Publication Items

Should Weather Data Really Be Withheld From the Public? [1]

Project 2025, which many consider a blueprint for a second Trump term, calls for breaking up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and pivoting its National Weather Service to commercial operations, shutting down its free flow of data to news outlets and others. WatchDog Opinion column argues a not-so-hidden motive is at the heart of these sweeping changes: the desire to obscure evidence of climate change.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [4]
Economy & Business [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Policy [9]
Science [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
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Worldview Data Expands Environment Reporter’s Strike Zone [13]

A sweeping array of satellites observes our planet and sends vast amounts of data back — data that the powerful NASA Worldview website can translate into graphic form to help journalists tell some of the environment beat’s most central stories. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox explores the strengths and weaknesses of Worldview in covering everything from wildfires and floods to climate.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [14]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Health [15]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Science [10]
Technology [16]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
International [17]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Worldview Data Expands Environment Reporter’s Strike Zone [13]
Sea Surface Temperature Data Tells Many Environmental Stories [18]

With hurricane season expected to kick into high gear, a key data source for reporters is sea surface temperatures. But this widely available information can also tell reporters something about many other water-related environment stories, whether algal blooms, bacterial risks to public health or the prospects for entire estuarine systems. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox helps you dip your toe into this important data pool.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [14]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Health [15]
Fish & Fisheries [19]
Health [20]
Journalism & Media [8]
Science [10]
Water & Oceans [21]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [22]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [23]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [24]
International [17]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Sea Surface Temperature Data Tells Many Environmental Stories [18]
For Animals, a New Text Suggests, the Play’s the Thing [25]

It’s a much-understudied area of animal behavior. But play, as it turns out, may serve many developmental functions. A new book, “Kingdom of Play,” explores what play looks like in many types of creatures and in the process provides a deft synthesis of evolutionary biology, neurology and the history of science to examine its elusive nature. A BookShelf review from Jenny Weeks.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [26]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Studies [27]
Science [10]
Wildlife [28]
Visibility:
Public [12]
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Track Harmful Algal Blooms With Data. Avoid Bad Clams [29]

It’s summertime and the living is easy for algae that can be hazardous to human health. Climate heating and agricultural pollution are making the problem worse. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox explores useful sources of data for tracking trends. Plus, tips on how to use the data for local reporting on the risks posed by this seasonal threat.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [14]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [30]
Biodiversity [31]
Climate Change [3]
Economy & Business [5]
Environmental Health [15]
Fish & Fisheries [19]
Food [32]
Government [7]
Health [20]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [33]
Pollution [34]
Science [10]
Water & Oceans [21]
Wildlife [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Track Harmful Algal Blooms With Data. Avoid Bad Clams [29]
Sniffing Out Invasive Plant Species — Conservation Canines in Action [35]

Plant species that take root outside their normal range and spread aggressively are wreaking havoc in ecosystems worldwide. But specially trained detection dogs are on the job, following their noses to find the invaders so they can be eradicated. Contributor Nancy Castaldo reports on a demo of this conservation tool by a scent-savvy Lab and his devoted handler.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [36]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [31]
Climate Change [3]
Forests [37]
Science [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [22]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [38]
International [17]
Europe [39]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Sniffing Out Invasive Plant Species — Conservation Canines in Action [35]
Unique Award-Winner Highlights Risks to Whales From Fight Over Fish [40]

Whales and fishers chasing the same catch can lead to serious impacts on marine mammals, including illegal shootings. To tell the story, journalist Nick Rahaim took an unusual tack — reporting while working as a deckhand on a fishing vessel. His award-winning account won praise for its balance, sourcing and insight. Rahaim talks about his approach in our Inside Story Q&A.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [41]
Topics on the Beat:
Economy & Business [5]
Fish & Fisheries [19]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [33]
Science [10]
Water & Oceans [21]
Wildlife [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Alaska and Hawaii [42]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Unique Award-Winner Highlights Risks to Whales From Fight Over Fish [40]
From Reporter to Author — How I Published My First Book [43]

When freelancer Sophie Yeo first thought of writing a book, it seemed an impossible task. But with a successful website under her belt, she plunged in. Two missed deadlines and one baby later, she had her book, a history of the natural world titled “Nature’s Ghosts: The World We Lost and How To Bring It Back.” How she got there, and lessons learned, in the new Freelance Files.

SEJ Publication Types:
Freelance Files [44]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [31]
Environmental Health [15]
Journalism & Media [8]
Science [10]
Wildlife [28]
Region:
International [17]
Europe [39]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about From Reporter to Author — How I Published My First Book [43]
‘Green’ Steel: Five Things To Know About the U.S. Transition [45]

Plans for two new U.S. facilities that will use hydrogen instead of coal to make steel hold the promise of decarbonizing this essential but dirty industry. But don’t expect overnight change. Reporter Maria Gallucci looks at the complexities of making the switch, from ditching the blast furnace to reducing pollution all along the supply chain.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [36]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [46]
Air [47]
Chemicals [48]
Climate Change [3]
Economy & Business [5]
Energy & Fuel [49]
Environmental Health [15]
Environmental Justice [50]
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [7]
Natural Resources [33]
Policy [9]
Pollution [34]
Science [10]
Technology [16]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [51]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [22]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [24]
International [17]
Europe [39]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about ‘Green’ Steel: Five Things To Know About the U.S. Transition [45]
‘Exvangelicals’ Memoir Explores Faith-Science Gap [52]

With her new memoir, “The Exvangelicals,” NPR correspondent Sarah McCammon, a one-time, award-winning environmental reporter, may not have written a book directly about environmental issues. Instead, writes BookShelf editor Tom Henry, her highly personal story about religion, science and betrayal offers an important, if indirect, message to those on the environment beat seeking to understand the faith community. Read his review.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [26]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [8]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [53]
Science [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about ‘Exvangelicals’ Memoir Explores Faith-Science Gap [52]

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