Publication Items

How 'Rights of Nature' Is Recasting the Relationship Between Law and the Earth [1]

In 2006, a local government council in Pennsylvania concerned about sewage sludge dumping enacted the Western legal system’s first formal “rights of nature” instrument. Today, numerous countries have laws recognizing specific rights or even legal personhood for nature. As legal expert Alice Bleby explains, this new perspective arises from a wide range of contexts and plays out in many different ways.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Biodiversity [4]
Chemicals [5]
Climate Change [6]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Justice [8]
Environmental Politics [9]
Environmental Studies [10]
Fish & Fisheries [11]
Forests [12]
Government [13]
Laws & Regulations [14]
Natural Resources [15]
Policy [16]
Pollution [17]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [18]
Water & Oceans [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [20]
California [21]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [22]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [23]
International [24]
Africa [25]
Asia [26]
Australia & Oceania [27]
South America [28]
Visibility:
Public [29]
- Read more about How 'Rights of Nature' Is Recasting the Relationship Between Law and the Earth [1]
Ocean and Climate Change Toolbox [30]

Oceans and climate change intersect with many other issues, a crossover likely to be emphasized in the upcoming United Nations Ocean Conference and in future ocean-based climate discussions. This list of resources reflects some of that intersection in order to help environmental journalists better cover the field of “blue climate” solutions.

SEJ Publication Types:
Special Reports [31]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [4]
Climate Change [6]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Politics [9]
Environmental Studies [10]
Fish & Fisheries [11]
Laws & Regulations [14]
Natural Resources [15]
Policy [16]
Pollution [17]
Science [32]
Water & Oceans [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [20]
International [24]
Visibility:
Public [29]
- Read more about Ocean and Climate Change Toolbox [30]
‘Big Fish’ Report Hooks Prize With Look at Aquaculture and Environment [33]

The challenges of sustainable aquaculture are at the heart of an extensive reporting project recognized in the Society of Environmental Journalists’ most recent round of reporting awards. In this Inside Story Q&A, Hakai Magazine’s founding editor, Jude Isabella (pictured at left), and author Brian Payton share insights into the series, which looks closely at the industry and its environmental costs.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [34]
Topics on the Beat:
Economy & Business [35]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Justice [8]
Fish & Fisheries [11]
Food [36]
Journalism & Media [37]
Natural Resources [15]
People & Population [38]
Water & Oceans [19]
Wildlife [39]
Region:
National (U.S.) [20]
International [24]
Asia [26]
Visibility:
Public [29]
- Read more about ‘Big Fish’ Report Hooks Prize With Look at Aquaculture and Environment [33]
Going Beyond Sensational Drought Headlines Gives Local Audiences News They Need [40]

As drought continues to afflict the southwestern United States, New Mexico PBS correspondent and producer Laura Paskus writes that environmental journalists must bring home its impact on local communities, while translating the science, making the connection with climate change and holding public officials accountable. Plus, reporting resources and a reminder that the story is too big for any one journalist.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [41]
Climate Change [6]
Disasters [42]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Politics [9]
Journalism & Media [37]
People & Population [38]
Planning & Growth [43]
Policy [16]
Water & Oceans [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [20]
California [21]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [44]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [45]
Visibility:
Public [29]
- Read more about Going Beyond Sensational Drought Headlines Gives Local Audiences News They Need [40]
Massive Drilling Database Helps Track Threats From Local Oil, Gas Wells [46]

A new data tool that captures information on 1.5 million-plus active U.S. oil and gas production facilities can be a powerful tool for journalists looking to report on potential pollutants, especially when overlaid with local census data, school locations and the like. Reporter’s Toolbox takes a closer look at the new Oil & Gas Threat Map, shares caveats and offers story ideas.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [47]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [48]
Chemicals [5]
Energy & Fuel [49]
Environmental Health [7]
Health [50]
Journalism & Media [37]
Pollution [17]
Region:
National (U.S.) [20]
Visibility:
Public [29]
- Read more about Massive Drilling Database Helps Track Threats From Local Oil, Gas Wells [46]
Investigation Into Dry Oil Wells Reveals High Risks, Costs to Nearby Neighborhoods [51]

A casual query from an editor prompted an investigative reporter to pair up with a data journalism reporter at a partner news organization to dig into the risks that thousands of dry oil wells across California posed to surrounding communities, including many low-income Latino neighborhoods. How the resulting award-winning series came together, in an Inside Story Q&A with reporter Mark Olalde.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [34]
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel [49]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Justice [8]
Health [50]
Journalism & Media [37]
Pollution [17]
Region:
National (U.S.) [20]
California [21]
Visibility:
Public [29]
- Read more about Investigation Into Dry Oil Wells Reveals High Risks, Costs to Nearby Neighborhoods [51]
An Endless ‘Silent Spring’? Find Out on a Spring Walk (With the Birders) [52]

To better understand troubled bird populations and the many forces undermining them, grab some binoculars and a notebook, and catch up with your local birders, including the burgeoning number of minority birders. That’s the advice from the latest TipSheet, which offers reporting resources and numerous story ideas, including the impacts of climate change, habitat loss, water access and the “insect apocalypse.”

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [53]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [4]
Chemicals [5]
Climate Change [6]
Diversity [54]
Environmental Health [7]
Journalism & Media [37]
Wildlife [39]
Region:
National (U.S.) [20]
International [24]
Canada [55]
Visibility:
Public [29]
- Read more about An Endless ‘Silent Spring’? Find Out on a Spring Walk (With the Birders) [52]
Global Satellite Data IDs Tensions Between Food Production, Biodiversity [56]

A recent study of global cropland expansion highlights several trends that are ripe with environmental news stories. One finding: New farm fields have taken over an area the size of Texas and California combined since the start of the century, an expansion primarily affecting biodiversity-rich natural ecosystems, with Africa leading the cropland boom. Freelancer Gabriel Popkin explores the latest data and the reporting possibilities.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [41]
Biodiversity [4]
Climate Change [6]
Consumer [57]
Economy & Business [35]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Justice [8]
Environmental Politics [9]
Environmental Studies [10]
Food [36]
Forests [12]
Journalism & Media [37]
Natural Resources [15]
People & Population [38]
Planning & Growth [43]
Science [32]
Technology [58]
Region:
National (U.S.) [20]
International [24]
Africa [25]
Asia [26]
Europe [59]
South America [28]
Visibility:
Public [29]
- Read more about Global Satellite Data IDs Tensions Between Food Production, Biodiversity [56]
As Summer Worsens Air Pollution, Data Sources Help Coverage [60]

As the weather grows warmer, air pollution from smog typically worsens, as does smoke from spreading wildfires. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox spotlights the data that can help improve your coverage, whether via an easy-to-use report on the state of the air from a prominent nonprofit, or straight from various quality EPA data resources. Find help getting started on your air pollution coverage projects now.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [47]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [48]
Climate Change [6]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Justice [8]
Health [50]
Journalism & Media [37]
Pollution [17]
Region:
National (U.S.) [20]
Visibility:
Public [29]
- Read more about As Summer Worsens Air Pollution, Data Sources Help Coverage [60]
There Are a Lot More Than 10 Endangered Rivers. Is One Near You? [61]

An annual list of endangered rivers is out, but with it the journalism just begins, since there are numerous troubled river systems, most likely including one near you. The latest TipSheet details how the endangered river list can serve as a template for local reporting and provides story ideas, questions to ask and resources to tap for your coverage.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [53]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Climate Change [6]
Consumer [57]
Disasters [42]
Energy & Fuel [49]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Politics [9]
Fish & Fisheries [11]
Food [36]
Journalism & Media [37]
Laws & Regulations [14]
Natural Resources [15]
Pollution [17]
Transportation [62]
Water & Oceans [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [20]
Visibility:
Public [29]
- Read more about There Are a Lot More Than 10 Endangered Rivers. Is One Near You? [61]

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