Publication Items

On the Persistence of Ocean Plastics [1]

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 [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Biodiversity [4]
Chemicals [5]
Climate Change [6]
Consumer [7]
Economy & Business [8]
Energy & Fuel [9]
Environmental Health [10]
Environmental Studies [11]
Fish & Fisheries [12]
Government [13]
Infrastructure [14]
Journalism & Media [15]
Laws & Regulations [16]
Natural Resources [17]
Policy [18]
Pollution [19]
Science [20]
Technology [21]
Waste [22]
Water & Oceans [23]
Wildlife [24]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
Alaska and Hawaii [26]
California [27]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [28]
Northwest (OR WA) [29]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [30]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [31]
International [32]
Mexico [33]
Africa [34]
Asia [35]
Europe [36]
Visibility:
Public [37]
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A Castoff Bumper Leads to a Literary ‘Autobiography’ of Plastic [38]

Environmental writer Allison Cobb, in “Plastic: An Autobiography,” tells the story of the ubiquitous material through a series of interwoven narratives that range from her own experiences with it (including a discarded plastic car bumper), to the corporate origins of its spread and the way it’s now dangerously carpeting nature and damaging human communities. Contributor Nano Riley has a review in our new BookShelf.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [39]
Topics on the Beat:
Consumer [7]
Environmental Health [10]
Environmental Justice [40]
Health [41]
Pollution [19]
Waste [22]
Water & Oceans [23]
Wildlife [24]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
Alaska and Hawaii [26]
International [32]
Canada [42]
Mexico [33]
Africa [34]
Antarctica & Arctic [43]
Asia [35]
Australia & Oceania [44]
Central America & the Caribbean [45]
Europe [36]
Middle East [46]
South America [47]
Visibility:
Public [37]
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Houston Plays Host to First On-Site SEJ Conference Since 2019 [48]

Environmental journalists from around the country and beyond will gather in Houston later this month for the Society of Environmental Journalists’ 31st annual conference. Widely known as the energy capital of the world, this highly diverse city is an ideal place to drill down on the causes and consequences of climate change and other environmental issues of the day.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [49]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Air [50]
Biodiversity [4]
Chemicals [5]
Climate Change [6]
Disasters [51]
Diversity [52]
Economy & Business [8]
Energy & Fuel [9]
Environmental Health [10]
Environmental Justice [40]
Environmental Politics [53]
Fish & Fisheries [12]
Food [54]
Forests [55]
Government [13]
Health [41]
Infrastructure [14]
Journalism & Media [15]
Laws & Regulations [16]
People & Population [56]
Planning & Growth [57]
Policy [18]
Pollution [19]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [58]
Science [20]
Technology [21]
Transportation [59]
Waste [22]
Water & Oceans [23]
Wildlife [24]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [31]
International [32]
Mexico [33]
Central America & the Caribbean [45]
Europe [36]
South America [47]
Visibility:
Public [37]
- Read more about Houston Plays Host to First On-Site SEJ Conference Since 2019 [48]
Climate Crisis May Quickly Confront U.S., World With National Security Threats [60]

The climate-security nexus has drawn attention from the Biden administration, but less so elsewhere, even as security experts worry about climate change as a threat multiplier that can exacerbate other causes of conflict. Our new Backgrounder explores these concerns, with a look at how the issue has played out in recent U.S. politics. Plus, seven global regions where climate change may worsen ongoing conflict.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [61]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [6]
Disasters [51]
Environmental Health [10]
Environmental Politics [53]
Food [54]
Government [13]
Military [62]
Natural Resources [17]
People & Population [56]
Policy [18]
Water & Oceans [23]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
International [32]
Mexico [33]
Africa [34]
Antarctica & Arctic [43]
Asia [35]
Central America & the Caribbean [45]
Middle East [46]
South America [47]
Visibility:
Public [37]
- Read more about Climate Crisis May Quickly Confront U.S., World With National Security Threats [60]
‘Wild Souls’ Explores Paradox of Managing Species To Save Them [63]

What does wildness mean when humans interfere with the lives of wild animals in order to protect them? A new volume, “Wild Souls,” explores that dilemma, whether arising through captive breeding programs to reintroduce the California condor and the gray wolf, by allowing hybridization or through the use of gene-editing tools. A review from BookShelf contributor Jenny Weeks.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [39]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [4]
Environmental Politics [53]
Science [20]
Wildlife [24]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
California [27]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [64]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [31]
International [32]
Mexico [33]
Visibility:
Public [37]
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New Reporting Network Aims To Make Connections in the Mississippi Basin [65]

The Mississippi River and its tributaries drain more than 40% of the continent, but most coverage of environmental stories within the Mississippi Basin is localized and siloed. The recently launched Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk hopes to help news outlets provide region-wide reporting that contextualizes issues like climate change-driven flooding and the Gulf of Mexico dead zone.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [66]
Chemicals [5]
Climate Change [6]
Disasters [51]
Economy & Business [8]
Environmental Health [10]
Environmental Justice [40]
Fish & Fisheries [12]
Government [13]
Infrastructure [14]
Journalism & Media [15]
Pollution [19]
Transportation [59]
Waste [22]
Water & Oceans [23]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [67]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [68]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [69]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [64]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [28]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [30]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [31]
International [32]
Canada [42]
Mexico [33]
Central America & the Caribbean [45]
Visibility:
Public [37]
- Read more about New Reporting Network Aims To Make Connections in the Mississippi Basin [65]
Environmental Justice Stories Will Keep Proliferating in 2021 [70]

The surging racial justice movement has reenergized aspirations to correct the environmental injustices that blemish countless underprivileged U.S. communities. The new TipSheet, another part of our 2021 Guide [71], scans the landscape of trouble spots, from urban to rural, industrial zones to Superfund sites. Plus, story ideas and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [72]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Air [50]
Chemicals [5]
Environmental Health [10]
Environmental Politics [53]
Government [13]
Health [41]
Journalism & Media [15]
People & Population [56]
Policy [18]
Pollution [19]
Waste [22]
Water & Oceans [23]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [67]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [68]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [69]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [64]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [30]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [31]
International [32]
Mexico [33]
Visibility:
Public [37]
- Read more about Environmental Justice Stories Will Keep Proliferating in 2021 [70]
Bringing Stories Home Under Lockdown, With Remote Video Interviews [73]

They’ve long been a staple of the news business. But now, with the pandemic continuing to keep journalists from their subjects, remote video interviews have become an essential tool. And even newbie video reporters can quickly learn the basics. Science video producer Eli Kintisch shares a quick eight-step remote video setup and some simple tricks of the trade, in this SEJournal how-to.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Agriculture [66]
Air [50]
Biodiversity [4]
Chemicals [5]
Climate Change [6]
Consumer [7]
Disasters [51]
Economy & Business [8]
Energy & Fuel [9]
Environmental Health [10]
Environmental Politics [53]
Environmental Studies [11]
Fish & Fisheries [12]
Food [54]
Forests [55]
Government [13]
Health [41]
Journalism & Media [15]
Laws & Regulations [16]
Military [62]
Natural Resources [17]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [74]
Other or All [75]
People & Population [56]
Planning & Growth [57]
Policy [18]
Pollution [19]
Science [20]
Technology [21]
Transportation [59]
Waste [22]
Water & Oceans [23]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
Alaska and Hawaii [26]
California [27]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [67]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [68]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [69]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [64]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [28]
Northwest (OR WA) [29]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [30]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [31]
International [32]
Canada [42]
Mexico [33]
Africa [34]
Antarctica & Arctic [43]
Asia [35]
Australia & Oceania [44]
Central America & the Caribbean [45]
Europe [36]
Middle East [46]
South America [47]
Visibility:
Public [37]
- Read more about Bringing Stories Home Under Lockdown, With Remote Video Interviews [73]
SEJournal Relaunches WatchDog with a ‘Voice,’ Plus Coronavirus and More [76]

SEJournal welcomes back from hiatus our WatchDog feature, now recast as an opinion column from Joseph A. Davis, Society of Environmental Journalists’ veteran freedom of information advocate and longtime SEJournal contributor. In part one of a two-parter, find out why we’re relaunching the new column, plus get Davis’ take on government openness (or lack thereof) around coronavirus, as well as more on SEJ’s deep commitment to open information and a rundown of its recent FOI activities. And watch for part two next week.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [77]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Agriculture [66]
Air [50]
Biodiversity [4]
Chemicals [5]
Climate Change [6]
Consumer [7]
Disasters [51]
Economy & Business [8]
Energy & Fuel [9]
Environmental Health [10]
Environmental Politics [53]
Environmental Studies [11]
Fish & Fisheries [12]
Food [54]
Forests [55]
Government [13]
Health [41]
Journalism & Media [15]
Laws & Regulations [16]
Military [62]
Natural Resources [17]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [74]
Other or All [75]
People & Population [56]
Planning & Growth [57]
Policy [18]
Pollution [19]
Science [20]
Technology [21]
Transportation [59]
Waste [22]
Water & Oceans [23]
Wildlife [24]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
Alaska and Hawaii [26]
California [27]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [67]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [68]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [69]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [64]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [28]
Northwest (OR WA) [29]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [30]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [31]
International [32]
Canada [42]
Mexico [33]
Africa [34]
Antarctica & Arctic [43]
Asia [35]
Australia & Oceania [44]
Central America & the Caribbean [45]
Europe [36]
Middle East [46]
South America [47]
Visibility:
Public [37]
- Read more about SEJournal Relaunches WatchDog with a ‘Voice,’ Plus Coronavirus and More [76]
Another Bad-News Year Ahead for U.S. Coal? [78]

As U.S. coal’s comedown continues, our latest Issue Backgrounder takes a close look at the factors behind the industry’s decline and finds a combination of economics, competition and shifting global markets, along with aging technology, politics and environmental pushback. What’s in store for coal in 2020?

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [61]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Air [50]
Climate Change [6]
Economy & Business [8]
Energy & Fuel [9]
Environmental Politics [53]
Government [13]
Laws & Regulations [16]
Natural Resources [17]
Pollution [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
Alaska and Hawaii [26]
California [27]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [67]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [68]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [69]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [64]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [28]
Northwest (OR WA) [29]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [30]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [31]
International [32]
Canada [42]
Mexico [33]
Africa [34]
Antarctica & Arctic [43]
Asia [35]
Australia & Oceania [44]
Central America & the Caribbean [45]
Europe [36]
Middle East [46]
South America [47]
Visibility:
Public [37]
- Read more about Another Bad-News Year Ahead for U.S. Coal? [78]

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