Publication Items

CAFO SNAFU — Why Emissions Data Are So Hard To Find [1]

Sometimes the challenge for environmental reporters is a mess of data. But sometimes it’s just less data. That’s the case with confined animal feed operations, which have been the subject of a years-long political tug of war over tracking emissions harmful to humans and the environment. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox explains, then offers alternate sources for CAFO data.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Air [4]
Economy & Business [5]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Justice [7]
Environmental Politics [8]
Food [9]
Health [10]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Pollution [13]
Waste [14]
Water & Oceans [15]
Region:
National (U.S.) [16]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about CAFO SNAFU — Why Emissions Data Are So Hard To Find [1]
When Extreme Weather Amplifies Hazardous Waste Threats [18]

Toxic waste is bad enough when it’s in one spot. But it can be even more dangerous when it is made mobile by climate-induced natural disasters. The latest TipSheet looks at just a few of the problems that can arise — or have already arisen. Plus, story ideas and reporting resources to cover this issue in your locale.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [19]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [4]
Chemicals [20]
Climate Change [21]
Disasters [22]
Environmental Health [6]
Health [10]
Journalism & Media [11]
People & Population [23]
Pollution [13]
Waste [14]
Water & Oceans [15]
Region:
National (U.S.) [16]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [24]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [25]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about When Extreme Weather Amplifies Hazardous Waste Threats [18]
Grant Prompts Improved Coverage of Indigenous Perspectives at Bears Ears [26]

Inspired by a discussion at a Society of Environmental Journalists conference, freelancer Rico Moore (pictured, left) applied for a Fund for Environmental Journalism grant to report on Bears Ears National Monument. Then, armed with advice for better covering Indigenous communities and Native American tribes, Moore found a new way to write about the cultural and environmental richness of those lands. His experience, in the new FEJ StoryLog.

SEJ Publication Types:
FEJ StoryLog [27]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [28]
Diversity [29]
Environmental Justice [7]
Environmental Politics [8]
Journalism & Media [11]
Natural Resources [30]
People & Population [23]
Region:
National (U.S.) [16]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [31]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Grant Prompts Improved Coverage of Indigenous Perspectives at Bears Ears [26]
Tilling the Storytelling Fields on the Food, Ag and Environment Beat [32]

In his more than a decade at the helm of the Food & Environment Reporting Network, Samuel Fromartz was instrumental in shaping a new way of covering food, agriculture and environmental issues. As he prepares to turn over the top editor’s job to his successor, Fromartz talks about FERN’s innovative business model and the power of narrative.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [33]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Biodiversity [34]
Climate Change [21]
Consumer [35]
Economy & Business [5]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Justice [7]
Food [9]
Government [36]
Health [10]
Journalism & Media [11]
Pollution [13]
Waste [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [16]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Tilling the Storytelling Fields on the Food, Ag and Environment Beat [32]
Why Fox-Dominion Matters for Environmental Journalists [37]

Not only did the huge legal settlement in the Dominion Voting Systems libel suit against Fox Corp. help reinforce media libel protections set out decades ago in New York Times v. Sullivan. It also served as a reminder for environmental journalists that the “actual malice” standard is a bulwark for their own (often negative) reporting on big corporations. WatchDog Opinion explains.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [38]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [21]
Economy & Business [5]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Policy [39]
Region:
National (U.S.) [16]
International [40]
Europe [41]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Why Fox-Dominion Matters for Environmental Journalists [37]
How Phosphorus Helped Feed a World — And an Invasion of Algae [42]

The world has heard all about how algae has spread harmfully in large waterways. Now a new book, “The Devil’s Element,” zeroes in on phosphorus, which not only helped feed humanity but also fueled algae’s dangerous blooms. Plus, why soap bubbles turned out to be bad for the environment. A review of the new volume, from BookShelf Editor Tom Henry.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [43]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about How Phosphorus Helped Feed a World — And an Invasion of Algae [42]
Temperature Shift Tool May Help Journalists Clarify Climate Impacts [44]

A climate modeling service designed for journalists may help them not only survive a hot summer but to cover it better too. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox takes a look at the Climate Shift Index, developed by Climate Central, designed to isolate what part of the heat is due to climate change, pinpointing days and places, and providing useful maps.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [21]
Journalism & Media [11]
Science [45]
Region:
National (U.S.) [16]
International [40]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Temperature Shift Tool May Help Journalists Clarify Climate Impacts [44]
Environmental Journalists, Idling in Idaho [46]

With the Society of Environmental Journalists’ 32nd annual conference in Boise now behind us, humorist David Helvarg offers a sharp-witted, albeit affectionate, skewering of the five-day gathering, everything from the host state’s politics to the innumerable sessions and the final blowout party. Prepare for punnage. Plus, check out the evolving multimedia coverage [47] of the event, and watch for session audio recordings to come.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [48]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [34]
Climate Change [21]
Economy & Business [5]
Energy & Fuel [49]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Justice [7]
Environmental Politics [8]
Fish & Fisheries [50]
Forests [51]
Government [36]
Journalism & Media [11]
Natural Resources [30]
Policy [39]
Water & Oceans [15]
Wildlife [52]
Region:
National (U.S.) [16]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [31]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Environmental Journalists, Idling in Idaho [46]
Reporting on the Amazon Rainforest Highlights Accelerating Destruction [53]

A prize-winning feature from the frontlines of the Amazon rainforest drew accolades in the Society of Environmental Journalists’ most recent awards contest. Judges said the “deeply reported account explains history and present-day politics through the lens of people whose voices are rarely heard in U.S. media.” Bloomberg investigative reporter Jessica Brice shares insights from the joint project, in the latest Inside Story Q&A.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [54]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Biodiversity [34]
Economy & Business [5]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Justice [7]
Environmental Politics [8]
Forests [51]
Journalism & Media [11]
Natural Resources [30]
People & Population [23]
Region:
International [40]
South America [55]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Reporting on the Amazon Rainforest Highlights Accelerating Destruction [53]
Funding Initiative May Help Surface Overlooked Environmental Justice Stories [56]

A new government-organized network of environmental justice assistance centers may not only assist the community groups applying for billions in federal funds but could also help point environmental journalists toward undercovered stories on the beat. The latest TipSheet explains how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency initiative will work and how to locate the centers for your reporting.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [19]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [28]
Environmental Justice [7]
Environmental Politics [8]
Government [36]
Infrastructure [57]
Journalism & Media [11]
Policy [39]
Region:
National (U.S.) [16]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Funding Initiative May Help Surface Overlooked Environmental Justice Stories [56]

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