Publication Items

On the Persistence of Ocean Plastics [1]

Concerns about seaborne plastic waste go back decades, but science writer Juli Berwald suggests that myths and disinformation about sources and solutions continue to cloud the waters. From lentil-sized nurdles to sprawling fishing nets, 200 million tons of plastic now fill the ocean and, for her, it has become evident that the ocean plastics story is really a land story. But will the newly signed international treaty on plastics offer relief?

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Biodiversity [4]
Chemicals [5]
Climate Change [6]
Consumer [7]
Economy & Business [8]
Energy & Fuel [9]
Environmental Health [10]
Environmental Studies [11]
Fish & Fisheries [12]
Government [13]
Infrastructure [14]
Journalism & Media [15]
Laws & Regulations [16]
Natural Resources [17]
Policy [18]
Pollution [19]
Science [20]
Technology [21]
Waste [22]
Water & Oceans [23]
Wildlife [24]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
Alaska and Hawaii [26]
California [27]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [28]
Northwest (OR WA) [29]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [30]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [31]
International [32]
Mexico [33]
Africa [34]
Asia [35]
Europe [36]
Visibility:
Public [37]
- Read more about On the Persistence of Ocean Plastics [1]
Toolbox on Nature-Based Solutions and Native/Indigenous Perspectives [38]

As concerns over global warming, the endangerment of plant and animal species, and water rights escalate, many environmentalists are turning to Indigenous people for guidance. As part of a Society of Environmental Journalists special initiative focused on covering climate solutions, we take a closer look at nature-based solutions and Indigenous people with reporter Brian Bull. Check out a resource toolbox and stay tuned for a reporting tipsheet in coming weeks. Plus, be sure to register for a Sept. 28 webinar [39] on covering Indigenous communities and nature-based climate solutions.

SEJ Publication Types:
Special Reports [40]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Agriculture [41]
Biodiversity [4]
Climate Change [6]
Diversity [42]
Energy & Fuel [9]
Environmental Health [10]
Environmental Justice [43]
Environmental Politics [44]
Fish & Fisheries [12]
Food [45]
Forests [46]
Government [13]
Health [47]
Natural Resources [17]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [48]
People & Population [49]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [50]
Technology [21]
Waste [22]
Water & Oceans [23]
Wildlife [24]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
International [32]
Visibility:
Public [37]
- Read more about Toolbox on Nature-Based Solutions and Native/Indigenous Perspectives [38]
Author Shares Unorthodox Look at the Ways of Water [51]

How water moves through the global ecosystem and shapes our landscapes is the subject of a must-read new book by writer Erica Gies, according to BookShelf editor Tom Henry. A significant part of water’s story is how humanity invariably fails when trying to manipulate it. But hope may reside with Gies’ various “water detectives,” who explore how to “let water go where it wants to go.”

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [52]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [6]
Environmental Health [10]
Natural Resources [17]
Water & Oceans [23]
Wildlife [24]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
California [27]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [53]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [54]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [30]
International [32]
Canada [55]
Africa [34]
Asia [35]
Europe [36]
Middle East [56]
South America [57]
Visibility:
Public [37]
- Read more about Author Shares Unorthodox Look at the Ways of Water [51]
Fill Your Plate With Chicken Stories [58]

Chicken production in the United States is a colossal industry controlled by a few vertically integrated companies. On a much smaller scale, it’s also heritage breeds and increasingly popular backyard flocks. As the latest avian flu outbreak makes headlines, journalist Christine Heinrichs looks at environmental reporting opportunities related to poultry pathogens, pollution and more.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [41]
Biodiversity [4]
Consumer [7]
Economy & Business [8]
Environmental Health [10]
Food [45]
Government [13]
Health [47]
Journalism & Media [15]
Laws & Regulations [16]
Policy [18]
Pollution [19]
Science [20]
Waste [22]
Water & Oceans [23]
Wildlife [24]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
California [27]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [54]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [59]
Visibility:
Public [37]
- Read more about Fill Your Plate With Chicken Stories [58]
Reporter Navigates Ethical Questions in Project on Endangered Species, Free Markets [60]

Rare parrots, captured in the wild and relocated to a European zoo, are at the heart of an award-winning feature that explores the role of private actors in conservation. Journalist Brendan Borrell (pictured, left) talks about the ethical concerns raised by the controversial figure at the heart of his Audubon Magazine piece, and offers advice on making the most of having an investigation scooped.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [61]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Biodiversity [4]
Environmental Health [10]
Environmental Justice [43]
Environmental Politics [44]
Journalism & Media [15]
Wildlife [24]
Region:
International [32]
Central America & the Caribbean [62]
Europe [36]
Visibility:
Public [37]
- Read more about Reporter Navigates Ethical Questions in Project on Endangered Species, Free Markets [60]
Following Nature on a Transformative Journey Away From the Mean Streets of D.C. [63]

As a young man, Rodney Stotts knew plenty about drugs, guns and poverty and little about the other kinds of wildlife in his hometown. A chance offer of a job cleaning up Washington, D.C.’s Anacostia River set him on the path to becoming a master falconer — despite racist resistance — and a mentor to others who share his inner-city roots. BookShelf’s Jennifer Weeks reviews Stotts’ memoir, “Bird Brother.”

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [52]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Diversity [42]
Pollution [19]
Water & Oceans [23]
Wildlife [24]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [59]
Visibility:
Public [37]
- Read more about Following Nature on a Transformative Journey Away From the Mean Streets of D.C. [63]
WTO Deal on Fishing Subsidies May Reduce Ocean Overfishing [64]

A new World Trade Organization agreement to limit global overfishing may yield important stories for environmental journalists, as billions of people around the world rely on already heavily exploited fish stocks as their main source of protein. This Backgrounder offers details on the pact and how it tries to address the problem, while providing resources for your reporting.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [65]
Topics on the Beat:
Economy & Business [8]
Environmental Health [10]
Environmental Justice [43]
Environmental Politics [44]
Fish & Fisheries [12]
Food [45]
Government [13]
Journalism & Media [15]
Laws & Regulations [16]
Natural Resources [17]
Policy [18]
Water & Oceans [23]
Wildlife [24]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
International [32]
Asia [35]
Europe [36]
Visibility:
Public [37]
- Read more about WTO Deal on Fishing Subsidies May Reduce Ocean Overfishing [64]
Covering Sharks in Shark Week's Wake — You're Gonna Need a Bigger Meme [66]

Despite how it looks on annual summer “shark attack”-style TV programming, the danger sharks represent to humans is dwarfed by the danger we represent to sharks. The latest TipSheet explores how mass media can distort the reality behind sharks and miss the point of their ecological value — and sheer wonder. Get ideas to better report the real story behind sharks.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [67]
Topics on the Beat:
Fish & Fisheries [12]
Journalism & Media [15]
Water & Oceans [23]
Wildlife [24]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
International [32]
Visibility:
Public [37]
- Read more about Covering Sharks in Shark Week's Wake — You're Gonna Need a Bigger Meme [66]
‘Big Fish’ Report Hooks Prize With Look at Aquaculture and Environment [68]

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 [61]
Topics on the Beat:
Economy & Business [8]
Environmental Health [10]
Environmental Justice [43]
Fish & Fisheries [12]
Food [45]
Journalism & Media [15]
Natural Resources [17]
People & Population [49]
Water & Oceans [23]
Wildlife [24]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
International [32]
Asia [35]
Visibility:
Public [37]
- Read more about ‘Big Fish’ Report Hooks Prize With Look at Aquaculture and Environment [68]
An Endless ‘Silent Spring’? Find Out on a Spring Walk (With the Birders) [69]

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 [67]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [4]
Chemicals [5]
Climate Change [6]
Diversity [42]
Environmental Health [10]
Journalism & Media [15]
Wildlife [24]
Region:
National (U.S.) [25]
International [32]
Canada [55]
Visibility:
Public [37]
- Read more about An Endless ‘Silent Spring’? Find Out on a Spring Walk (With the Birders) [69]

Pages