Publication Items

Courage and Caring — Documentary Celebrates Environmental Icon Stewart Udall [1]

While the name of Stewart Udall, U.S. interior secretary through the tumultuous 1960s, may have faded from public memory, his influence on environmental policies is still felt today. Contributor Francesca Lyman shines the spotlight on a new documentary about Udall and his legacy, and talks with director John de Graaf about Udall’s insights and inspiration.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [3]
Biodiversity [4]
Climate Change [5]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Justice [8]
Environmental Politics [9]
Environmental Studies [10]
Forests [11]
Government [12]
Infrastructure [13]
Journalism & Media [14]
Laws & Regulations [15]
Natural Resources [16]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [17]
Policy [18]
Pollution [19]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [20]
Transportation [21]
Water & Oceans [22]
Wildlife [23]
Region:
National (U.S.) [24]
California [25]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [26]
Northwest (OR WA) [27]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [28]
International [29]
Central America & the Caribbean [30]
Visibility:
Public [31]
- Read more about Courage and Caring — Documentary Celebrates Environmental Icon Stewart Udall [1]
Clearing the Smoke — Collaboration Exposes Impacts of Wildfire Pollution-Reporting Rules [32]

Climate change is fueling the frequency and severity of wildfires, but a little-known Clean Air Act rule lets environmental agencies downplay the impacts of wildfire smoke. A collaborative investigation into this loophole connected dots that even the experts didn’t know about. Journalists Dillon Bergin and Molly Peterson explain their reporting process and offer advice for following your own local leads.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [3]
Climate Change [5]
Disasters [33]
Environmental Health [7]
Government [12]
Health [34]
Journalism & Media [14]
Laws & Regulations [15]
Pollution [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [24]
Alaska and Hawaii [35]
California [25]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [36]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [37]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [38]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [26]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [39]
Northwest (OR WA) [27]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [40]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [28]
Visibility:
Public [31]
- Read more about Clearing the Smoke — Collaboration Exposes Impacts of Wildfire Pollution-Reporting Rules [32]
Reporting on Environmental Solutions and Equity — at a Watershed Scale [41]

Reporting on interconnected ecosystems lends itself to better environmental stories, and so tracing how water moves across landscapes, communities, industries and regulatory schemes can help the public connect the dots. That’s how Annie Ropeik, who helps run the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk, sees the watershed beat. She shares expert views and offers insights for environment journalists to use in their reporting.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [42]
Agriculture [43]
Climate Change [5]
Diversity [44]
Economy & Business [45]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Justice [8]
Environmental Politics [9]
Environmental Studies [10]
Government [12]
Health [34]
Infrastructure [13]
Journalism & Media [14]
Laws & Regulations [15]
Natural Resources [16]
Planning & Growth [46]
Policy [18]
Pollution [19]
Water & Oceans [22]
Region:
National (U.S.) [24]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [36]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [37]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [26]
Northwest (OR WA) [27]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [40]
International [29]
Canada [47]
Visibility:
Public [31]
- Read more about Reporting on Environmental Solutions and Equity — at a Watershed Scale [41]
Heat Warning — Expect Extreme Temps To Be Local Story This Summer [48]

Some areas of the United States are hot and getting hotter, thanks to climate change and now the coming El Niño. But some areas have little history with extreme temperatures — and those places are among the ones to watch this summer for local and regional reporting. Plus, who are the most vulnerable in your community when it comes to heat waves?

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [49]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [5]
Disasters [33]
Environmental Justice [8]
Health [34]
Journalism & Media [14]
People & Population [50]
Region:
National (U.S.) [24]
California [25]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [36]
Northwest (OR WA) [27]
International [29]
Visibility:
Public [31]
- Read more about Heat Warning — Expect Extreme Temps To Be Local Story This Summer [48]
Why Journalists Should Investigate the Twin Mental Health and Climate Crises [51]

The complicated interplay between climate change and trauma, poorly understood and little covered, is holding back the response by individuals and communities to the realities of the climate crisis, argues the head of a network of mental health and other organizations. Here’s what he has found when it comes to how climate-generated anguish is blocking climate solutions and what can be done about it.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [42]
Climate Change [5]
Disasters [33]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Justice [8]
Health [34]
Policy [18]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [20]
Region:
National (U.S.) [24]
California [25]
Northwest (OR WA) [27]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [40]
International [29]
Canada [47]
Visibility:
Public [31]
- Read more about Why Journalists Should Investigate the Twin Mental Health and Climate Crises [51]
2023 Gathering Goes Big in Boise [52]

The Society of Environmental Journalists’ annual conference is back to Boise, two-and-a-half years after the first attempt to meet in the mountainous Northwestern state was sidetracked by the COVID pandemic. Co-chairs Tom Michael and Christy George outline the rich schedule of plenaries, panels, tours and other events that are drawing record interest to the April 19-23 program.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [53]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [43]
Biodiversity [4]
Climate Change [5]
Diversity [44]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Politics [9]
Fish & Fisheries [54]
Forests [11]
Government [12]
Journalism & Media [14]
Natural Resources [16]
Policy [18]
Water & Oceans [22]
Wildlife [23]
Region:
National (U.S.) [24]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [37]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [26]
Northwest (OR WA) [27]
Visibility:
Public [31]
- Read more about 2023 Gathering Goes Big in Boise [52]
What Will It Take for Geothermal To Heat Up the Renewable Energy Sector? [55]

Geothermal has long been hyped as the next big thing in renewable energy, but its breakthrough moment hasn’t happened yet. Barriers to expansion include the elusiveness of sites offering the magic trio of heat, water and permeability and concern for unique ecosystems. Contributor Jessica McKenzie on geothermal energy’s possibilities and challenges and the government funding that may finally fire it up.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [4]
Climate Change [5]
Economy & Business [45]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Government [12]
Natural Resources [16]
Science [56]
Technology [57]
Wildlife [23]
Region:
National (U.S.) [24]
California [25]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [26]
Northwest (OR WA) [27]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [28]
International [29]
Australia & Oceania [58]
Europe [59]
Middle East [60]
Visibility:
Public [31]
- Read more about What Will It Take for Geothermal To Heat Up the Renewable Energy Sector? [55]
SEJ Panel Gauges Issues in the Works in the U.S. West [61]

As part of our 2023 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment special report, we’ve got highlights from last week’s reporter panel on the year ahead, led by #SEJ2023 conference co-chair Tom Michael (pictured, left). The focus was largely on the U.S. West, where challenges abound over issues like equitable siting of renewable energy infrastructure, regulating natural gas, managing wildfires and addressing the health consequences of climate-driven heat waves. Read our account [61], plus check out the full 2023 Guide [62].

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [53]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [43]
Air [3]
Biodiversity [4]
Climate Change [5]
Disasters [33]
Economy & Business [45]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Justice [8]
Environmental Politics [9]
Fish & Fisheries [54]
Food [63]
Forests [11]
Government [12]
Health [34]
Infrastructure [13]
Journalism & Media [14]
Natural Resources [16]
People & Population [50]
Planning & Growth [46]
Policy [18]
Pollution [19]
Water & Oceans [22]
Wildlife [23]
Region:
California [25]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [26]
Northwest (OR WA) [27]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [28]
Visibility:
Public [31]
- Read more about SEJ Panel Gauges Issues in the Works in the U.S. West [61]
Cascadia Bioregion Rife With Energy, Environment Troubles To Report in 2023 [64]

Iconic critters like salmon, orca and wolves. Climate controversies like natural gas greenwashing and carbon auctions. And wildfire fallout like “smoke-a-geddon.” These are just some of the wide array of stories worth covering as environmental journalists scan Cascadia, the huge area encompassing Washington, Oregon and Idaho, and stretching from Alaska to Utah. This special TipSheet, part of our 2023 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment, outlines top issues in the region, offering insights, resources and story angles.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [49]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [42]
Agriculture [43]
Air [3]
Biodiversity [4]
Climate Change [5]
Consumer [65]
Disasters [33]
Diversity [44]
Economy & Business [45]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Justice [8]
Environmental Politics [9]
Environmental Studies [10]
Fish & Fisheries [54]
Food [63]
Forests [11]
Government [12]
Health [34]
Infrastructure [13]
Journalism & Media [14]
Laws & Regulations [15]
Natural Resources [16]
Planning & Growth [46]
Policy [18]
Pollution [19]
Transportation [21]
Waste [66]
Water & Oceans [22]
Wildlife [23]
Region:
National (U.S.) [24]
Alaska and Hawaii [35]
California [25]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [26]
Northwest (OR WA) [27]
International [29]
Canada [47]
Visibility:
Public [31]
- Read more about Cascadia Bioregion Rife With Energy, Environment Troubles To Report in 2023 [64]
2023 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment [62]

SEJournal looks ahead to key issues in the coming year with this “2023 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment” special report. Check out the guide’s various TipSheets and Backgrounders, an overview analysis and a report from a year-ahead panel, as well as a special look at environmental issues in the Pacific Northwest.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [53]
Region:
National (U.S.) [24]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [26]
Northwest (OR WA) [27]
Visibility:
Public [31]
- Read more about 2023 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment [62]

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