Publication Items

Reporting Innovations Hold Promise for Reporting on Climate Change Amid News Deserts [1]

Slashed news budgets and staff cuts have left many U.S. newsrooms short on time and resources for deep reporting on climate change and other complex topics. But two innovative projects at The Post and Courier in South Carolina — one enriching breaking news stories and the other fostering news outlet cooperation — aim at filling the void. Acclaimed journalist Tony Bartelme explains.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [4]
Environmental Health [5]
Government [6]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Policy [9]
Pollution [10]
Waste [11]
Water & Oceans [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [14]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about Reporting Innovations Hold Promise for Reporting on Climate Change Amid News Deserts [1]
Pulitzer Finalist on an Estuary’s Tale, and Stories Hiding in Plain Sight [16]

Prize-winning journalist Tony Bartelme and his local news team enter one of the East Coast’s largest, but lesser known estuaries, and come out with an account that awards judges called “gorgeously executed in the best tradition of storytelling about the environment.” Bartelme shares lessons of covering the challenges of an amorphous ecosystem, and touches on his long record of award-winning reporting, in the latest Inside Story.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [17]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Justice [18]
Journalism & Media [7]
Water & Oceans [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [14]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about Pulitzer Finalist on an Estuary’s Tale, and Stories Hiding in Plain Sight [16]
Covering New IPCC Reports Helps Explain Gravity of Climate Crisis [19]

A new science assessment released this week pinpoints more global warming risks, but also represents reporting challenges to environmental journalists working to cover climate change. Veteran climate journalist Bob Berwyn has the latest news from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and advice for reporters working the climate beat. Plus, links to other climate change reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [20]
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [4]
Energy & Fuel [21]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Justice [18]
Environmental Politics [22]
Environmental Studies [23]
Forests [24]
Government [6]
Health [25]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Planning & Growth [26]
Policy [9]
Science [27]
Transportation [28]
Water & Oceans [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
International [29]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about Covering New IPCC Reports Helps Explain Gravity of Climate Crisis [19]
As Climate Change Brings Extreme Heat Events, Human Health Is a Casualty [30]

With heat waves driven by global warming pounding parts of the western United States this summer, environmental journalists mustn’t overlook the toll on especially vulnerable populations, among them disadvantaged groups, the elderly, those in low-income housing and more. The latest Issue Backgrounder helps reporters understand heat’s health effects, track heat-vulnerable populations and clarifies how communities can prepare and prevent the worst public health impacts.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [31]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [32]
Disasters [4]
Environmental Justice [18]
Environmental Politics [22]
Health [25]
Infrastructure [33]
Journalism & Media [7]
People & Population [34]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Alaska and Hawaii [35]
California [36]
Northwest (OR WA) [37]
International [29]
Canada [38]
Europe [39]
Middle East [40]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about As Climate Change Brings Extreme Heat Events, Human Health Is a Casualty [30]
Tree Equity Score Offers Aid in Covering Urban Tree Issues [41]

Urban tree cover is no luxury, but rather an important environmental and public health necessity. And for years the lack of urban trees has harmed socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. To help report on tree cover in U.S. urban areas — and to track it against environmental justice measures — the latest Reporter’s Toolbox spotlights an extensive tree equity scoring database.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [42]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Justice [18]
Health [25]
Journalism & Media [7]
People & Population [34]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about Tree Equity Score Offers Aid in Covering Urban Tree Issues [41]
Solar Panel Stories Can Shine for Local, Regional Reporters [43]

As the solar panel business resurges, the wide scope of possible regional and local story angles — climate, tech, consumer, business, jobs, air quality and grid reliability — make bright prospects for journalists. The latest TipSheet sets out recent political and market developments, along with more than a dozen story ideas and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [44]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [32]
Economy & Business [45]
Energy & Fuel [21]
Environmental Politics [22]
Government [6]
Infrastructure [33]
Journalism & Media [7]
Natural Resources [46]
Policy [9]
Technology [47]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
International [29]
Asia [48]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about Solar Panel Stories Can Shine for Local, Regional Reporters [43]
Irrigation Districts Are Key to Covering Coming Drought [49]

With megadrought a growing reality, one way into the story is through ubiquitous water management agencies. TipSheet surveys the “waterscape” of these governmental bodies — from local irrigation districts to multi-state regional water compacts — and how focusing on them can yield vital insights for drought stories. Plus, questions to ask and links to reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [44]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [20]
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [32]
Disasters [4]
Environmental Health [5]
Environmental Politics [22]
Fish & Fisheries [50]
Government [6]
Infrastructure [33]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Natural Resources [46]
People & Population [34]
Planning & Growth [26]
Water & Oceans [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about Irrigation Districts Are Key to Covering Coming Drought [49]
Is Investor Activism Really Greening Corporate Policy? [51]

Corporate boardrooms are increasingly arenas in the fight over the future of energy and the environment, making it vital for journalists to understand the players, their motivations and the potential impacts on business planning. The new Issue Backgrounder explores the implications of recent news around investment policy, explaining some of its origins and deciphering the shifting scrimmage ahead.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [31]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [52]
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [32]
Economy & Business [45]
Energy & Fuel [21]
Environmental Politics [22]
Journalism & Media [7]
Policy [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
International [29]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about Is Investor Activism Really Greening Corporate Policy? [51]
Forest Service Offers Mapping Database on Potential Wildfire Hazards [53]

With a particularly dangerous wildfire season ahead, environmental journalists can better cover the heightened risk with a specialized U.S. Forest Service database. It predicts fire risk using a range of frequently updated variables like amount and condition of fuel, drought and topography, then maps it in high resolution with overlays of human structures and populations. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox has more on the database, and details how to make smart use of it.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [42]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [4]
Forests [24]
Journalism & Media [7]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about Forest Service Offers Mapping Database on Potential Wildfire Hazards [53]
Reconciling the Divide — How To Report Environment and Religion Together [54]

New thinking and narratives are needed to solve complex environmental challenges like the climate crisis. But for journalists, the ongoing split between religion and environment beats hampers that effort. It’s a reality environmental journalist Meera Subramanian knows from conversations at her own kitchen table. So she helped organize a recent Society of Environmental Journalists’ webinar to explore closing the gap.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [55]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Diversity [56]
Journalism & Media [7]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [57]
Region:
National (U.S.) [13]
International [29]
Visibility:
Public [15]
- Read more about Reconciling the Divide — How To Report Environment and Religion Together [54]

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