Publication Items

Radio Reporter Takes Listener on Journey in Covering Future of Western U.S. [1]

Perpetual water scarcity issues in the Colorado River basin provide a bounty of stories for public radio journalist Luke Runyon, who shares insights into his beat coverage practices, in the latest Inside Story Q&A. The greatest challenges, surprises and lessons in reporting these critical stories, lauded in SEJ’s awards program, through the medium of sound.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [3]
Natural Resources [4]
Water & Oceans [5]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [7]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Radio Reporter Takes Listener on Journey in Covering Future of Western U.S. [1]
EPA Science Integrity Overhaul a Chance To Get Media Access Right [9]

Government suppression of science harms not just journalists, but also the public in its ability to get crucial information and trust in science, not to mention government integrity. So now is the time, asserts the new WatchDog opinion column, for news media to engage intensely over government scientific integrity policies in the making, to be sure that agencies like the EPA get it right.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [10]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [11]
Government [12]
Journalism & Media [3]
Policy [13]
Science [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about EPA Science Integrity Overhaul a Chance To Get Media Access Right [9]
Teaching Environmental Journalism. For the First Time. In a Pandemic. [15]

An initiate to the ways of teaching collegiate journalism winds her way through unique obstacles of a first term under COVID-19, from students reporting in masks to class sessions on computer screens. Not to mention the already onerous challenges of training young journalists to report and write a range of environmental stories. EJ Academy has her story, from the stumbles to the successes.

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ Academy [16]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [17]
Environmental Studies [18]
Health [19]
Journalism & Media [3]
Natural Resources [4]
Pollution [20]
Water & Oceans [5]
Wildlife [21]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [22]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Teaching Environmental Journalism. For the First Time. In a Pandemic. [15]
Biden Rollbacks of Trump Energy-Efficiency Cuts Generate Local Stories [23]

From cardigans to orange tans, the history of presidential politics around energy efficiency has been an odd one. But the story of so-called nega-watts is actually a compelling one. And with new efficiency rules being eyed by the Biden administration, it’s also time for reporters to explore the local angle to energy savings. Our latest TipSheet explains how.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [24]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [17]
Consumer [25]
Energy & Fuel [26]
Environmental Politics [11]
Government [12]
Journalism & Media [3]
Laws & Regulations [27]
Policy [13]
Science [14]
Technology [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Biden Rollbacks of Trump Energy-Efficiency Cuts Generate Local Stories [23]
Grid Data Can Guide Reporting on Power Disasters [29]

The power and water fiasco that followed a deep freeze in Texas was a predictable debacle and, thus, a warning signal to journalists covering disasters and climate-driven weather extremes. To help, the latest Reporter’s Toolbox provides a rundown of data sources about power grids, from local, regional and national entities, and recommends you start tracking the numbers and be prepared.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [30]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [17]
Consumer [25]
Disasters [31]
Energy & Fuel [26]
Government [12]
Infrastructure [32]
Journalism & Media [3]
Laws & Regulations [27]
Planning & Growth [33]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [22]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [34]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Grid Data Can Guide Reporting on Power Disasters [29]
“The Last Lions of Africa: Stories From the Frontline in the Battle To Save a Species” [35]

A straightforward but passionate new book explores efforts to save the big cat from extinction in “The Last Lions of Africa.” Our BookShelf review lauds the author for making clear the species’ complexity and the damage done by “sustainable” practices such as trophy hunting. And the loss ends not just with the lions. Read our review for the bigger picture.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [36]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [37]
Environmental Politics [11]
People & Population [38]
Wildlife [21]
Region:
International [39]
Africa [40]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about “The Last Lions of Africa: Stories From the Frontline in the Battle To Save a Species” [35]
Grant Helps Chart Illegal Rosewood’s 10,000-Mile Journey [41]

Two young journalists collaborated from continents apart — with the help of a Society of Environmental Journalists grant — to report on illicit trade in a highly prized timber. A new entry in our recently launched StoryLog column captures the whole process, from the spark of an idea, through research, a winning grant proposal, field reporting and published stories. Plus, lessons learned.

SEJ Publication Types:
FEJ StoryLog [42]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [43]
Biodiversity [37]
Environmental Politics [11]
Forests [44]
Journalism & Media [3]
Natural Resources [4]
Region:
International [39]
Africa [40]
Asia [45]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Grant Helps Chart Illegal Rosewood’s 10,000-Mile Journey [41]
Could Hackers Poison Your Local Drinking Water? [46]

A computer hacker nearly succeeded recently in rendering a local Florida facility a source of poisonous drinking water. And the risk of other such hacks is real, even as the vulnerabilities are hidden behind stringent U.S. secrecy laws. The latest TipSheet explores dangers to our drinking water supply — which go well beyond future hacking.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [24]
Topics on the Beat:
Consumer [25]
Disasters [31]
Government [12]
Health [19]
Infrastructure [32]
Journalism & Media [3]
Laws & Regulations [27]
People & Population [38]
Pollution [20]
Technology [28]
Water & Oceans [5]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [47]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [48]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Could Hackers Poison Your Local Drinking Water? [46]
Biden’s EPA, Science Agencies, Face Test of News Media Openness [49]

Testimony from the incoming EPA administrator, along with a little-noticed memo on scientific integrity to Biden’s agency heads, suggest promising changes in government openness. But WatchDog contends the proof is yet to come and offers some advice to the administration. Plus, a letter from SEJ [50] listing some of the things Biden can do to improve relations with the news media.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [10]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [11]
Government [12]
Journalism & Media [3]
Policy [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Biden’s EPA, Science Agencies, Face Test of News Media Openness [49]
Seeding Climate Stories in the Backyard Garden [51]

Spring may be weeks away, but gardeners are already browsing the seed catalogs, and that makes it a good time for environmental journalists to apprise them of how climate change will affect their backyard patches. Reporter’s Toolbox talks “hardiness zones” and explains why one of the usual repositories of government information may fall short. That plus, story sources to, well, cultivate.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [30]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [52]
Climate Change [17]
Consumer [25]
Environmental Politics [11]
Food [53]
Journalism & Media [3]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Seeding Climate Stories in the Backyard Garden [51]

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