Publication Items

Rockets and Bombs and Chemicals — The Environmental Horrors of War [1]

With the world in the midst of wars in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, it’s time for journalists to appraise — and report on — the intersection of conflict and the environment, argues the new Backgrounder. That means considering the environment not only as a victim of war, but also as the cause of war and a means of carrying it out.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [3]
Climate Change [4]
Disasters [5]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Politics [7]
Government [8]
Health [9]
Journalism & Media [10]
Military [11]
People & Population [12]
Policy [13]
Water & Oceans [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [16]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [17]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [18]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [19]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [20]
International [21]
Africa [22]
Asia [23]
Europe [24]
Middle East [25]
Visibility:
Public [26]
- Read more about Rockets and Bombs and Chemicals — The Environmental Horrors of War [1]
What’s Ahead on Climate Justice, Climate Crisis Beat [27]

What environment stories will matter most in 2024 to communities of color and Indigenous communities? Columnist Yessenia Funes sheds light on concerns ranging from the environmental damage in Gaza and extreme weather across the United States to the fallout from the U.S. presidential election to the local impacts of the clean energy transition. Insights in the latest Voices of Environmental Justice.

SEJ Publication Types:
Voices of Environmental Justice [28]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [29]
Climate Change [4]
Disasters [5]
Diversity [30]
Economy & Business [31]
Energy & Fuel [32]
Environmental Justice [33]
Environmental Politics [7]
Government [8]
Health [9]
Infrastructure [34]
Journalism & Media [10]
Military [11]
People & Population [12]
Planning & Growth [35]
Policy [13]
Pollution [36]
Water & Oceans [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Alaska and Hawaii [37]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [19]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [20]
International [21]
Middle East [25]
Visibility:
Public [26]
- Read more about What’s Ahead on Climate Justice, Climate Crisis Beat [27]
Neither Pandemic Nor Politics Derailed Grantee’s Trophy Hunting Story [38]

When freelancer Rachel Nuwer decided to tackle a controversial story about trophy hunting and wildlife conservation she confronted not only tricky logistics and demanding field work, but last-minute publication conflicts and the COVID-19 pandemic. But with a grant and an understanding editor, she got her clip and a new commitment to continue covering similarly challenging topics. Nuwer shares her experience in the new FEJ StoryLog.

SEJ Publication Types:
FEJ StoryLog [39]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [29]
Biodiversity [40]
Economy & Business [31]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Politics [7]
Journalism & Media [10]
Wildlife [41]
Region:
International [21]
Africa [22]
Visibility:
Public [26]
- Read more about Neither Pandemic Nor Politics Derailed Grantee’s Trophy Hunting Story [38]
Environmental Digital Storytelling — A Best-in-Show Sampler [42]

As part of its periodic survey of the compelling work by digital journalists using data and multimedia, Reporter’s Toolbox looks at some favorite projects in the last year or so. On the list are granular maps and spinning globes, compelling photo essays and clickable storytelling. But the heart of the best digital journalism, Toolbox reminds us, is that it matters. And these do.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [43]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [44]
Chemicals [3]
Climate Change [4]
Diversity [30]
Environmental Justice [33]
Fish & Fisheries [45]
Food [46]
Health [9]
Infrastructure [34]
Journalism & Media [10]
Natural Resources [47]
People & Population [12]
Pollution [36]
Water & Oceans [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [19]
International [21]
Canada [48]
Africa [22]
Asia [23]
Europe [24]
Visibility:
Public [26]
- Read more about Environmental Digital Storytelling — A Best-in-Show Sampler [42]
Climate Health Impacts Can Multiply Local Story Possibilities [49]

The connection between global warming and human health is worrying many public health experts, as some climate change-induced ecological shifts have worsened the potential spread of infectious diseases, including in North America. The latest TipSheet takes a closer look at a half-dozen climate-related diseases that environmental journalists might watch for local and regional stories. Plus, resources to report on the issue.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [50]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [4]
Health [9]
People & Population [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
International [21]
Visibility:
Public [26]
- Read more about Climate Health Impacts Can Multiply Local Story Possibilities [49]
Self-Censorship Is Still Hiding in the Closet [51]

While government censorship may worry journalists, so should self-censorship. That’s the warning in this month’s WatchDog Opinion, whether self-censorship’s “chilling effect” is driven by fears of attack, legal or physical, or by distortions in what it means to be fair, a “bothsidesism” usually pushed by one-sided players. But the bottom line, the column argues, is that when the truth is knowable and known, journalists owe it to their audiences to make the call.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [52]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
International [21]
Visibility:
Public [26]
- Read more about Self-Censorship Is Still Hiding in the Closet [51]
Student Journalists Show the Way on Data With Methane Flaring Project [53]

The global warming gas methane was much in the news at the start of the just-ended COP28 climate meeting, with a final Biden administration rule to trim releases by the fossil fuel industry. But when it comes to good journalism on the problem, the latest Reporter’s Toolbox spotlights the work of a team of journalism students who used sophisticated satellite data to tell the story of underreported methane flaring at drilling sites.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [43]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [54]
Climate Change [4]
Energy & Fuel [32]
Journalism & Media [10]
Pollution [36]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [17]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [18]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [20]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [55]
International [21]
Visibility:
Public [26]
- Read more about Student Journalists Show the Way on Data With Methane Flaring Project [53]
Reporter Unravels Complex Dynamic Between Climate Change and Nature [56]

Nature-based climate solutions have become a much-talked-of topic, one that journalist Gabriel Popkin turned into a loose beat through which to explore the complicated realities beyond some easy narratives. The resulting stories were published widely to high praise, and in the latest Inside Story Q&A, Popkin spoke about his efforts and offered up five critical factors for producing original, impactful journalism.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [57]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [44]
Climate Change [4]
Economy & Business [31]
Energy & Fuel [32]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Justice [33]
Environmental Studies [58]
Forests [59]
Journalism & Media [10]
Natural Resources [47]
Planning & Growth [35]
Policy [13]
Science [60]
Technology [61]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [62]
International [21]
Europe [24]
Visibility:
Public [26]
- Read more about Reporter Unravels Complex Dynamic Between Climate Change and Nature [56]
How the Simple Backyard Bird Feeder Can Lift Local Environment Reporting [63]

If a remedy for global environmental woes is needed, look no farther than the feathered creatures that flit colorfully about the local winter landscape, drawn by feeders multiplied by the lockdown. The new TipSheet explores how backyard birding offers opportunities for how-to or why-to stories that can offer deeper ecological insights. Ten story ideas and a half-dozen resources to get you started.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [50]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [10]
Wildlife [41]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
International [21]
Canada [48]
Visibility:
Public [26]
- Read more about How the Simple Backyard Bird Feeder Can Lift Local Environment Reporting [63]
What Francis' Latest Climate Text Means for Upcoming UN Summit [64]

Pope Francis’ planned history-making trip to the latest global climate conference has been thwarted by illness. But his passionate advocacy for the environment still will be felt through his hot-off-the-press apostolic exhortation about the climate crisis. National Catholic Reporter’s environment correspondent Brian Roewe unpacks the pope’s new eco-document and explains how it relates to international climate diplomacy at and beyond Dubai.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [65]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [29]
Climate Change [4]
Environmental Justice [33]
Environmental Politics [7]
Government [8]
Natural Resources [47]
Policy [13]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [66]
Science [60]
Technology [61]
Region:
International [21]
Europe [24]
Middle East [25]
Visibility:
Public [26]
- Read more about What Francis' Latest Climate Text Means for Upcoming UN Summit [64]

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