Publication Items

Disinformation Presents New Challenges to Environmental Journalists [1]

An explosion of deliberately misleading information has hit the environmental journalism beat, argues the new Backgrounder. A look at how today’s untruth industry has evolved from that of the past, particularly in the area of climate change, and how reporters have now turned it into its own specialty coverage area. Plus, seven tips on what you can do to handle disinformation on your beat.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Economy & Business [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Environmental Studies [6]
Journalism & Media [7]
Policy [8]
Science [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
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Weather Nerd ‘Looks Up’ and Finds Science, Meaning in Stormy Skies [12]

Gen Z weather hotshot Matthew Cappucci recounts his rapid, if uneven, rise into major media meteorology in his new book, “Looking Up.” Along the way, he talks about weather — and the science behind it — in a way that reporters who cover storms can make good use of. Jenny Weeks reviews the volume for BookShelf.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [13]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [14]
Science [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
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When Sizing Up Threats to Biodiversity, Databases Can Help [15]

Biodiversity is on the minds of many this week as international biodiversity treaty talks take place in Montreal. For environmental journalists covering the topic, there are a number of databases readily available that track endangered species in the United States and globally. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox has a helpful list. Plus, visit our new biodiversity “Topics on the Beat” [16] page and keep on top of the latest biodiversity headlines [17] with EJToday.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [18]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [19]
Environmental Health [20]
Environmental Politics [5]
Environmental Studies [6]
Journalism & Media [7]
Science [9]
Wildlife [21]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
International [22]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about When Sizing Up Threats to Biodiversity, Databases Can Help [15]
New Kolbert Volume Addresses Value of Human Efforts To Control Nature [23]

When engineers reversed the Chicago River, they also upended a hydrologic system that years later required electrification to repel an invasive species threatening a major fishery. This is but one example from the latest book by New Yorker writer Elizabeth Kolbert of the unintended consequences of human actions to dominate nature that may solve one problem only to create another. BookShelf contributor Gary Wilson has a review.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [13]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Health [20]
Fish & Fisheries [24]
Infrastructure [25]
Natural Resources [26]
Planning & Growth [27]
Policy [8]
Science [9]
Technology [28]
Water & Oceans [29]
Wildlife [21]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [30]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [31]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about New Kolbert Volume Addresses Value of Human Efforts To Control Nature [23]
Reporting on Storm Chasing’s ‘Human Side’ Hints at Climate’s Future [32]

Writer Noah Gallagher Shannon followed scientists into the heart of the megastorms ravaging an agricultural region in Argentina, and in the process learned not just about their high-risk fieldwork and what these massive thunderstorms might tell us about the storms of the future in the United States, but also their impact on affected communities. Find out about his reporting experience in this Inside Story Q&A.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [33]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [34]
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [14]
Environmental Justice [35]
Environmental Studies [6]
Journalism & Media [7]
People & Population [36]
Science [9]
Region:
International [22]
South America [37]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Reporting on Storm Chasing’s ‘Human Side’ Hints at Climate’s Future [32]
EPA To Propose Plan Soon for First PFAS Drinking Water Rule [38]

Plans are nearing for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to regulate PFAS in drinking water — and the complexity around the effort will challenge environmental journalism. In the mix are questions of environmental persistence and health risks, plus thorny politics. Our Issue Backgrounder has guidance on these and more as PFAS regulation hits this critical juncture.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [39]
Consumer [40]
Economy & Business [4]
Environmental Health [20]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [41]
Health [42]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [43]
Policy [8]
Pollution [44]
Science [9]
Water & Oceans [29]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [45]
Visibility:
Public [11]
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ESA Inaction Spells Trouble for an Iconic Grassland Bird [46]

The lesser prairie-chicken is in dire need of protection, but a decision on listing it under the Endangered Species Act is months overdue. Environmental reporter Mike Smith looks at the causes and potential consequences of the bureaucratic delay and muses on whether this unique bird will go the way of its even more imperiled relative, the Attwater’s prairie-chicken [47].

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [48]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [49]
Agriculture [34]
Biodiversity [19]
Economy & Business [4]
Energy & Fuel [50]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [41]
Laws & Regulations [43]
Natural Resources [26]
Policy [8]
Science [9]
Wildlife [21]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [51]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [52]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [31]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [53]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about ESA Inaction Spells Trouble for an Iconic Grassland Bird [46]
U.S. Wildfire Response Badly Off-Base, New Doc Convincingly Shows [54]

A gripping new documentary on raging megafires weaves together stunning cinematography with deeply researched revelations that reveal the futility of current policy around managing wildfires, writes veteran wildfire reporter Robert McClure in a new EJ InSight column. His review, with three big takeaways.

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ InSight [55]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [49]
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [14]
Environmental Health [20]
Environmental Politics [5]
Environmental Studies [6]
Forests [56]
Government [41]
People & Population [36]
Planning & Growth [27]
Policy [8]
Science [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
California [57]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [52]
Northwest (OR WA) [58]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about U.S. Wildfire Response Badly Off-Base, New Doc Convincingly Shows [54]
On the Persistence of Ocean Plastics [59]

Concerns about seaborne plastic waste go back decades, but science writer Juli Berwald suggests that myths and disinformation about sources and solutions continue to cloud the waters. From lentil-sized nurdles to sprawling fishing nets, 200 million tons of plastic now fill the ocean and, for her, it has become evident that the ocean plastics story is really a land story. But will the newly signed international treaty on plastics offer relief?

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [48]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [49]
Biodiversity [19]
Chemicals [39]
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [40]
Economy & Business [4]
Energy & Fuel [50]
Environmental Health [20]
Environmental Studies [6]
Fish & Fisheries [24]
Government [41]
Infrastructure [25]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [43]
Natural Resources [26]
Policy [8]
Pollution [44]
Science [9]
Technology [28]
Waste [60]
Water & Oceans [29]
Wildlife [21]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Alaska and Hawaii [61]
California [57]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [45]
Northwest (OR WA) [58]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [31]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [53]
International [22]
Mexico [62]
Africa [63]
Asia [64]
Europe [65]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about On the Persistence of Ocean Plastics [59]
Fill Your Plate With Chicken Stories [66]

Chicken production in the United States is a colossal industry controlled by a few vertically integrated companies. On a much smaller scale, it’s also heritage breeds and increasingly popular backyard flocks. As the latest avian flu outbreak makes headlines, journalist Christine Heinrichs looks at environmental reporting opportunities related to poultry pathogens, pollution and more.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [48]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [34]
Biodiversity [19]
Consumer [40]
Economy & Business [4]
Environmental Health [20]
Food [67]
Government [41]
Health [42]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [43]
Policy [8]
Pollution [44]
Science [9]
Waste [60]
Water & Oceans [29]
Wildlife [21]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
California [57]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [51]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [68]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Fill Your Plate With Chicken Stories [66]

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