Publication Items

New Coal Ash Data Help Pinpoint Local Pollution Stories [1]

Hundreds of coal ash ponds and landfills around the United States pollute drinking water supplies, and now a newly released report helps localize the problem for environmental reporters. This week’s TipSheet explores the new data source, provides the back story on coal ash regulation (or lack thereof) and the potential health risks, while offering numerous questions to ask and resources to track down.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [3]
Energy & Fuel [4]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Health [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
People & Population [10]
Pollution [11]
Waste [12]
Water & Oceans [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [15]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about New Coal Ash Data Help Pinpoint Local Pollution Stories [1]
Climate Scientist Canned, SCOTUS To Rule on Chemical ‘Secrets’ and Army Corps Sued Over Permit Info [17]

A scientist contracted to report on climate impacts for the National Park Service was caught up in a fracas over attempted censorship of her findings. Now she’s been fired. That, plus a FOIA case before the Supreme Court and an enviro group sues the Army Corps of Engineers over info on a permit for a new plastics plant in Louisiana. Read the latest on freedom-of-information issues in this month’s WatchDog TipSheet.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [18]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [19]
Chemicals [3]
Climate Change [20]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Environmental Studies [21]
Government [22]
Health [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Pollution [11]
Science [23]
Water & Oceans [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [24]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [15]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Climate Scientist Canned, SCOTUS To Rule on Chemical ‘Secrets’ and Army Corps Sued Over Permit Info [17]
Award-Winner — ‘Trust Your Gut’ but Track the Data [25]

Small market environmental beat reporting can shine a light on serious issues that affect local residents, and Texas Observer’s Christopher Collins does that with a passion. That’s the word from judges for the Society of Environmental Journalists’ annual reporting awards, who recently honored Collins for his work, citing his mix of hard-hitting info and interesting characters. In the latest Inside Story, Collins shares how he gets his story ideas, overcomes challenges and focuses on how issues affect real individuals.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [26]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [27]
Air [28]
Chemicals [3]
Energy & Fuel [4]
Environmental Health [5]
Food [29]
Journalism & Media [8]
People & Population [10]
Pollution [11]
Region:
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [30]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Award-Winner — ‘Trust Your Gut’ but Track the Data [25]
Environment and Energy News Outlook for 2019 [31]

With 2019 in full swing, the SEJournal offers an analysis of the year ahead in environment and energy news, with an overview of our full special report, the “2019 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment [32].” Plus, don’t miss SEJ’s Jan. 25 event with top reporters [33] to help you keep track of the big stories on the beat. RSVP here [34] to attend in-person or online.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [35]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [19]
Air [28]
Chemicals [3]
Climate Change [20]
Disasters [36]
Economy & Business [37]
Energy & Fuel [4]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [22]
Health [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Natural Resources [38]
People & Population [10]
Policy [39]
Pollution [11]
Science [23]
Transportation [40]
Waste [12]
Water & Oceans [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Environment and Energy News Outlook for 2019 [31]
Urgency of Katowice Carries Over to SEJ Mission [41]

From under a blanket of dense smog that hung over the southern Polish town hosting a recent United Nations climate change conference, the president of the Society of Environmental Journalists, Bobby Magill, had a moment of clarity for the profession and the organization. His insights, and how they will affect the future of SEJ as it begins a new strategic planning process, in Magill’s latest SEJ President’s Report. Plus, a special honor for a “tireless” SEJ leader.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ Presidents Report [42]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [19]
Air [28]
Climate Change [20]
Economy & Business [37]
Energy & Fuel [4]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Health [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Planning & Growth [43]
Policy [39]
Pollution [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
International [44]
Europe [45]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Urgency of Katowice Carries Over to SEJ Mission [41]
The 2019 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment [32]

SEJournal looks ahead to key issues in the coming year with this "2019 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment" special report. Stay tuned as we continue to add elements to the report up through and beyond its formal launch Jan. 25 at an annual roundtable [33], organized by the Society of Environmental Journalists with the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [46]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [19]
Air [28]
Chemicals [3]
Climate Change [20]
Consumer [47]
Disasters [36]
Economy & Business [37]
Energy & Fuel [4]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Environmental Studies [21]
Fish & Fisheries [48]
Forests [49]
Government [22]
Health [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Natural Resources [38]
People & Population [10]
Policy [39]
Pollution [11]
Science [23]
Technology [50]
Transportation [40]
Water & Oceans [13]
Wildlife [51]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
International [44]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about The 2019 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment [32]
Environmental (In)Justice Coverage Grows, As More Media Take Note [52]

Environmental justice-related stories are expected to get more attention in the news media in 2019. But that’s not because the challenge of protecting marginalized communities from lopsided environmental impacts is being met. This week’s TipSheet explains, in a look-ahead to environmental justice stories making the news, the many forms the problem takes, the many communities affected and the emerging notion of “climate justice.”

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [19]
Air [28]
Chemicals [3]
Climate Change [20]
Disasters [36]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [22]
Health [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
People & Population [10]
Pollution [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Alaska and Hawaii [53]
California [54]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [55]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [56]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [57]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [24]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [58]
Northwest (OR WA) [59]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [15]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [30]
International [44]
Mexico [60]
Central America & the Caribbean [61]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Environmental (In)Justice Coverage Grows, As More Media Take Note [52]
In 2019, PFAS Chemicals Will Show Up in Drinking Water … and Headlines [62]

The vast and widely used PFAS family of chemicals is causing serious worries across the country, as it turns up in more and more drinking water systems. Pressure to regulate it is also growing, but with mixed results. This week’s TipSheet offers a detailed look-ahead on this big, developing story, with a walk-through of the context, what the EPA is (and isn’t) doing, and why states are stepping up.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [19]
Air [28]
Chemicals [3]
Economy & Business [37]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Studies [21]
Government [22]
Health [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Policy [39]
Pollution [11]
Science [23]
Water & Oceans [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [55]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [57]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [58]
Northwest (OR WA) [59]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about In 2019, PFAS Chemicals Will Show Up in Drinking Water … and Headlines [62]
Bear Stories Should Go Beyond Bare Facts [63]

Bears, particularly the plentiful black bears that are the source of much human-bear conflict, can serve as a opening to larger environmental stories, such as habitat destruction and the challenges of the “wildland-urban interface.” This week’s TipSheet has some of the good news/bad news on bears, with story ideas and resources for your reporting.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [20]
Environmental Health [5]
Forests [49]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Natural Resources [38]
People & Population [10]
Wildlife [51]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Alaska and Hawaii [53]
California [54]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [55]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [56]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [24]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [58]
Northwest (OR WA) [59]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [15]
International [44]
Canada [64]
Antarctica & Arctic [65]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Bear Stories Should Go Beyond Bare Facts [63]
Wetlands Mitigation — Why Draining the Swamp Is a Local Story [66]

As the Trump administration challenges wetlands preservation policy under the Clean Water Act, an important related practice has come into question. Mitigation banking — the creation or preservation of one wetland to offset the loss of another — has become a billion-dollar industry. But as this week’s TipSheet reports, the legal and regulatory tangle aside, wetlands permitting and mitigation continues, likely near you. Tracking the local story.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Economy & Business [37]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Fish & Fisheries [48]
Government [22]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Military [67]
Natural Resources [38]
People & Population [10]
Planning & Growth [43]
Policy [39]
Water & Oceans [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Wetlands Mitigation — Why Draining the Swamp Is a Local Story [66]

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