Publication Items

Press Freedom Issues Come to Fore As Trump 2.0 Launches [1]

Salvaging disappearing web pages from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fostering (and protecting) government whistleblower sources and sussing out the First Amendment’s prospects under the new attorney general at the Justice Department — the latest WatchDog Opinion scans the Trump administration’s information terrain. Plus, check out the latest actions from the Society of Environmental Journalists’ freedom of information efforts [2].

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [3]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Justice [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [6]
Journalism & Media [7]
Policy [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Press Freedom Issues Come to Fore As Trump 2.0 Launches [1]
The Bounty of the Gift Economy [11]

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 [12]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [13]
Consumer [14]
Economy & Business [15]
Food [16]
People & Population [17]
Policy [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
International [18]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about The Bounty of the Gift Economy [11]
Communities at Risk Are Climate Stories Too [19]

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 [20]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [21]
Climate Change [22]
Disasters [23]
Environmental Justice [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [6]
Health [24]
Journalism & Media [7]
People & Population [17]
Policy [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
International [18]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Communities at Risk Are Climate Stories Too [19]
Energy-Dominance Exponent Coasts Into Interior [25]

The newly installed Interior Department head, who will manage most federally owned U.S. lands and billions of acres of the continental shelf, hails from a top fossil fuel-producing state and has close oil industry ties, reports the new EJ TransitionWatch. What former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum had to say at his Senate confirmation about U.S. “energy dominance.” Plus, one surprising source of support.

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ TransitionWatch [26]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [22]
Energy & Fuel [27]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [6]
Natural Resources [28]
Policy [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [29]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Energy-Dominance Exponent Coasts Into Interior [25]
EPA Nominee Heads for Approval, Despite Inexperience [30]

Former Congressman Lee Zeldin, the Trump administration nominee to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has scant expertise in the field and little appeal to environmental groups. But at a Senate hearing earlier this month, the Trump loyalist aimed to score points by confirming the existence of climate change and deflating rumors of an agency move out of the Capital. The latest EJ TransitionWatch takes a look at Zeldin's prospects.

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ TransitionWatch [26]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [22]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [6]
Policy [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [31]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about EPA Nominee Heads for Approval, Despite Inexperience [30]
Telling the Stories of the Silent Sentinels [32]

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 [33]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [13]
Air [34]
Biodiversity [35]
Climate Change [22]
Environmental Health [36]
Environmental Justice [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Environmental Studies [37]
Food [16]
Forests [38]
Government [6]
Health [24]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [39]
Natural Resources [28]
Pollution [40]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [41]
Science [42]
Water & Oceans [43]
Wildlife [44]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
California [45]
Northwest (OR WA) [46]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [47]
International [18]
Canada [48]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Telling the Stories of the Silent Sentinels [32]
‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ Could Undo Biden’s Climate Progress [49]

A single “reconciliation” bill, promised by House Speaker Mike Johnson in the first 100 days of the new Congress, could wipe out the outgoing administration’s climate ambitions. EJ TransitionWatch explains the budget process and spotlights a half dozen energy and environment provisions — affecting offshore drilling, methane emissions, electric vehicle incentives and more — that could be in the measure if the Trump administration gets its way.

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ TransitionWatch [26]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [22]
Energy & Fuel [27]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [6]
Laws & Regulations [39]
Natural Resources [28]
Policy [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ Could Undo Biden’s Climate Progress [49]
Speaking Up for the First Amendment [50]

Many journalists can’t imagine themselves writing an opinion piece, but veteran reporter Tim Wheeler suggests they reconsider. With public distrust of news media mounting and government willingness to inform plummeting, Wheeler says it’s more important than ever for journalists to explain what they do and why it matters. Advice and an annotated example: How to put on the opinion writer’s hat.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [33]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [6]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [39]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Speaking Up for the First Amendment [50]
There Has Never Been a Better Time for Environmental Journalism [51]

Environmental devastation. Corporate capture. Disinformation’s diffusion. Hostility to news media. All this may seem overwhelming for environmental reporters. But for WatchDog Opinion, it means that journalism must rise to the challenge, take the truth seriously, report with conviction, cover corruption and tell the stories of the many whose stories are not being told. A case for why Trump 2.0 presents that opportunity.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [3]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [5]
Journalism & Media [7]
Policy [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about There Has Never Been a Better Time for Environmental Journalism [51]
Assessing AI’s Importance in Journalism and Teaching — Part 1 [52]

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 [53].

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ Academy [54]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [7]
Technology [55]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
International [18]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Assessing AI’s Importance in Journalism and Teaching — Part 1 [52]

Pages