Publication Items

What Makes Communities More Survivable in Extreme Heat Events? [1]

When heat waves hit your area, as they did for much of the United States in June, local responses can (and should) go well beyond individual behaviors to address broader area actions — from cool pavements to urban trees. For environmental journalists, that means community-level heat response is an important climate story angle. TipSheet explains, then offers a dozen story ideas, along with reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [4]
Disasters [5]
Health [6]
Infrastructure [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
People & Population [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about What Makes Communities More Survivable in Extreme Heat Events? [1]
Rethinking Rural Reporting — How To Get Past the Cliches [12]

When covering rural America, mainstream media often defaults to stereotypes steeped in politics and ignores the diversity that actually exists there, as expanding news deserts exacerbate the problem. Reporter Claire Carlson on why this matters — including in discouraging investment around climate change or resource industries urban dwellers depend on. Here’s how journalists can report richer, more nuanced stories about rural people and places.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [13]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [14]
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [5]
Diversity [15]
Economy & Business [16]
Environmental Politics [17]
Government [18]
Journalism & Media [8]
People & Population [9]
Policy [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Rethinking Rural Reporting — How To Get Past the Cliches [12]
Is Your Community Ready for Tornadoes? Are You? [20]

With more than 100 tornadoes hitting the United States so far this year, the latest TipSheet takes a closer look at how journalists can help their communities better prepare for these damaging and often deadly windstorms. Plus, more than a dozen story ideas and reporting resources, from questions about warning systems and shelters to sources at weather agencies and for tornado-preparedness advice.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [5]
Journalism & Media [8]
People & Population [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [21]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Is Your Community Ready for Tornadoes? Are You? [20]
New HeatRisk Data Site Helps Warn on Health Threats [22]

As global warming worsens heat-related illnesses, U.S. government agencies have refined a data tool whose greatest value may be to warn people about the extreme heat events that can send them to the emergency room or worse. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox explores the improved HeatRisk site and how its combination of climate and medical considerations refocuses attention on the vulnerable.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [23]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [4]
Disasters [5]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [8]
People & Population [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about New HeatRisk Data Site Helps Warn on Health Threats [22]
Climate Crisis Makes for Real Fashion Emergency [24]

Fast fashion’s lack of sustainability has long been the subject of news media coverage. But now the realities of climate change mean that fashion reporting must be reimagined to include the lived environmental and human rights realities of workers making what we wear, writes contributor Yessenia Funes in the new Voices of Environmental Justice column. Ideas and resources for getting past simplistic fashion industry narratives.

SEJ Publication Types:
Voices of Environmental Justice [25]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [26]
Agriculture [14]
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [4]
Economy & Business [16]
Environmental Justice [27]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [8]
People & Population [9]
Policy [19]
Waste [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
International [29]
Asia [30]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Climate Crisis Makes for Real Fashion Emergency [24]
Award-Winning Beat Reporting Highlights Legacy of Environmental Racism [31]

Top-flight regional reporting (and data analysis) that explored inequities between Black and white communities around Baltimore, Maryland, yielded journalist Scott Dance a wide range of stories — and a first-place prize in the most recent awards from the Society of Environmental Journalists. Dance, now on the climate desk for The Washington Post shares insights from the beat in the new Inside Story.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [32]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [14]
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Justice [27]
Fish & Fisheries [33]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [8]
People & Population [9]
Planning & Growth [34]
Policy [19]
Pollution [35]
Water & Oceans [36]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [37]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Award-Winning Beat Reporting Highlights Legacy of Environmental Racism [31]
How Ice Fishing Can Break the Ice on Your Local Climate Story [38]

What does dragging an old car onto an ice-covered lake have to do with informing your community about the perils of climate heating? Potentially a good deal. The latest TipSheet explains how waning winters and the potential impact on the entertaining tradition of ice fishing can serve as an entry into more serious matters. A dozen story ideas and resources to get you started.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Health [39]
Fish & Fisheries [33]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [40]
People & Population [9]
Water & Oceans [36]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [41]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [21]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [37]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [42]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [43]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about How Ice Fishing Can Break the Ice on Your Local Climate Story [38]
In Their Own Words — Story Insights From SEJ’s 2023 Award Winners [44]

When Inside Story co-editor Rocky Kistner reviewed video statements from first-place winners of the Society of Environmental Journalists 2023 reporting awards, he found a series of striking insights into the work of environmental journalism. From environment as a true crime story and going beyond the headlines, to covering communities at risk and through powerful interests, a look at nine highly effective approaches to telling environmental stories.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [32]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [45]
Chemicals [46]
Climate Change [3]
Economy & Business [16]
Energy & Fuel [47]
Environmental Health [39]
Environmental Justice [27]
Environmental Politics [17]
Forests [48]
Government [18]
Health [6]
Infrastructure [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [40]
People & Population [9]
Policy [19]
Pollution [35]
Waste [28]
Water & Oceans [36]
Wildlife [49]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
California [50]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [41]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [37]
International [29]
Africa [51]
South America [52]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about In Their Own Words — Story Insights From SEJ’s 2023 Award Winners [44]
‘Carbon Colonialism’ Details the Exporting of Degradation, Climate Collapse [53]

The climate change debate is often so focused on fossil fuels and mining that it ignores impacts in economic, political, neo-colonial and social terms, writes BookShelf’s Melody Kemp in her review of “Carbon Colonialism: How Rich Countries Export Climate Breakdown.” Why concepts like corporate social responsibility do little to stem the losses that come with such development.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [54]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [26]
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [4]
Economy & Business [16]
Energy & Fuel [47]
Environmental Justice [27]
Environmental Politics [17]
Forests [48]
Health [6]
Natural Resources [40]
People & Population [9]
Policy [19]
Pollution [35]
Region:
International [29]
Asia [30]
Europe [55]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about ‘Carbon Colonialism’ Details the Exporting of Degradation, Climate Collapse [53]
Rockets and Bombs and Chemicals — The Environmental Horrors of War [56]

With the world in the midst of wars in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, it’s time for journalists to appraise — and report on — the intersection of conflict and the environment, argues the new Backgrounder. That means considering the environment not only as a victim of war, but also as the cause of war and a means of carrying it out.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [57]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [46]
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [5]
Environmental Health [39]
Environmental Politics [17]
Government [18]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [8]
Military [58]
People & Population [9]
Policy [19]
Water & Oceans [36]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [41]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [37]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [42]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [43]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [59]
International [29]
Africa [51]
Asia [30]
Europe [55]
Middle East [60]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Rockets and Bombs and Chemicals — The Environmental Horrors of War [56]

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