Publication Items

With Climate, an Undercurrent of Violence [1]

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 [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [4]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Justice [6]
Environmental Politics [7]
Government [8]
Military [9]
Natural Resources [10]
People & Population [11]
Policy [12]
Water & Oceans [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
International [15]
Africa [16]
Asia [17]
Europe [18]
Middle East [19]
Visibility:
Public [20]
- Read more about With Climate, an Undercurrent of Violence [1]
The Polar Vortex Portends … the Planting of Seeds? [21]

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 [22]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [23]
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [24]
Food [25]
Journalism & Media [26]
Science [27]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
International [15]
Canada [28]
Visibility:
Public [20]
- Read more about The Polar Vortex Portends … the Planting of Seeds? [21]
Environmental Policies Upended, Climate Plans a Casualty As Trump Takes Power [29]

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 [29], plus look back at more than three dozen stories gathered together in our ninth annual guide [30].

SEJ Publication Types:
Special Reports [31]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Energy & Fuel [32]
Environmental Justice [6]
Environmental Politics [7]
Government [8]
Health [33]
Infrastructure [34]
Journalism & Media [26]
Laws & Regulations [35]
Policy [12]
Pollution [36]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
International [15]
Visibility:
Public [20]
- Read more about Environmental Policies Upended, Climate Plans a Casualty As Trump Takes Power [29]
The Forgotten Victims of Hidalgo [37]

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 [38]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [39]
Environmental Justice [6]
Government [8]
Health [33]
Journalism & Media [26]
People & Population [11]
Pollution [36]
Waste [40]
Water & Oceans [13]
Region:
International [15]
Mexico [41]
Visibility:
Public [20]
- Read more about The Forgotten Victims of Hidalgo [37]
AI’s Importance in Journalism and Teaching — Part 2 [42]

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 [43].

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ Academy [44]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Studies [45]
Journalism & Media [26]
Science [27]
Technology [46]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
International [15]
Visibility:
Public [20]
- Read more about AI’s Importance in Journalism and Teaching — Part 2 [42]
The Bounty of the Gift Economy [47]

Bestselling Indigenous botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer, in her new book, exalts a simple berry that helps sustain the life around it, and in doing so exemplifies the economic power of giving. “The Serviceberry” explores the traditions of the gift economy and its potential to be nurtured alongside the market economy. The latest BookShelf from contributor Jenny Weeks.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [23]
Consumer [24]
Economy & Business [48]
Food [25]
People & Population [11]
Policy [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
International [15]
Visibility:
Public [20]
- Read more about The Bounty of the Gift Economy [47]
Communities at Risk Are Climate Stories Too [49]

As environmental journalists scramble to cover dizzying changes in climate and energy policy under the new administration, columnist Yessenia Funes offers an admonition: Do not forget about those whose human rights are being targeted by Trump, and look to connect the changing planet with changes felt by threatened communities. The new Voices of Environmental Justice on exiting the echo chamber.

SEJ Publication Types:
Voices of Environmental Justice [50]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [51]
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [4]
Environmental Justice [6]
Environmental Politics [7]
Government [8]
Health [33]
Journalism & Media [26]
People & Population [11]
Policy [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
International [15]
Visibility:
Public [20]
- Read more about Communities at Risk Are Climate Stories Too [49]
Telling the Stories of the Silent Sentinels [52]

To many, plants are a merely green backdrop, indistinguishable and inconsequential. But, freelancer Karen Mockler says that such “plant blindness” belies an urgent need for our notice. More than a third of the world’s trees and thousands of other plant species face extinction. Their plight — and their many blessings — offer perceptive journalists a wealth of reporting and storytelling opportunities. Mockler on why to write about plants.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [53]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [23]
Air [54]
Biodiversity [55]
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Justice [6]
Environmental Politics [7]
Environmental Studies [45]
Food [25]
Forests [56]
Government [8]
Health [33]
Journalism & Media [26]
Laws & Regulations [35]
Natural Resources [10]
Pollution [36]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [57]
Science [27]
Water & Oceans [13]
Wildlife [58]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
California [59]
Northwest (OR WA) [60]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [61]
International [15]
Canada [28]
Visibility:
Public [20]
- Read more about Telling the Stories of the Silent Sentinels [52]
Assessing AI’s Importance in Journalism and Teaching — Part 1 [43]

Like with any new technology, the future of artificial intelligence in the newsroom and the classroom inspired excitement and fear for one journalism educator. But after experimenting with it at the University of Michigan, EJ Academy co-editor Emilia Askari gained practical insight into its smart use for teaching young reporters. Lessons on AI journalism, in Part 1 of a two-part series [42].

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ Academy [44]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [26]
Technology [46]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
International [15]
Visibility:
Public [20]
- Read more about Assessing AI’s Importance in Journalism and Teaching — Part 1 [43]
To Give a Goldfish Agency — The Joys (and Perils) of Writing on Nonhuman Life [62]

Stories focused on nonhuman animals are a quintessential part of environmental journalism. But how writers approach these stories is evolving, in step with changing views about animal consciousness and agency. Science journalist and author Karen Pinchin explores this trend and talks about anthropomorphism, anthropodenialism, metaphors, language, writing from the perspective of animal protagonists and more.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [53]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [55]
Journalism & Media [26]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [57]
Science [27]
Water & Oceans [13]
Wildlife [58]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
International [15]
Visibility:
Public [20]
- Read more about To Give a Goldfish Agency — The Joys (and Perils) of Writing on Nonhuman Life [62]

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