Publication Items

For ‘Wonky’ Pollution Story, Making the Complex Clear [1]

The latest Inside Story column takes a look at how one reporter turned a series of complex policy stories on renewable energy and pollution into an accessible, localized narrative — and in the process won a Society of Environmental Journalists’ explanatory reporting award. A Q&A about the project with Baltimore Sun’s Scott Dance.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [3]
Chemicals [4]
Economy & Business [5]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Politics [8]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [10]
Pollution [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [13]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about For ‘Wonky’ Pollution Story, Making the Complex Clear [1]
"Chemicals: Enviros File FOIA Suits For Pesticide Docs" [15]

"Environmentalists went to court today in hopes of squeezing myriad pesticides-related documents out from several allegedly unresponsive federal agencies."

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [16]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [4]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Politics [8]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about "Chemicals: Enviros File FOIA Suits For Pesticide Docs" [15]
"Autopsy On Act Of Scientific Suppression" [17]

"Washington, DC — A controversial decision to pull the plug on a federal study of the socio-economic impacts of coal strip mining has no identified author, according to documents obtained by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). Nor were the reasons behind the action pinpointed, as key documents are still being withheld as “deliberative.”"

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [16]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Politics [8]
Environmental Studies [18]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [10]
Science [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about "Autopsy On Act Of Scientific Suppression" [17]
Air Needs Freshening in Most U.S. National Park Units [20]

The nation’s parks are generally thought to be pristine natural havens. But a recent study finds the overwhelming majority suffer from air pollution problems like smog and ozone. That makes for important local and regional news stories, per the latest biweekly TipSheet. Get background, story ideas, resources and more.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [21]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [3]
Chemicals [4]
Consumer [22]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Politics [8]
Environmental Studies [18]
Forests [23]
Government [24]
Health [25]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [10]
Natural Resources [26]
Pollution [11]
Science [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Air Needs Freshening in Most U.S. National Park Units [20]
Big Environmental Impacts on Small Communities Is Story That Must Be Told [27]

While environmental journalists often focus on regulatory wrestling matches in Washington, D.C., a seasoned New York Times investigative reporter argues the most important stories are those in the real communities where bureaucratic impacts are felt. Three-time Pulitzer winner Eric Lipton makes the case for public service in journalism that tells the environment story from the outside in.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [28]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [29]
Air [3]
Chemicals [4]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Politics [8]
Government [24]
Health [25]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [10]
Natural Resources [26]
Policy [30]
Pollution [11]
Water & Oceans [31]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Alaska and Hawaii [32]
California [33]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [34]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [35]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [13]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [36]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [37]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [38]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [39]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Big Environmental Impacts on Small Communities Is Story That Must Be Told [27]
Sifting Through 'Toxic Secrets' To Nail Polluter [40]

A lengthy investigation yielded one small-market environmental reporting team an award-winning project examining the adequacy of a toxic solvent cleanup in a polluted community. Our latest “Inside Story” talks with a team member behind the project to learn about the challenges, the lessons learned and advice for others tracking similar problems.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [4]
Environmental Health [7]
Health [25]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [10]
People & Population [41]
Pollution [11]
Water & Oceans [31]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [37]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Sifting Through 'Toxic Secrets' To Nail Polluter [40]
FED Tool Tracks Pollution on Federal Lands [42]

A revamped Reporter’s Toolbox begins today with a new focus on data resources for environmental journalists. The now biweekly column starts with a look at a massive database designed for federal land managers that reporters can use to scan dozens of pollution data sets about air quality and more in parks, forests and other federal lands.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [43]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [3]
Consumer [22]
Environmental Health [7]
Forests [23]
Government [24]
Health [25]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [10]
People & Population [41]
Pollution [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about FED Tool Tracks Pollution on Federal Lands [42]
“Ocean Outbreak: Confronting the Rising Tide of Marine Disease” [44]

Marine ecologist Drew Harvell’s new book makes the case that the world’s oceans are sick and that few are paying enough attention. According to our latest BookShelf review, her “Ocean Outbreak” takes readers on a panoramic journey through the deep, while equipping reporters to better report problems that go well beyond climate change.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [45]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [46]
Environmental Health [7]
Fish & Fisheries [47]
Natural Resources [26]
Pollution [11]
Water & Oceans [31]
Wildlife [48]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
International [49]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about “Ocean Outbreak: Confronting the Rising Tide of Marine Disease” [44]
Follow Fish Advisories To Catch Local Stories [50]

Toxic chemicals and disease-causing microorganisms can be found in some fresh-caught fish. And that means local stories for environmental journalists, who can pick up on problems through federal and state fish advisories. The latest TipSheet explains the health impacts and how they’re regulated, plus questions to ask and story ideas, including an environmental justice angle.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [21]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [4]
Consumer [22]
Environmental Health [7]
Fish & Fisheries [47]
Food [51]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [10]
Natural Resources [26]
Pollution [11]
Water & Oceans [31]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Follow Fish Advisories To Catch Local Stories [50]
Between the Lines: Forging a Future for a ‘Forgotten River’ [52]

Washington, D.C.’s long-neglected Anacostia River bears both tragedy and beauty. And author Krista Schlyer plumbs its depths in her most recent book, “River of Redemption.” In this Between the Lines, she speaks of her connection to the urban waterway, as well as her latest reporting on the environmental impact of the border wall.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [45]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [53]
Agriculture [29]
Biodiversity [54]
Chemicals [4]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Politics [8]
Journalism & Media [9]
Natural Resources [26]
People & Population [41]
Policy [30]
Pollution [11]
Water & Oceans [31]
Wildlife [48]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
California [33]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [13]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [39]
International [49]
Mexico [55]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Between the Lines: Forging a Future for a ‘Forgotten River’ [52]

Pages