Publication Items

Can CDC Be Cured After Trump-Era Coronavirus ‘Infection’? [1]

The CDC, long a storied agency of serious import not just to health and science reporters, but also to environmental journalists, took a massive hit to its credibility during the Trump administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest WatchDog opinion makes the case it can do better, and offers 15 steps that may help restore the federal entity to its gold-standard days.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [3]
Government [4]
Health [5]
Journalism & Media [6]
Policy [7]
Science [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Can CDC Be Cured After Trump-Era Coronavirus ‘Infection’? [1]
Local Water, Sewer Projects May Flow From Infrastructure Funding [11]

The push for federal infrastructure legislation may mean money for local water and sewage projects under a long-standing and broadly bipartisan program called WIFIA. The new TipSheet explains how the program works and why the latest developments could spell news for local environmental reporters. Plus, story ideas and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [12]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [13]
Government [4]
Health [5]
Infrastructure [14]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [15]
Planning & Growth [16]
Policy [7]
Pollution [17]
Water & Oceans [18]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Local Water, Sewer Projects May Flow From Infrastructure Funding [11]
Infrastructure Week All Year — But Will That Infrastructure Be Green? [19]

A much-anticipated infrastructure bill in Congress could help address the United States’ poorly rated roads, pipes and powerlines. But could the massive measure also do the heavy lifting for much-needed climate policy? The latest Backgrounder takes a deep dive into the context around climate-friendly infrastructure legislation, and looks ahead on what’s expected and how to report it.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [20]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [21]
Climate Change [22]
Consumer [23]
Energy & Fuel [24]
Environmental Politics [13]
Government [4]
Infrastructure [14]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [15]
Planning & Growth [16]
Policy [7]
Pollution [17]
Technology [25]
Transportation [26]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Infrastructure Week All Year — But Will That Infrastructure Be Green? [19]
EPA Science Integrity Overhaul a Chance To Get Media Access Right [27]

Government suppression of science harms not just journalists, but also the public in its ability to get crucial information and trust in science, not to mention government integrity. So now is the time, asserts the new WatchDog opinion column, for news media to engage intensely over government scientific integrity policies in the making, to be sure that agencies like the EPA get it right.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [13]
Government [4]
Journalism & Media [6]
Policy [7]
Science [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about EPA Science Integrity Overhaul a Chance To Get Media Access Right [27]
Biden Rollbacks of Trump Energy-Efficiency Cuts Generate Local Stories [28]

From cardigans to orange tans, the history of presidential politics around energy efficiency has been an odd one. But the story of so-called nega-watts is actually a compelling one. And with new efficiency rules being eyed by the Biden administration, it’s also time for reporters to explore the local angle to energy savings. Our latest TipSheet explains how.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [12]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [22]
Consumer [23]
Energy & Fuel [24]
Environmental Politics [13]
Government [4]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [15]
Policy [7]
Science [8]
Technology [25]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Biden Rollbacks of Trump Energy-Efficiency Cuts Generate Local Stories [28]
Biden’s EPA, Science Agencies, Face Test of News Media Openness [29]

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 [30] listing some of the things Biden can do to improve relations with the news media.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [13]
Government [4]
Journalism & Media [6]
Policy [7]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Biden’s EPA, Science Agencies, Face Test of News Media Openness [29]
Top Biden Climate Advisor, Others Preview 2021 Energy and Enviro News [31]

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 [32].

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [33]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [22]
Energy & Fuel [24]
Environmental Politics [13]
Government [4]
Health [5]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [15]
People & Population [34]
Policy [7]
Science [8]
Water & Oceans [18]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
California [35]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [36]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [37]
Northwest (OR WA) [38]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [39]
International [40]
Europe [41]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Top Biden Climate Advisor, Others Preview 2021 Energy and Enviro News [31]
Super-Heated Year Ahead on Energy & Environment News [42]

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 [43].”

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [44]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [45]
Air [46]
Biodiversity [47]
Chemicals [48]
Climate Change [22]
Consumer [23]
Disasters [3]
Economy & Business [49]
Energy & Fuel [24]
Environmental Politics [13]
Government [4]
Health [5]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [15]
Planning & Growth [16]
Policy [7]
Pollution [17]
Science [8]
Transportation [26]
Waste [50]
Water & Oceans [18]
Wildlife [51]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
International [40]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Super-Heated Year Ahead on Energy & Environment News [42]
Biden Nominees Foretell Aggressive Action on Climate, Environmental Justice [52]

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 [43]” special report.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [20]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [21]
Climate Change [22]
Energy & Fuel [24]
Environmental Politics [13]
Government [4]
Laws & Regulations [15]
Policy [7]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
California [35]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [53]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [36]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [54]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [39]
International [40]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Biden Nominees Foretell Aggressive Action on Climate, Environmental Justice [52]
Assange Case Raises Free Press Concerns; Pushback on ‘Murder the Media’ Message [55]

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 [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [21]
Government [4]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [15]
Policy [7]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Assange Case Raises Free Press Concerns; Pushback on ‘Murder the Media’ Message [55]

Pages