Publication Items

Want To Protect Your Sources? It Helps To Know the Law [1]

With climate-related legal disputes playing out worldwide, we could see more environmental journalists facing subpoenas to access their newsgathering materials and reveal their sources. Case in point: the legal battle embroiling a news nonprofit over its coverage of pipeline protests. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press’ Chris Young looks at shield laws and resources to help deal with legal threats to your journalistic integrity.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Energy & Fuel [4]
Government [5]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [7]
Natural Resources [8]
Policy [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Alaska and Hawaii [11]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [12]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [13]
Visibility:
Public [14]
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Between the Lines — Author Explores Experience of Living Through Climate Change [15]

To make climate change less abstract and more direct, writer Madeline Ostrander traveled the country to speak to those living with its impacts in the places they call home. In a BookShelf “Between the Lines” Q&A, Ostrander discusses her resulting book, “At Home on an Unruly Planet: Finding Refuge on a Changed Earth,” and addresses the lenses she used, the characters she portrayed and the surprises she encountered.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [16]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Climate Change [17]
Disasters [18]
Economy & Business [19]
Environmental Justice [20]
Environmental Politics [21]
Forests [22]
Health [23]
Journalism & Media [6]
People & Population [24]
Policy [9]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [25]
Science [26]
Wildlife [27]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Alaska and Hawaii [11]
California [28]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [29]
International [30]
Canada [31]
Visibility:
Public [14]
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Gathering Offers Sobering Look Ahead at 2024, But With Glimmers of Hope [32]

Top environmental journalists and others at the Society of Environmental Journalists annual “Journalists’ Guide to Environment and Energy” program foresee some challenging realities to cover in 2024, most notably with the ongoing impacts of climate change. Bright signs emerged as well. Read our take, watch the event video [33] and visit our full “2024 Journalists’ Guide to Environment + Energy [34]” special report.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [35]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [36]
Biodiversity [37]
Chemicals [38]
Climate Change [17]
Disasters [18]
Environmental Health [39]
Environmental Justice [20]
Environmental Politics [21]
Fish & Fisheries [40]
Forests [22]
Health [23]
Journalism & Media [6]
Natural Resources [8]
People & Population [24]
Policy [9]
Pollution [41]
Water & Oceans [42]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Alaska and Hawaii [11]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [29]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [43]
International [30]
South America [44]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Gathering Offers Sobering Look Ahead at 2024, But With Glimmers of Hope [32]
To Cover Climate Equity Well, Journalists Must Maintain Mental Health [45]

When climate journalists — especially those confronting various forms of oppression in their own communities — witness environmental destruction and human suffering, the trauma can creep into our psyches. But sometimes our professional stance keeps us from seeing the harm to our mental health. In her new Voices of Environmental Justice column, Yessenia Funes looks at the question head-on, exploring resources and paths to better self-care.

SEJ Publication Types:
Voices of Environmental Justice [46]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [17]
Disasters [18]
Diversity [47]
Environmental Justice [20]
Health [23]
Journalism & Media [6]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Alaska and Hawaii [11]
International [30]
Asia [48]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about To Cover Climate Equity Well, Journalists Must Maintain Mental Health [45]
Both Sides Now — How Permitting Reform May Affect Fossil Fuel, Clean Energy Industries [49]

It’s a political knot with the potential to tangle the fossil energy industry, the clean energy industry … or both. Environmental journalists looking to better report on the impacts of permitting reform can start with our latest Backgrounder, which explores the issue’s recent history and the competing visions that have stalled changes. There’s also the “backroom problem.” Plus, get a rundown of key actors.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [50]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Climate Change [17]
Energy & Fuel [4]
Environmental Politics [21]
Government [5]
Infrastructure [51]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [7]
Natural Resources [8]
Policy [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Alaska and Hawaii [11]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [52]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [53]
International [30]
Canada [31]
Visibility:
Public [14]
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The Seven Stages of Beach Exploitation (and Restoration) [54]

When most people think of coastal tourist destinations, they imagine beaches lined by palm trees and exclusive resorts. But those are exactly the kind of realities that contribute to the environmental and economic decline of coastal communities and their local residents, argues a new book. Contributing Editor Jenny Weeks has our review in the new BookShelf.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [16]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [17]
Environmental Health [39]
Natural Resources [8]
People & Population [24]
Planning & Growth [55]
Pollution [41]
Water & Oceans [42]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Alaska and Hawaii [11]
California [28]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [56]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [29]
International [30]
Mexico [57]
Africa [58]
Asia [48]
Australia & Oceania [59]
Central America & the Caribbean [60]
Europe [61]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about The Seven Stages of Beach Exploitation (and Restoration) [54]
Public Lands Face New Challenges in Today’s Energy, Climate Landscape [62]

The debate over drilling on public lands goes back decades. But now our view of how — or even whether — to use public lands faces the unprecedented reality of climate change, fire, drought, floods and the transition to clean energy. The latest Backgrounder explains how we got here and where the current battles rage, including over the Alaskan North Slope’s massive Willow Project.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [50]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Climate Change [17]
Energy & Fuel [4]
Environmental Health [39]
Environmental Politics [21]
Forests [22]
Government [5]
Laws & Regulations [7]
Natural Resources [8]
Policy [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Alaska and Hawaii [11]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [56]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Public Lands Face New Challenges in Today’s Energy, Climate Landscape [62]
Covering Indigenous Communities — Tips for Non-Native Journalists [63]

Non-Indigenous journalists may think they’re doing “marginalized” Indigenous communities a favor by covering them, but their coverage is too often extractive and riddled with racist tropes. Contributor Valerie Vande Panne offers insights and advice for avoiding these pitfalls. Seeking permission, listening, sharing and respecting are all critical tools for the job.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Diversity [47]
Environmental Justice [20]
Government [5]
Journalism & Media [6]
People & Population [24]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [25]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Alaska and Hawaii [11]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [56]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [43]
International [30]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Covering Indigenous Communities — Tips for Non-Native Journalists [63]
Cascadia Bioregion Rife With Energy, Environment Troubles To Report in 2023 [64]

Iconic critters like salmon, orca and wolves. Climate controversies like natural gas greenwashing and carbon auctions. And wildfire fallout like “smoke-a-geddon.” These are just some of the wide array of stories worth covering as environmental journalists scan Cascadia, the huge area encompassing Washington, Oregon and Idaho, and stretching from Alaska to Utah. This special TipSheet, part of our 2023 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment, outlines top issues in the region, offering insights, resources and story angles.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [65]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Agriculture [66]
Air [36]
Biodiversity [37]
Climate Change [17]
Consumer [67]
Disasters [18]
Diversity [47]
Economy & Business [19]
Energy & Fuel [4]
Environmental Health [39]
Environmental Justice [20]
Environmental Politics [21]
Environmental Studies [68]
Fish & Fisheries [40]
Food [69]
Forests [22]
Government [5]
Health [23]
Infrastructure [51]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [7]
Natural Resources [8]
Planning & Growth [55]
Policy [9]
Pollution [41]
Transportation [70]
Waste [71]
Water & Oceans [42]
Wildlife [27]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Alaska and Hawaii [11]
California [28]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [13]
Northwest (OR WA) [72]
International [30]
Canada [31]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Cascadia Bioregion Rife With Energy, Environment Troubles To Report in 2023 [64]
Collaborative Journalism Project Reveals Inequities in Escaping Climate Change Hazards [73]

When U.S. communities become unlivable due to climate change impacts, can residents count on government relocation assistance — and are those most in need of help actually getting it? Those questions kickstarted a year-long investigation led by three high-powered journalism organizations. Now they’re sharing their reporting resources toolkit and inviting other journalists to widen the coverage with more local stories.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [17]
Disasters [18]
Diversity [47]
Economy & Business [19]
Environmental Health [39]
Environmental Justice [20]
Environmental Politics [21]
Government [5]
Health [23]
Infrastructure [51]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [7]
People & Population [24]
Planning & Growth [55]
Policy [9]
Water & Oceans [42]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Alaska and Hawaii [11]
California [28]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [12]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [53]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [56]
Northwest (OR WA) [72]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [29]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [43]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Collaborative Journalism Project Reveals Inequities in Escaping Climate Change Hazards [73]

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