginning. More on the region’s climate adaptation considerations in the final entry in our “Covering Your Climate: The South [60]” special report. Plus, a backgrounder, additional tipsheets and a toolbox.

SEJ Publication Types:
Special Reports [61]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [26]
Disasters [4]
Environmental Health [55]
Environmental Politics [21]
Government [5]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
People & Population [10]
Planning & Growth [44]
Policy [22]
Water & Oceans [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [62]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [16]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [33]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about South Slow To Adapt to Rising Sea Levels, Other Climate Impacts [59]

Pages