Publication Items

No Drought of Data, As Climate Dries U.S. [1]

With drought can come fire, and with megadrought, routine reporting becomes disaster headlines. Reporter’s Toolbox gets you to the bottom of the drought data sources that help determine what’s ahead for your region, sorting through the complicated set of federal drought monitoring agencies and resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Climate Change [4]
Disasters [5]
Environmental Studies [6]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [9]
Science [10]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
California [13]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [14]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [15]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [16]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [17]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about No Drought of Data, As Climate Dries U.S. [1]
Go-To Books for Understanding and Surviving a Pandemic [19]

If you’re looking for perspective in your reporting connected with the coronavirus story, it might help to turn to the extensive library of non-fiction books offering insight into disease and epidemics. Our own Bob Wyss offers a helping hand, with a select list of the most useful texts. Plus, links to resource lists for many more, in the latest BookShelf.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [20]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [5]
Environmental Health [21]
Health [22]
Journalism & Media [8]
People & Population [23]
Science [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
California [13]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [14]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [24]
International [25]
Central America & the Caribbean [26]
Europe [27]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Go-To Books for Understanding and Surviving a Pandemic [19]
SEJournal Relaunches WatchDog with a ‘Voice,’ Plus Coronavirus and More [28]

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 [29]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [30]
Agriculture [3]
Air [31]
Biodiversity [32]
Chemicals [33]
Climate Change [4]
Consumer [34]
Disasters [5]
Economy & Business [35]
Energy & Fuel [36]
Environmental Health [21]
Environmental Politics [37]
Environmental Studies [6]
Fish & Fisheries [38]
Food [39]
Forests [40]
Government [7]
Health [22]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [41]
Military [42]
Natural Resources [9]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [43]
Other or All [44]
People & Population [23]
Planning & Growth [45]
Policy [46]
Pollution [47]
Science [10]
Technology [48]
Transportation [49]
Waste [50]
Water & Oceans [11]
Wildlife [51]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Alaska and Hawaii [52]
California [13]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [53]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [14]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [54]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [15]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [24]
Northwest (OR WA) [55]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [16]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [17]
International [25]
Canada [56]
Mexico [57]
Africa [58]
Antarctica & Arctic [59]
Asia [60]
Australia & Oceania [61]
Central America & the Caribbean [26]
Europe [27]
Middle East [62]
South America [63]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about SEJournal Relaunches WatchDog with a ‘Voice,’ Plus Coronavirus and More [28]
Data Project Details Nation's Disintegrating Dams [64]

Hundreds of U.S. dams are at risk, and the Associated Press undertook a massive two-year-long investigative reporting project to gather and sort data that would identify those presenting the greatest hazards. In this guest Reporter’s Toolbox, AP data journalist Michelle Minkoff details the news service’s painstaking process, its striking findings and the impact of its reporting. Plus, key lessons learned for other data news projects.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [5]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [41]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [53]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [14]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [54]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [24]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [16]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Data Project Details Nation's Disintegrating Dams [64]
Delving Into Drones [65]

Veteran National Geographic photojournalist Peter Essick offers practical advice on learning to fly your own drone. Plus, he shares insights [66] and photos [67] from his most recent drone project, capturing the restoration of the Great Lakes, and explains why he sees the combination of drone photography and environmental journalism as a match made in heaven.

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ InSight [68]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [32]
Chemicals [33]
Environmental Health [21]
Fish & Fisheries [38]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [9]
Pollution [47]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [53]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [14]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [16]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Delving Into Drones [65]
Drones and Photojournalism — Elevating the Craft to New Heights [66]

A match made in heaven — that’s how veteran National Geographic photojournalist Peter Essick sees the combination of drone photography and environmental journalism. In the latest EJ InSight, Essick shares insights and photos [67] from his most recent drone project, capturing the restoration of the Great Lakes. Plus, in a sidebar, Essick gives practical advice on learning to fly your own drone [65].

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ InSight [68]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [32]
Chemicals [33]
Environmental Health [21]
Fish & Fisheries [38]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [9]
Pollution [47]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [53]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [14]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [16]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Drones and Photojournalism — Elevating the Craft to New Heights [66]
News Can Net Eyeballs By Turning Dweebish Data Into Magic Maps [69]

When it comes to telling environment and energy stories, especially about place and scale, data visualizations can turn an average story into a standout. Reporter’s Toolbox takes a look at some recent examples of inspiring data-mapping projects that provide insight into everything from auto emissions and floods to vanishing rivers and whipping winds.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [31]
Climate Change [4]
Disasters [5]
Energy & Fuel [36]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [9]
Pollution [47]
Transportation [49]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Alaska and Hawaii [52]
California [13]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [53]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [14]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [54]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [15]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [24]
Northwest (OR WA) [55]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [16]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [17]
International [25]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about News Can Net Eyeballs By Turning Dweebish Data Into Magic Maps [69]
Another Bad-News Year Ahead for U.S. Coal? [70]

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 [71]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [30]
Air [31]
Climate Change [4]
Economy & Business [35]
Energy & Fuel [36]
Environmental Politics [37]
Government [7]
Laws & Regulations [41]
Natural Resources [9]
Pollution [47]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Alaska and Hawaii [52]
California [13]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [53]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [14]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [54]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [15]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [24]
Northwest (OR WA) [55]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [16]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [17]
International [25]
Canada [56]
Mexico [57]
Africa [58]
Antarctica & Arctic [59]
Asia [60]
Australia & Oceania [61]
Central America & the Caribbean [26]
Europe [27]
Middle East [62]
South America [63]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Another Bad-News Year Ahead for U.S. Coal? [70]
Farms and Ranches, Possible Cause, Cure of Climate Change [72]

The links between agriculture and climate are as old as the Indus Valley Civilization and as current as this year’s Mississippi Basin floods. And stories about how each influences the other will likely unfold at an ever faster rate, according to this week’s TipSheet. The backstory, with an outline of the interactions between ag and global warming, plus story ideas and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [73]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Climate Change [4]
Food [39]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
California [13]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [14]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [17]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Farms and Ranches, Possible Cause, Cure of Climate Change [72]
Grazing on Public Lands Still a Source of Controversy … and Stories [74]

As the Society of Environmental Journalists heads to Colorado this week for its annual gathering, it’s a good time to consider how to report on the vast public lands throughout the western United States. The latest TipSheet explores the history of conflict over public lands, the stories they yield and the resources needed to better report the issue.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [73]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Economy & Business [35]
Environmental Politics [37]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [41]
Natural Resources [9]
Policy [46]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
California [13]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [14]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [15]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [17]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Grazing on Public Lands Still a Source of Controversy … and Stories [74]

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