Publication Items

Covering Congress from Both Sides of the Beltway [1]

The complex workings of the U.S. Congress create reporting challenges for all kinds of journalists, including environmental ones. But our latest TipSheet provides half a dozen key resources to help you get the job done better, whether from inside or outside the Beltway.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [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 Covering Congress from Both Sides of the Beltway [1]
Your Packing List for Reporting a Natural Disaster [10]

By EMILY GERTZ

Earthquakes, hurricanes, chemical spills and more: Natural (and unnatural) disasters intersect frequently with the environmental beat. And reporting from the scene of a disaster means taking particular care with what gear and supplies you bring with you.

Will there be power where you're going? Safe drinking water? Open gas stations? How will you file your stories if land lines or cell phone networks aren't operating?
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Your Packing List for Reporting a Natural Disaster [10]
Harvey Uncovers Flood Insurance Dilemma [11]

Disaster cleanup from Hurricane Harvey is now bound up in Washington's brewing budget-related brouhaha, as Congress tries to fix the National Flood Insurance Program before authorization runs out at the end of September. The latest TipSheet explains, plus offers ideas and resources for localizing flood insurance stories.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [13]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [14]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Harvey Uncovers Flood Insurance Dilemma [11]
Hurricane Harvey: Toolbox, Headlines and More [15]

To help environmental reporters track the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, SEJournal has compiled a series of resources, starting with a Toolbox on Hurricanes [16] that includes government, news and other sources, seasonal forecasts, background science and an SEJ hurricane archive. Also see our Hurricane Issue Backgrounder [17] and TipSheets [18] on hurricanes and on flooding [19], an Inside Story [20] on how one SEJ Award-winner looked ahead at the prospect of a perfect storm for Houston, plus the latest hurricane headlines [21] from EJ Today (subscribe [22]).

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJournal Online [23]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [13]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [14]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Hurricane Harvey: Toolbox, Headlines and More [15]
Beware Gateway Bugs Bringing Insect-Borne Disease [24]

It's a deadly threat only fitfully reported by news media. But coverage of insect-borne diseases could be improved by environmental journalists who understand the intersection of bugs, humans and climate. A two-part Issue Backgrounder with basics, key resources and a rundown on significant illnesses brought by mosquitoes [25], and by ticks and other insects [26].

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [27]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [28]
Health [29]
People & Population [30]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Alaska and Hawaii [31]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [32]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [33]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [13]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [14]
Canada [34]
Africa [35]
Asia [36]
Central America & the Caribbean [37]
South America [38]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Beware Gateway Bugs Bringing Insect-Borne Disease [24]
New Tack on Ticks — Infestations a Local Environmental Story [39]

Tick populations are on the rise in the United States, bringing higher risk of serious tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease and a host of others. That offers a chance to tell the story of the environmental factors behind the spread, such as climate change and rising deer populations. The latest TipSheet explains.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Consumer [40]
Health [29]
People & Population [30]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [33]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about New Tack on Ticks — Infestations a Local Environmental Story [39]
Our Mission to Call Out Threats to the Press [41]

SEJ President Bobby Magill, in his latest report, outlines the organization's efforts to fight back against restrictions on freedom of the press, as well as a new push to build a more diverse SEJ and a special fellowship in tribute to recently deceased board member and freelancer Lizzie Grossman.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ Presidents Report [42]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [4]
Journalism & Media [5]
Laws & Regulations [6]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Our Mission to Call Out Threats to the Press [41]
Trump Environmental Rule Rollback — Tracking the Trackers [43]

The Trump administration has moved aggressively to roll back environmental and energy-related rules, so much so that keeping tabs on all the developments has become a major challenge. To help reporters get the lay of the land, this week's TipSheet has a roundup of more than a dozen regulatory tracking reports. Track the trackers.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [28]
Economy & Business [44]
Energy & Fuel [45]
Environmental Politics [3]
Government [4]
Journalism & Media [5]
Laws & Regulations [6]
Policy [7]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Trump Environmental Rule Rollback — Tracking the Trackers [43]
Battling Mosquitoes: The Fog of Chemical Warfare [46]

Mosquitoes are not just annoyances. They also bring disease. But is the current patchwork of mosquito-control efforts effective? Or are the remedies, particularly pesticide spraying, worse than the problem? This week's Tipsheet has resources to help you report on balancing the risks of disease against those of spraying.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [47]
Air [48]
Chemicals [49]
Consumer [40]
Health [29]
Journalism & Media [5]
People & Population [30]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Battling Mosquitoes: The Fog of Chemical Warfare [46]
Court Strikes Down “Ag-Gag” Law; plus a Journalist’s Legal Guide; State Shield for Climate Research and More [50]

A federal court has ruled unconstitutional a Utah law that made undercover filming of livestock operations illegal. What's it mean for similar laws elsewhere? The latest WatchDog has the story, plus news on protecting whistleblowers, a digital journalist's legal guide, shielding of climate info and leaked government reports.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [51]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [47]
Agriculture [52]
Climate Change [28]
Economy & Business [44]
Energy & Fuel [45]
Environmental Health [53]
Environmental Politics [3]
Food [54]
Government [4]
Journalism & Media [5]
Laws & Regulations [6]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [55]
Policy [7]
Water & Oceans [56]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [57]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [32]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [33]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [13]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Court Strikes Down “Ag-Gag” Law; plus a Journalist’s Legal Guide; State Shield for Climate Research and More [50]

Pages