Publication Items

An Editor’s Eye View to Successful Pitching [1]

The not-so-simple act of pitching story ideas is among the biggest challenges facing freelance environmental reporters. Is the pitch smartly targeted, thoroughly researched, well-crafted? Our new Freelance Files co-editor Marianne Messina spoke to four top-level editors at well-known outlets to get their perspectives on making a successful pitch. Learn why outlets need you, what they look for and how to avoid basic mistakes.

SEJ Publication Types:
Freelance Files [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [3]
Region:
National (U.S.) [4]
International [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about An Editor’s Eye View to Successful Pitching [1]
U.S. Fuel Exports To Profit Industry, Slam Consumers [7]

‘Energy dominance’ is a Trump catchphrase whose meaning may be vague — since the U.S. is already the world’s top producer of oil and natural gas. But one thing that does seem clear, per the new Backgrounder, is that a flood of new U.S. permits to export gas will likely mean higher energy prices for U.S. customers.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [8]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [9]
Consumer [10]
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Politics [12]
Policy [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [4]
International [5]
Canada [14]
Mexico [15]
Europe [16]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about U.S. Fuel Exports To Profit Industry, Slam Consumers [7]
‘A Myriad of Voices’ Tells of Restoring a Swamp in Crisis [17]

When a pair of journalists reported on a degraded Colombian mangrove swamp, they turned to two local fishermen to help tell the story, tapping into their experience as they worked to repair the ecosystem that fed their community. In the latest Inside Story Q&A, reporter Jacobo Patiño Giraldo explains their successful use of primary source solutions journalism.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [18]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [19]
Biodiversity [20]
Environmental Health [21]
Environmental Justice [22]
Fish & Fisheries [23]
Forests [24]
Journalism & Media [3]
Natural Resources [25]
People & Population [26]
Water & Oceans [27]
Region:
International [5]
South America [28]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about ‘A Myriad of Voices’ Tells of Restoring a Swamp in Crisis [17]
Desperately Seeking Data? OECD Has Loads [29]

If the possibility of a politically driven dearth of data for your climate and environment reporting has you on edge, the new Reporter’s Toolbox just may have something to soothe your nerves: A data source from beyond the grasp of the Trump administration and outside the boundaries of the United States. Take a quick tour of environmental data from the OECD.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [30]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [31]
Air [32]
Biodiversity [20]
Chemicals [33]
Climate Change [9]
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Studies [34]
Fish & Fisheries [23]
Health [35]
Journalism & Media [3]
Natural Resources [25]
Pollution [36]
Transportation [37]
Waste [38]
Water & Oceans [27]
Region:
National (U.S.) [4]
International [5]
Europe [16]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Desperately Seeking Data? OECD Has Loads [29]
New Angle for Reporting on Oil and Gas Industry — Radioactive Waste [39]

Industry experts and government regulators have long known that radionuclides reside in oil and natural gas. Yet radioactive emissions and waste continue to threaten the lives of workers and community members across the country. Investigative journalist Justin Nobel on the opportunities and urgent need for reporters to drill into a story steeped in questions of accountability, health and justice.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [40]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [19]
Air [32]
Chemicals [33]
Climate Change [9]
Consumer [10]
Economy & Business [41]
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Health [21]
Environmental Politics [12]
Environmental Studies [34]
Government [42]
Health [35]
Journalism & Media [3]
Laws & Regulations [43]
Natural Resources [25]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [44]
People & Population [26]
Policy [13]
Pollution [36]
Science [45]
Technology [46]
Waste [38]
Water & Oceans [27]
Region:
National (U.S.) [4]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [47]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [48]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [49]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [50]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [51]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [52]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [53]
International [5]
Canada [14]
South America [28]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about New Angle for Reporting on Oil and Gas Industry — Radioactive Waste [39]
With Climate, an Undercurrent of Violence [54]

In his ambitious first book, “The Heat and the Fury: On the Frontlines of Climate Violence,” journalist Peter Schwartzstein explores how climate change explains conflict, even war. BookShelf editor Tom Henry calls it a deeply researched volume that makes a strong case for the connections between global warming, political instability and violence, not just in poorer regions but for the richer West as well.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [55]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [9]
Disasters [56]
Environmental Health [21]
Environmental Justice [22]
Environmental Politics [12]
Government [42]
Military [57]
Natural Resources [25]
People & Population [26]
Policy [13]
Water & Oceans [27]
Region:
National (U.S.) [4]
International [5]
Africa [58]
Asia [59]
Europe [16]
Middle East [60]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about With Climate, an Undercurrent of Violence [54]
The Polar Vortex Portends … the Planting of Seeds? [61]

While extreme cold has made much news this winter, environmental journalists have another way into climate-related stories as spring approaches — through gardening. That’s because this time of year, gardeners are already buying and nursing seeds in readiness for planting. Ideas for reporting the topic, including a government plant hardiness zone map that offers a window into the climate change story, from the latest TipSheet.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [62]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [31]
Climate Change [9]
Consumer [10]
Food [63]
Journalism & Media [3]
Science [45]
Region:
National (U.S.) [4]
International [5]
Canada [14]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about The Polar Vortex Portends … the Planting of Seeds? [61]
Environmental Policies Upended, Climate Plans a Casualty As Trump Takes Power [64]

In the overview summary for our “2025 Journalists’ Guide to Environment + Energy” special report, we foresee the very real prospect that environmental protection and energy policies in place, in some cases, for decades could swiftly be swept aside by the Trump administration and a GOP-controlled Congress. Read our analysis [64], plus look back at more than three dozen stories gathered together in our ninth annual guide [65].

SEJ Publication Types:
Special Reports [66]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [9]
Energy & Fuel [11]
Environmental Justice [22]
Environmental Politics [12]
Government [42]
Health [35]
Infrastructure [67]
Journalism & Media [3]
Laws & Regulations [43]
Policy [13]
Pollution [36]
Region:
National (U.S.) [4]
International [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Environmental Policies Upended, Climate Plans a Casualty As Trump Takes Power [64]
The Forgotten Victims of Hidalgo [68]

Contaminated water sickened thousands of residents near Mexico City for 40 years — even as officials knew they were being poisoned. Then, an investigative news team turned its attention to the polluted region, and produced multiple video and text versions of an award-winning feature focused on the residents’ health, poverty and more. Read a revealing Q&A with investigative producer Carlos Carabaña in the new Inside Story.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [18]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [33]
Environmental Justice [22]
Government [42]
Health [35]
Journalism & Media [3]
People & Population [26]
Pollution [36]
Waste [38]
Water & Oceans [27]
Region:
International [5]
Mexico [15]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about The Forgotten Victims of Hidalgo [68]
AI’s Importance in Journalism and Teaching — Part 2 [69]

In Part 2 of a two-part EJ Academy, SEJournal’s Emilia Askari examines changes artificial intelligence is bringing to journalism — among them possibilities for the analysis of data, including on climate and the environment. Plus, ways to use AI tools more effectively and how to track news organizations’ response to and use of AI. Also: Part 1, AI in the classroom [70].

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ Academy [71]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [9]
Environmental Studies [34]
Journalism & Media [3]
Science [45]
Technology [46]
Region:
National (U.S.) [4]
International [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about AI’s Importance in Journalism and Teaching — Part 2 [69]

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