Publication Items

EPA’s FOIA Report Updates Progress on Backlog Reduction [1]

The Freedom of Information Act offers critical access to journalists — that is, when it’s working well. The latest WatchDog Opinion digs into the latest reports from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to see how well it lives up to its FOIA requirements and finds that despite progress, the agency continues to fall short on important measures. Plus, insight into how to work the system.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [3]
Government [4]
Journalism & Media [5]
Laws & Regulations [6]
Policy [7]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about EPA’s FOIA Report Updates Progress on Backlog Reduction [1]
Amid Heat Waves, Data on Heat Deaths Deadly Serious [10]

Heat waves, heat domes … heat deaths. The reality of climate change means a grim uptick in fatalities, more so from excess heat than any other kind of extreme weather event. Reporter’s Toolbox points to useful data sources for covering the crisis, with insights on how to go behind the numbers to find the stories of those most vulnerable to heat’s effects.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [11]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [12]
Disasters [13]
Environmental Justice [14]
Environmental Politics [3]
Health [15]
Journalism & Media [5]
People & Population [16]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Amid Heat Waves, Data on Heat Deaths Deadly Serious [10]
Ocean and Climate Change Toolbox [17]

Oceans and climate change intersect with many other issues, a crossover likely to be emphasized in the upcoming United Nations Ocean Conference and in future ocean-based climate discussions. This list of resources reflects some of that intersection in order to help environmental journalists better cover the field of “blue climate” solutions.

SEJ Publication Types:
Special Reports [18]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [19]
Climate Change [12]
Environmental Health [20]
Environmental Politics [3]
Environmental Studies [21]
Fish & Fisheries [22]
Laws & Regulations [6]
Natural Resources [23]
Policy [7]
Pollution [24]
Science [25]
Water & Oceans [26]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
International [27]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Ocean and Climate Change Toolbox [17]
Environmental Journalist Recounts His Historical Slave-Era Find [28]

The historic discovery of the Clotilda — America’s “Last Slave Ship” — is only part of the story told in a new book by Alabama-based journalist Ben Raines, which tells the far larger tale about the ship’s survivors, the remarkable Jim Crow-era community they created and its ultimate erosion when faced by decades of environmental racism. A review by BookShelf Editor Tom Henry.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [29]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Justice [14]
Journalism & Media [5]
People & Population [16]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [30]
International [27]
Africa [31]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Environmental Journalist Recounts His Historical Slave-Era Find [28]
EPA Leak on Problem Coal Ash Sites Could Yield Local Drinking Water Stories [32]

Closure plans for more than 160 coal ash facilities crisscrossing the United States are under renewed scrutiny by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to a newly leaked list. The latest TipSheet credits that leak with offering local environmental reporters story leads on potential drinking water pollution in their communities. Get the details, plus story ideas and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [33]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [34]
Energy & Fuel [35]
Environmental Politics [3]
Health [15]
Journalism & Media [5]
Laws & Regulations [6]
Pollution [24]
Waste [36]
Water & Oceans [26]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [30]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about EPA Leak on Problem Coal Ash Sites Could Yield Local Drinking Water Stories [32]
Covering Climate Solutions [37]

As part of an initiative by the Society of Environmental Journalists on covering climate solutions, this special report offers a series of tipsheets and toolboxes focused on business-based solutions, nature-based solutions, ocean-based solutions and methane/energy-based solutions. Explore the special report and related webinars.

SEJ Publication Types:
Special Reports [18]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [12]
Water & Oceans [26]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
International [27]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Covering Climate Solutions [37]
Unpacking Bipartisan Infrastructure Law With Data … But Not Databases [38]

As funding from the U.S. government’s massive infrastructure bill starts to get spent, big swaths of it on environmental-related concerns, Reporter’s Toolbox points to a problem for journalists covering it — there appears to be no single database to help track the money. But for intrepid reporters, various data sources are out there to help tell the story.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [11]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [12]
Environmental Politics [3]
Government [4]
Infrastructure [39]
Journalism & Media [5]
Laws & Regulations [6]
Policy [7]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Unpacking Bipartisan Infrastructure Law With Data … But Not Databases [38]
Supreme Court Winds Up for Another Swing at Clean Water Act [40]

In a second Issue Backgrounder looking at major environmental questions before the U.S. Supreme Court, SEJournal considers the long-standing controversy about the definition of “waters of the United States.” The Clean Water Act case, which the high court could (re)decide during its next term, would have profound environmental and economic implications. The latest Backgrounder wades into the issue.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [41]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [42]
Environmental Politics [3]
Fish & Fisheries [22]
Government [4]
Laws & Regulations [6]
Natural Resources [23]
Water & Oceans [26]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Supreme Court Winds Up for Another Swing at Clean Water Act [40]
‘Big Fish’ Report Hooks Prize With Look at Aquaculture and Environment [43]

The challenges of sustainable aquaculture are at the heart of an extensive reporting project recognized in the Society of Environmental Journalists’ most recent round of reporting awards. In this Inside Story Q&A, Hakai Magazine’s founding editor, Jude Isabella (pictured at left), and author Brian Payton share insights into the series, which looks closely at the industry and its environmental costs.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [44]
Topics on the Beat:
Economy & Business [45]
Environmental Health [20]
Environmental Justice [14]
Fish & Fisheries [22]
Food [46]
Journalism & Media [5]
Natural Resources [23]
People & Population [16]
Water & Oceans [26]
Wildlife [47]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
International [27]
Asia [48]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about ‘Big Fish’ Report Hooks Prize With Look at Aquaculture and Environment [43]
Fine Particle Pollution Will Soon Spawn a Stormcloud of News [49]

New rules on soot may soon be on the way and will likely stir up the long-standing controversy over air pollution from particulate matter. The latest TipSheet has the backstory on the pending regulations, reviews human health impacts and offers a range of story ideas and reporting resources for environmental journalists to tell the story on a local and regional basis.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [33]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [50]
Chemicals [34]
Environmental Justice [14]
Environmental Politics [3]
Health [15]
Journalism & Media [5]
Laws & Regulations [6]
Policy [7]
Pollution [24]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Fine Particle Pollution Will Soon Spawn a Stormcloud of News [49]

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