Publication Items

Trump Administration Icing Out NSIDC Data [1]

An important federal database that tracks Arctic ice and snowmelt — which help address concerns like sea level rise and fresh water resources — is facing funding cuts and reductions in services. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox looks at the kind of high-quality information the National Snow and Ice Data Center can provide environmental reporters, including for local stories. That is, while it lasts.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Health [4]
Environmental Studies [5]
Journalism & Media [6]
Natural Resources [7]
Science [8]
Water & Oceans [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
California [11]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [12]
International [13]
Antarctica & Arctic [14]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about Trump Administration Icing Out NSIDC Data [1]
How Climate Change Complicates the Refugee Crisis [16]

The displacement of populations by climate impacts, while not a new phenomenon in human history, is worsening in the face of global warming’s extreme weather patterns. Yet the extensive international regime to aid refugees doesn’t cover those migrating due to flooding, drought, natural disasters or climate change. Backgrounder considers the implications and how nations will respond to the new realities.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [17]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [18]
Environmental Politics [19]
People & Population [20]
Policy [21]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
California [11]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [22]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [23]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [24]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [25]
International [13]
Mexico [26]
Africa [27]
Antarctica & Arctic [14]
Asia [28]
Central America & the Caribbean [29]
Europe [30]
Middle East [31]
South America [32]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about How Climate Change Complicates the Refugee Crisis [16]
Reporting Ocean Stories Is Key to Blue Literacy, Planetary Health [33]

As part of a Society of Environmental Journalists publishing project focused on covering climate solutions, we take a closer look at ocean-based solutions. In this special tipsheet, ocean scientist and science writer Juli Berwald offers a primer on the climate-related challenges and possibilities in the global ocean’s physics, chemistry and biology. Plus, check out an expanded toolbox [34] with reporting resources and watch a recent SEJ webinar [35].

SEJ Publication Types:
Special Reports [36]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [37]
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Health [4]
Environmental Politics [19]
Environmental Studies [5]
Fish & Fisheries [38]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [39]
Natural Resources [7]
Policy [21]
Science [8]
Water & Oceans [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
International [13]
Antarctica & Arctic [14]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about Reporting Ocean Stories Is Key to Blue Literacy, Planetary Health [33]
A Castoff Bumper Leads to a Literary ‘Autobiography’ of Plastic [40]

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 [41]
Topics on the Beat:
Consumer [42]
Environmental Health [4]
Environmental Justice [43]
Health [44]
Pollution [45]
Waste [46]
Water & Oceans [9]
Wildlife [47]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Alaska and Hawaii [48]
International [13]
Canada [49]
Mexico [26]
Africa [27]
Antarctica & Arctic [14]
Asia [28]
Australia & Oceania [50]
Central America & the Caribbean [29]
Europe [30]
Middle East [31]
South America [32]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about A Castoff Bumper Leads to a Literary ‘Autobiography’ of Plastic [40]
Climate Crisis May Quickly Confront U.S., World With National Security Threats [51]

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 [17]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [18]
Environmental Health [4]
Environmental Politics [19]
Food [52]
Government [53]
Military [54]
Natural Resources [7]
People & Population [20]
Policy [21]
Water & Oceans [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
International [13]
Mexico [26]
Africa [27]
Antarctica & Arctic [14]
Asia [28]
Central America & the Caribbean [29]
Middle East [31]
South America [32]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about Climate Crisis May Quickly Confront U.S., World With National Security Threats [51]
Bringing Stories Home Under Lockdown, With Remote Video Interviews [55]

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 [56]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [57]
Agriculture [58]
Air [59]
Biodiversity [37]
Chemicals [60]
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [42]
Disasters [18]
Economy & Business [61]
Energy & Fuel [62]
Environmental Health [4]
Environmental Politics [19]
Environmental Studies [5]
Fish & Fisheries [38]
Food [52]
Forests [63]
Government [53]
Health [44]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [39]
Military [54]
Natural Resources [7]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [64]
Other or All [65]
People & Population [20]
Planning & Growth [66]
Policy [21]
Pollution [45]
Science [8]
Technology [67]
Transportation [68]
Waste [46]
Water & Oceans [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Alaska and Hawaii [48]
California [11]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [69]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [22]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [23]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [12]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [70]
Northwest (OR WA) [71]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [24]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [25]
International [13]
Canada [49]
Mexico [26]
Africa [27]
Antarctica & Arctic [14]
Asia [28]
Australia & Oceania [50]
Central America & the Caribbean [29]
Europe [30]
Middle East [31]
South America [32]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about Bringing Stories Home Under Lockdown, With Remote Video Interviews [55]
“Flight Lines: Across the Globe on a Journey With the Astonishing Ultramarathon Birds” [72]

Weighing in at little more than a couple of pats of butter, the remarkable grey plover undergoes an epic migration of thousands of miles. A new volume captures the wonder of this tiny shorebird, as well as worries over its rapidly declining numbers and possible extinction. Melody Kemp reviews “Flight Lines” in this month’s BookShelf.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [41]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [37]
Environmental Health [4]
Wildlife [47]
Region:
International [13]
Antarctica & Arctic [14]
Asia [28]
Australia & Oceania [50]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about “Flight Lines: Across the Globe on a Journey With the Astonishing Ultramarathon Birds” [72]
SEJournal Relaunches WatchDog with a ‘Voice,’ Plus Coronavirus and More [73]

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 [74]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [57]
Agriculture [58]
Air [59]
Biodiversity [37]
Chemicals [60]
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [42]
Disasters [18]
Economy & Business [61]
Energy & Fuel [62]
Environmental Health [4]
Environmental Politics [19]
Environmental Studies [5]
Fish & Fisheries [38]
Food [52]
Forests [63]
Government [53]
Health [44]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [39]
Military [54]
Natural Resources [7]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [64]
Other or All [65]
People & Population [20]
Planning & Growth [66]
Policy [21]
Pollution [45]
Science [8]
Technology [67]
Transportation [68]
Waste [46]
Water & Oceans [9]
Wildlife [47]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Alaska and Hawaii [48]
California [11]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [69]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [22]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [23]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [12]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [70]
Northwest (OR WA) [71]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [24]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [25]
International [13]
Canada [49]
Mexico [26]
Africa [27]
Antarctica & Arctic [14]
Asia [28]
Australia & Oceania [50]
Central America & the Caribbean [29]
Europe [30]
Middle East [31]
South America [32]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about SEJournal Relaunches WatchDog with a ‘Voice,’ Plus Coronavirus and More [73]
Another Bad-News Year Ahead for U.S. Coal? [75]

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 [17]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [57]
Air [59]
Climate Change [3]
Economy & Business [61]
Energy & Fuel [62]
Environmental Politics [19]
Government [53]
Laws & Regulations [39]
Natural Resources [7]
Pollution [45]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Alaska and Hawaii [48]
California [11]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [69]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [22]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [23]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [12]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [70]
Northwest (OR WA) [71]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [24]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [25]
International [13]
Canada [49]
Mexico [26]
Africa [27]
Antarctica & Arctic [14]
Asia [28]
Australia & Oceania [50]
Central America & the Caribbean [29]
Europe [30]
Middle East [31]
South America [32]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about Another Bad-News Year Ahead for U.S. Coal? [75]
Algae — Society’s Big, Green … and Emerging Menace [76]

It’s poisoning fresh waters across the United States, as well as elsewhere in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa. Blue-green algae is on the rise, lingering later and later into the year. Our new Issue Backgrounder explains the contributing factors behind the potent toxin’s scourge, its societal and public health ramifications, and the many angles and resources to tell the story.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [17]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [58]
Chemicals [60]
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [42]
Disasters [18]
Environmental Health [4]
Health [44]
Journalism & Media [6]
People & Population [20]
Planning & Growth [66]
Pollution [45]
Water & Oceans [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
California [11]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [69]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [24]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [25]
International [13]
Canada [49]
Mexico [26]
Africa [27]
Antarctica & Arctic [14]
Asia [28]
Australia & Oceania [50]
Central America & the Caribbean [29]
Europe [30]
South America [32]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about Algae — Society’s Big, Green … and Emerging Menace [76]

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