Publication Items

Photographing Vernal Pools, ‘Another Universe’ in Your Backyard [1]

Vernal pools — small, ephemeral forest wetlands — may appear humble, but these complex, keystone ecosystems have an outsized ecological role. So when photographer Tristan Spinski set out to deconstruct them by season, species and life-cycle stage, he captured extraordinary moments above and below the water’s surface. Spinski shared his journey with EJ InSight editor Andrew Cullen, along with some nature photography strategies even for those without impressive gear. Plus, view his images [2].

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ InSight [3]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [4]
Forests [5]
Water & Oceans [6]
Wildlife [7]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Photographing Vernal Pools, ‘Another Universe’ in Your Backyard [1]
Wildfire Preparedness Is a Story Worth Telling — Before ‘Fire Season’ [11]

Wildfires in the Texas Panhandle are a good reminder that wildfire season now stretches across much of the year, so environmental journalists would do well to look for ways to localize their reporting on wildfire preparedness. The latest TipSheet offers 10 story ideas and half a dozen reporting resources to tell the story of your community’s wildfire risk.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [12]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [13]
Journalism & Media [14]
Planning & Growth [15]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [16]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Wildfire Preparedness Is a Story Worth Telling — Before ‘Fire Season’ [11]
Will AI Make It Easier To Limit Press Freedom? [17]

Artificial intelligence is at the confluence of forces — concentrated media ownership, the dominance of social media platforms — that are harming press freedoms and the work of journalists. But the WatchDog Opinion column warns AI may quickly further problems of disinformation and censorship. Here’s why, along with some hopeful responses from the journalism profession.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [18]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [14]
Policy [19]
Technology [20]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
International [21]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Will AI Make It Easier To Limit Press Freedom? [17]
Six Ways To Cover the Environmental Impacts of Animal Agriculture [22]

Animal agriculture is a massive industry with a vast environmental footprint, so there are plenty of reporting opportunities for journalists on the “eat beat.” In the second of two parts [23], following last week’s examination of diet-related greenhouse gas emissions, food-and-climate journalist Jenny Splitter serves up a variety of story ideas and information sources, plus some thoughts on solutions journalism.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [24]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [25]
Agriculture [26]
Air [27]
Biodiversity [4]
Climate Change [28]
Consumer [29]
Economy & Business [30]
Environmental Health [31]
Environmental Justice [32]
Environmental Politics [33]
Environmental Studies [34]
Food [35]
Forests [5]
Government [36]
Health [37]
Journalism & Media [14]
Pollution [38]
Waste [39]
Water & Oceans [6]
Wildlife [7]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
International [21]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Six Ways To Cover the Environmental Impacts of Animal Agriculture [22]
Map Model Offers Up Data on Climate Disaster-Proofing [40]

How well are U.S. communities preparing for the threats of climate change? A data-rich climate mapping resource that provides vibrant insight into resilience and adaptation can help reporters better understand the answer, even down to the neighborhood level. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox takes a closer look, including at the many data sets that feed into the resource.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [41]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [28]
Disasters [13]
Environmental Justice [32]
Journalism & Media [14]
Water & Oceans [6]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Map Model Offers Up Data on Climate Disaster-Proofing [40]
Eat Local for Climate’s Sake? No, Eat Less Meat [23]

Many people who want to reduce their carbon footprint consider the climate impacts of diet, but their efforts may be misdirected. When it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, it turns out what we eat is often more important than where it comes from. Sentient Media’s Jenny Splitter unpacks the locavore myth and explains methane burps, carbon opportunity costs and more. First of two parts [22].

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [24]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [25]
Agriculture [26]
Climate Change [28]
Consumer [29]
Economy & Business [30]
Environmental Health [31]
Environmental Politics [33]
Environmental Studies [34]
Food [35]
Forests [5]
Government [36]
Health [37]
Journalism & Media [14]
Pollution [38]
Transportation [42]
Waste [39]
Water & Oceans [6]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
International [21]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Eat Local for Climate’s Sake? No, Eat Less Meat [23]
How Ice Fishing Can Break the Ice on Your Local Climate Story [43]

What does dragging an old car onto an ice-covered lake have to do with informing your community about the perils of climate heating? Potentially a good deal. The latest TipSheet explains how waning winters and the potential impact on the entertaining tradition of ice fishing can serve as an entry into more serious matters. A dozen story ideas and resources to get you started.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [12]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [28]
Environmental Health [31]
Fish & Fisheries [44]
Journalism & Media [14]
Natural Resources [45]
People & Population [46]
Water & Oceans [6]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
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) [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about How Ice Fishing Can Break the Ice on Your Local Climate Story [43]
Chemical Safety Board May Have Finally Cleaned Its Slate. What Now? [51]

A key U.S. federal agency tasked with investigating the nation’s industrial chemical accidents has been limping along for years. Now, the latest Issue Backgrounder reports that replenished staffing and a funding boost may mean it’s found its footing. But as the pace of chemical accidents accelerates and safety regulations stagnate, will it make a difference?

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [52]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [53]
Disasters [13]
Environmental Politics [33]
Government [36]
Laws & Regulations [54]
Policy [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
International [21]
Asia [55]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Chemical Safety Board May Have Finally Cleaned Its Slate. What Now? [51]
Why Parking, Long Term, Presents a Lot of Problems [56]

A new book makes the case that U.S. cities have had their environments, their housing and their businesses warped by parking policies. BookShelf contributor Jennifer Weeks, who shares her own parking-related frustrations, explores the arguments made in “Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World,” and also takes a look at what the author sees as “parking-light” solutions.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [57]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [28]
Consumer [29]
Economy & Business [30]
Energy & Fuel [58]
Environmental Health [31]
Environmental Politics [33]
Government [36]
Health [37]
Infrastructure [59]
Planning & Growth [15]
Policy [19]
Pollution [38]
Transportation [42]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
California [60]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Why Parking, Long Term, Presents a Lot of Problems [56]
Spill-Tracking Data Sources Help Cover Hazmat Events [61]

A new Spill Tracker website is a good source of information on chemical spills, albeit one with an agenda. But according to the latest Reporter’s Toolbox, it’s just one among a set of powerful resources for covering dangerous releases, large and small. More on Spill Tracker, plus another half-dozen-plus government and nonprofit data sources on petrochemical incidents.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [41]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [53]
Disasters [13]
Energy & Fuel [58]
Environmental Health [31]
Government [36]
Journalism & Media [14]
Pollution [38]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
International [21]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Spill-Tracking Data Sources Help Cover Hazmat Events [61]

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