Publication Items

To Give a Goldfish Agency — The Joys (and Perils) of Writing on Nonhuman Life [1]

Stories focused on nonhuman animals are a quintessential part of environmental journalism. But how writers approach these stories is evolving, in step with changing views about animal consciousness and agency. Science journalist and author Karen Pinchin explores this trend and talks about anthropomorphism, anthropodenialism, metaphors, language, writing from the perspective of animal protagonists and more.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [3]
Journalism & Media [4]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [5]
Science [6]
Water & Oceans [7]
Wildlife [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
International [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about To Give a Goldfish Agency — The Joys (and Perils) of Writing on Nonhuman Life [1]
Will Trump 2.0 ‘Come After’ Journalists? [12]

If the idea of an FBI director targeting journalists seems oh so last century, then Donald Trump’s prospective pick for the post has news for you. And that isn’t even the all of it. As WatchDog Opinion writes, the incoming administration bodes a litany of woes for free speech advocates, starting with the misuse of the law to try to silence a critical press. What should be done?

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [13]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [14]
Journalism & Media [4]
Laws & Regulations [15]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Will Trump 2.0 ‘Come After’ Journalists? [12]
Reporting on Illegal Wildlife Trade – Story Ideas, Safety Tips and More [16]

Illicit trade in wild animals and plants is a billion-dollar global business that threatens biodiversity and human health. Endless reporting opportunities range from exposing corruption and criminal networks to debunking claims about products derived from endangered species. Journalist Rene Ebersole shares insights from her 20 years on the trail of wildlife smugglers, poachers and other environmental lawbreakers — and introduces a new nonprofit dedicated to this beat.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [3]
Consumer [17]
Economy & Business [18]
Fish & Fisheries [19]
Government [14]
Journalism & Media [4]
Laws & Regulations [15]
Wildlife [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
California [20]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [21]
International [10]
Mexico [22]
Africa [23]
Central America & the Caribbean [24]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Reporting on Illegal Wildlife Trade – Story Ideas, Safety Tips and More [16]
EPA Science Integrity Threatened by House Republicans [25]

The closest thing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has to a press policy is actually its scientific integrity policy. But as WatchDog Opinion writer Joseph Davis writes in the latest EJ TransitionWatch, the EPA’s scientific integrity policy is under direct attack by a powerful congressman. What’s behind the attack? And could the EPA’s science be under assault next?

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ TransitionWatch [26]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [27]
Economy & Business [18]
Environmental Politics [28]
Environmental Studies [29]
Government [14]
Health [30]
Journalism & Media [4]
Policy [31]
Science [6]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about EPA Science Integrity Threatened by House Republicans [25]
Attention Press Officers — Read This Reporter’s Bill of Rights [32]

Under the last Trump White House — and in quite a few presidential administrations — shoddy treatment of journalists by federal agency press offices has been the norm. And WatchDog Opinion worries it will be even worse in the new Trump administration. So it’s time to remind public information officers what we journalists fairly expect. From the latest WatchDog, an updated reporter’s bill of rights.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [13]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [28]
Government [14]
Journalism & Media [4]
Policy [31]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Attention Press Officers — Read This Reporter’s Bill of Rights [32]
Is Fluoride Facing Phaseout in Your Community’s Drinking Water? [33]

Fluoridated drinking water has helped limit tooth decay in the United States for decades. But that could come to an end in the Trump administration, if fluoride nonfan Robert F. Kennedy Jr., slated to head Health and Human Services, has his way. In the first installment of SEJournal’s new weekly EJ TransitionWatch column, we examine the challenge to this public health success story. Plus, questions to ask and resources for your reporting.

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ TransitionWatch [26]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [34]
Chemicals [27]
Consumer [17]
Environmental Politics [28]
Government [14]
Health [30]
Infrastructure [35]
Journalism & Media [4]
Laws & Regulations [15]
People & Population [36]
Policy [31]
Science [6]
Water & Oceans [7]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Is Fluoride Facing Phaseout in Your Community’s Drinking Water? [33]
Threats of Media Censorship Cloud COP29 [37]

Again this year, a petrostate hosts the COP climate gathering. Azerbaijan as host not only raises questions of how an oil-rich nation can help foster the fossil fuel cuts needed to stem climate change. But WatchDog Opinion also worries what Azerbaijan’s poor press freedom record will mean for journalists covering the gathering and for the civil society that normally enlivens the meeting.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [13]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [34]
Climate Change [38]
Economy & Business [18]
Energy & Fuel [39]
Environmental Justice [40]
Environmental Politics [28]
Government [14]
Journalism & Media [4]
Policy [31]
Region:
International [10]
Asia [41]
Europe [42]
Middle East [43]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Threats of Media Censorship Cloud COP29 [37]
Trump Redux — What Will It Mean? [44]

Following Donald Trump’s election to a second term, SEJournal revisits our prospective coverage of his upcoming administration. Read what a Trump 2.0 would mean for the environment, take a closer look at how the Justice40 program hangs in balance and whether weather data would be withheld from the public. That, and more WatchDog Opinion columns on prospects under Trump. Plus, Trump-environment headlines.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [45]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [14]
Journalism & Media [4]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Trump Redux — What Will It Mean? [44]
Small Fry — How to Tell Compelling Stories About Obscure Species [46]

Getting people excited about large, charismatic wildlife is easy, but tiny, little-known or less-than-lovable species can be a tough sell. Journalists Bethany Brookshire and Douglas Main on why it’s important to include oddball organisms in your reporting and how to get audiences engaged. Pro tip: Building curiosity and caring for minor-league creatures often means being a bit self-centered.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [3]
Climate Change [38]
Environmental Health [47]
Forests [48]
Journalism & Media [4]
Science [6]
Wildlife [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [21]
International [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Small Fry — How to Tell Compelling Stories About Obscure Species [46]
Prize Winner Spurs Policy Change on Illinois PFAS Contamination [49]

When Illinois downplayed the results of long-delayed PFAS testing in the state’s public water supply, Chicago Tribune reporter Michael Hawthorne revisited a story he had first covered two decades before. His investigation uncovered dangerous practices threatening public health, won him accolades and moved the needle on state policy. How he went about it, in the new Inside Story Q&A.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [50]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [51]
Chemicals [27]
Environmental Justice [40]
Environmental Politics [28]
Environmental Studies [29]
Food [52]
Government [14]
Health [30]
Journalism & Media [4]
Policy [31]
Pollution [53]
Science [6]
Waste [54]
Water & Oceans [7]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [55]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Prize Winner Spurs Policy Change on Illinois PFAS Contamination [49]

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