Publication Items

To-Do List for Climate Change Gas Methane Is Long, Challenging … and Newsy [1]

The climate change gas methane, relatively little controlled but with a global warming potential many times that of carbon dioxide, has been much in the news recently and promises to remain there. The latest Backgrounder helps environmental journalists track the problem by detailing methane’s sources — from oil and gas production, agriculture and landfills — and the politics surrounding its regulation.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Air [4]
Chemicals [5]
Climate Change [6]
Economy & Business [7]
Energy & Fuel [8]
Environmental Politics [9]
Government [10]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Policy [13]
Pollution [14]
Waste [15]
Region:
National (U.S.) [16]
International [17]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about To-Do List for Climate Change Gas Methane Is Long, Challenging … and Newsy [1]
Native Tribal Nations Push for Changes in Public Lands [19]

As Native tribal nations successfully exert ancestral rights to land stewardship across the West, journalists covering these developments must first grasp the legal principles that underpin Native governmental sovereignty. But also key is to create and sustain relationships with Native community members. Veteran environment and Indigenous affairs reporter Debra Krol lays out the basics for effective reporting from Indian Country.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [20]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [21]
Climate Change [6]
Environmental Politics [9]
Fish & Fisheries [22]
Government [10]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
People & Population [23]
Policy [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [16]
International [17]
Canada [24]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Native Tribal Nations Push for Changes in Public Lands [19]
Wastewater Ponds Often a Local Story Worth Stirring Up [25]

The tale of a toxic wastewater pit menacing a Florida community is a story that could be told in communities around the nation. As the latest TipSheet warns, these waste sites can turn into ticking time bombs. But in reporting the story locally, the first thing to know is which of the many kinds of wastewater ponds to look for. Here’s a rundown.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [26]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Chemicals [5]
Disasters [27]
Health [28]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Pollution [14]
Waste [15]
Region:
National (U.S.) [16]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [29]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [30]
International [17]
Canada [24]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Wastewater Ponds Often a Local Story Worth Stirring Up [25]
“Eating Wild Japan: Tracking the Culture of Foraged Foods, With a Guide to Plants and Recipes” [31]

A world of unique, foraged foods is at the heart of a new book, “Eating Wild Japan: Tracking the Culture of Foraged Foods, With a Guide to Plants and Recipes,” that also delves into what is being lost with large-scale farming. Our BookShelf reviewer Melody Kemp shares the joys and the worries recounted by the author, long-time SEJer Winifred Bird.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [32]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Consumer [33]
Food [34]
Journalism & Media [11]
Region:
International [17]
Asia [35]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about “Eating Wild Japan: Tracking the Culture of Foraged Foods, With a Guide to Plants and Recipes” [31]
Does Climate’s Future Depend on Better Batteries? [36]

The path of our planetary climate may depend largely on our transition away from energy sources that cause global warming. And that, in turn, may rely on one thing: improved batteries. The new Backgrounder explores the future of energy storage — how batteries work, the progress the technology has made and the brutal battery competition ahead between the United States and China.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [6]
Consumer [33]
Economy & Business [7]
Energy & Fuel [8]
Environmental Politics [9]
Science [37]
Technology [38]
Transportation [39]
Region:
National (U.S.) [16]
International [17]
Asia [35]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Does Climate’s Future Depend on Better Batteries? [36]
Cruising EPA’s CompTox Chemicals Dashboard [40]

A massive database of databases maintained by EPA tracks more than 800,000 chemicals. And while CompTox is highly technical, it’s the source for important developments that environmental journalists need to know about, among them exploring whole classes of toxic chemicals, and understanding how big data and AI is transforming their regulation. Plus, alternate sources of chemical data for your reporting needs.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [41]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [5]
Environmental Studies [42]
Science [37]
Technology [38]
Region:
National (U.S.) [16]
International [17]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Cruising EPA’s CompTox Chemicals Dashboard [40]
Quagga Mussels — Worse Than Zebra Mussels and Maybe Headed Your Way [43]

An invasive species of mussel — no, not zebra mussels, but quagga mussels — are wreaking havoc not just in the Great Lakes, but have now spread through the Mississippi and Colorado basins, as far west as Lake Mead. The latest TipSheet runs down the extent of the problem, how quaggas may be even worse than zebra mussels, and ideas for reporting on your local waterways.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [26]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Health [44]
Fish & Fisheries [22]
Water & Oceans [45]
Wildlife [46]
Region:
National (U.S.) [16]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [47]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [48]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [49]
International [17]
Canada [24]
Europe [50]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Quagga Mussels — Worse Than Zebra Mussels and Maybe Headed Your Way [43]
“What Bears Teach Us” [51]

Bears are incredibly complex animals with much to teach humans, writes the author of a new volume on grizzlies, black and polar bears. Our BookShelf review calls the text, which also integrates striking photographs, highly scientific yet accessible, and suggests it might go a long way to helping not just to understand bears, but improve their odds of survival.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [32]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [6]
Environmental Studies [42]
Science [37]
Wildlife [46]
Region:
International [17]
Canada [24]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about “What Bears Teach Us” [51]
“The Last Lions of Africa: Stories From the Frontline in the Battle To Save a Species” [52]

A straightforward but passionate new book explores efforts to save the big cat from extinction in “The Last Lions of Africa.” Our BookShelf review lauds the author for making clear the species’ complexity and the damage done by “sustainable” practices such as trophy hunting. And the loss ends not just with the lions. Read our review for the bigger picture.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [32]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [53]
Environmental Politics [9]
People & Population [23]
Wildlife [46]
Region:
International [17]
Africa [54]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about “The Last Lions of Africa: Stories From the Frontline in the Battle To Save a Species” [52]
Grant Helps Chart Illegal Rosewood’s 10,000-Mile Journey [55]

Two young journalists collaborated from continents apart — with the help of a Society of Environmental Journalists grant — to report on illicit trade in a highly prized timber. A new entry in our recently launched StoryLog column captures the whole process, from the spark of an idea, through research, a winning grant proposal, field reporting and published stories. Plus, lessons learned.

SEJ Publication Types:
FEJ StoryLog [56]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [21]
Biodiversity [53]
Environmental Politics [9]
Forests [57]
Journalism & Media [11]
Natural Resources [58]
Region:
International [17]
Africa [54]
Asia [35]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Grant Helps Chart Illegal Rosewood’s 10,000-Mile Journey [55]

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