Publication Items

Why the Latest TRI Update Should Be in Your Sights for Stories [1]

Each year brings another update of the Toxics Release Inventory database. And each year, it gets ignored or downplayed by too many news outlets. As the new Reporter’s Toolbox points out, not only does the latest iteration of TRI have some notable updates but it also offers plenty of room for localizable stories. Here’s how to mine the resource.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [3]
Environmental Justice [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [7]
Policy [8]
Pollution [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Why the Latest TRI Update Should Be in Your Sights for Stories [1]
Tracking Regulatory Changes Reveals Insights Into Presidential Power Over Environment [12]

Sweeping, data-driven reporting on the impact of the Trump White House on environment policy won high praise for a Washington Post reporting team that took first prize for beat reporting in the most recent Society of Environmental Journalists’ reporting awards. Find out how award winners Juliet Eilperin, Brady Dennis and John Muyskens approached this vast topic, in the new Inside Story Q&A.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [13]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [14]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [7]
Policy [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Tracking Regulatory Changes Reveals Insights Into Presidential Power Over Environment [12]
Environmental Justice Beat Gets Boost From New Database [15]

The Biden administration, which has been making environmental justice a top goal, has released a new screening tool that complements existing environmental equity databases, but with especially strong attention to a range of categories like clean transit, clean water, housing issues, life expectancy and more (although, interestingly, not race). The latest Reporter’s Toolbox has a guide to the new screening tool.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Diversity [16]
Environmental Health [17]
Environmental Justice [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Health [18]
Journalism & Media [6]
People & Population [19]
Planning & Growth [20]
Policy [8]
Pollution [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Environmental Justice Beat Gets Boost From New Database [15]
A Report Card on Transparency in the Biden Administration [21]

A coalition of open-government and journalism groups is pressing the Justice Department for a clear statement of federal policy favoring openness. The new WatchDog opinion column explains why such a move is needed, and now, not just to signal a change from the Trump-era approach, but also for smoother functioning of the all-important Freedom of Information Act.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [22]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [14]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [7]
Policy [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about A Report Card on Transparency in the Biden Administration [21]
Houston Plays Host to First On-Site SEJ Conference Since 2019 [23]

Environmental journalists from around the country and beyond will gather in Houston later this month for the Society of Environmental Journalists’ 31st annual conference. Widely known as the energy capital of the world, this highly diverse city is an ideal place to drill down on the causes and consequences of climate change and other environmental issues of the day.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [24]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [25]
Air [26]
Biodiversity [27]
Chemicals [3]
Climate Change [28]
Disasters [29]
Diversity [16]
Economy & Business [30]
Energy & Fuel [31]
Environmental Health [17]
Environmental Justice [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Fish & Fisheries [32]
Food [33]
Forests [34]
Government [14]
Health [18]
Infrastructure [35]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [7]
People & Population [19]
Planning & Growth [20]
Policy [8]
Pollution [9]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [36]
Science [37]
Technology [38]
Transportation [39]
Waste [40]
Water & Oceans [41]
Wildlife [42]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [43]
International [44]
Mexico [45]
Central America & the Caribbean [46]
Europe [47]
South America [48]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Houston Plays Host to First On-Site SEJ Conference Since 2019 [23]
Are Higher Energy Prices Really Biden’s Fault? [49]

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine raises questions about the world energy supply and related environmental consequences (such as pressure to lease U.S. lands for drilling). TipSheet explores the politics — and the reality — of U.S. energy policy in the wake of Ukraine and in the run-up to November’s midterm elections, and asks the question: Do federal policies on pricing really matter?

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [50]
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel [31]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [14]
Journalism & Media [6]
Natural Resources [51]
Policy [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
International [44]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Are Higher Energy Prices Really Biden’s Fault? [49]
Aussie Author’s Angry Look at ‘Crimes Against Nature’ [52]

A historical look at how profit and capitalism have ravaged the natural world is the subject of our new BookShelf review. Contributor Melody Kemp offers her take on award-winning Australian journalist Jeff Sparrow’s forthcoming volume, which explores the damage wrought by cars, roads and PR spin, as well as solutions suggested by models of Indigenous land management.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [53]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [25]
Climate Change [28]
Economy & Business [30]
Environmental Politics [5]
Infrastructure [35]
Natural Resources [51]
People & Population [19]
Policy [8]
Pollution [9]
Transportation [39]
Region:
International [44]
Australia & Oceania [54]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Aussie Author’s Angry Look at ‘Crimes Against Nature’ [52]
Climate Crisis May Quickly Confront U.S., World With National Security Threats [55]

The climate-security nexus has drawn attention from the Biden administration, but less so elsewhere, even as security experts worry about climate change as a threat multiplier that can exacerbate other causes of conflict. Our new Backgrounder explores these concerns, with a look at how the issue has played out in recent U.S. politics. Plus, seven global regions where climate change may worsen ongoing conflict.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [56]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [28]
Disasters [29]
Environmental Health [17]
Environmental Politics [5]
Food [33]
Government [14]
Military [57]
Natural Resources [51]
People & Population [19]
Policy [8]
Water & Oceans [41]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
International [44]
Mexico [45]
Africa [58]
Antarctica & Arctic [59]
Asia [60]
Central America & the Caribbean [46]
Middle East [61]
South America [48]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Climate Crisis May Quickly Confront U.S., World With National Security Threats [55]
New Army Climate Strategy Provokes Questions, Stories on Local and Regional Impact [62]

Military bases typically have big impacts on surrounding communities, including on resource use and the environment. Now, a new U.S. Army climate strategy makes clear the military understands climate change will affect the bases themselves, with numerous ripple effects. The latest TipSheet outlines how reporters can find local stories on these new realities at bases around the country, including near you.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [50]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [28]
Disasters [29]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [14]
Journalism & Media [6]
Military [57]
Planning & Growth [20]
Policy [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about New Army Climate Strategy Provokes Questions, Stories on Local and Regional Impact [62]
EPA's Unfinished Agenda [63]

Transparency and scientific integrity are good for public health and the environment, not to mention PR and politics. Yet WatchDog Opinion argues they’ve not been fully embraced by the Biden EPA. There are reasons for hope, however, in the form of a cataloging of violations and in an EPA-specific policy. Why it all matters for how environmental journalists do their jobs.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [22]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [14]
Journalism & Media [6]
Policy [8]
Science [37]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about EPA's Unfinished Agenda [63]

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