Publication Items

Flexibility in the Face of the Unexpected [1]

When a Chicago-based freelancer was just about to hit the road to report a three-part story and TV segment on the potential impacts of two proposed copper mines in the Great Lakes basin, there was a little hitch: The COVID-19 pandemic hit. The new FEJ StoryLog has the story of how Lorraine Boissoneault found the flexibility to complete her grant-supported project.

SEJ Publication Types:
FEJ StoryLog [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel [3]
Environmental Health [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Journalism & Media [6]
Natural Resources [7]
People & Population [8]
Water & Oceans [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Flexibility in the Face of the Unexpected [1]
Cruising EPA’s CompTox Chemicals Dashboard [13]

A massive database of databases maintained by EPA tracks more than 800,000 chemicals. And while CompTox is highly technical, it’s the source for important developments that environmental journalists need to know about, among them exploring whole classes of toxic chemicals, and understanding how big data and AI is transforming their regulation. Plus, alternate sources of chemical data for your reporting needs.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [14]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [15]
Environmental Studies [16]
Science [17]
Technology [18]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
International [19]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Cruising EPA’s CompTox Chemicals Dashboard [13]
Replacing the Nation’s Lead Lines Begins With Locating Them [20]

One especially ambitious element of the Biden infrastructure plan would swap out millions of lead pipes. It’s a massive, costly endeavor, but could remove from the country’s water supply a neurotoxin that harms human health, especially of kids and the poor. TipSheet looks at the new plan and offers ideas for reporting the story in your area.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [21]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Health [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [22]
Health [23]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [24]
People & Population [8]
Water & Oceans [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [11]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [25]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Replacing the Nation’s Lead Lines Begins With Locating Them [20]
How a Lauded Reporter’s ‘Open Mind’ Led Story in a Surprising Direction [26]

An investigation into lead poisoning treatment policies prompted some very unexpected conclusions for one long-time investigative journalist, whose deeply reported and surprising projects won plaudits from judges for the Society of Environmental Journalists’ annual awards. Find out how Charles Schmidt turned an aside from a source into a penetrating look at a critical public health and environmental challenge.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [27]
Topics on the Beat:
Health [23]
Journalism & Media [6]
Pollution [28]
Water & Oceans [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about How a Lauded Reporter’s ‘Open Mind’ Led Story in a Surprising Direction [26]
Can CDC Be Cured After Trump-Era Coronavirus ‘Infection’? [29]

The CDC, long a storied agency of serious import not just to health and science reporters, but also to environmental journalists, took a massive hit to its credibility during the Trump administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest WatchDog opinion makes the case it can do better, and offers 15 steps that may help restore the federal entity to its gold-standard days.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [30]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [31]
Government [22]
Health [23]
Journalism & Media [6]
Policy [32]
Science [17]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Can CDC Be Cured After Trump-Era Coronavirus ‘Infection’? [29]
Local Water, Sewer Projects May Flow From Infrastructure Funding [33]

The push for federal infrastructure legislation may mean money for local water and sewage projects under a long-standing and broadly bipartisan program called WIFIA. The new TipSheet explains how the program works and why the latest developments could spell news for local environmental reporters. Plus, story ideas and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [21]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [22]
Health [23]
Infrastructure [34]
Journalism & Media [6]
Laws & Regulations [24]
Planning & Growth [35]
Policy [32]
Pollution [28]
Water & Oceans [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Local Water, Sewer Projects May Flow From Infrastructure Funding [33]
Environmental Podcasting 101, Pt. III — Getting Out the Word, Getting In the Dough [36]

In Part III of our three-part series on starting your own environmental journalism podcast, SEJournal’s editors explore how to get more ears listening through marketing and promotion, as well as how to fund your podcast. And don’t forget to check out Part I [37], which helps you find and refine your podcast concept and Part II [38], which looks at podcast gear and hosting strategies.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [39]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [6]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Environmental Podcasting 101, Pt. III — Getting Out the Word, Getting In the Dough [36]
Environmental Podcasting 101, Pt. II — Gear Up and Host Smartly [38]

In Part II of our three-part series on starting your own environmental journalism podcast, SEJournal’s editors take a look at podcast gear and hosting strategies. Plus, check out Part I [37], which helps you find and refine your podcast concept. Then stay tuned next week for a look at marketing/promotion and funding.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [39]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [6]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Environmental Podcasting 101, Pt. II — Gear Up and Host Smartly [38]
Environmental Podcasting 101, Pt. I — Find Your Voice on the Digital Frontier [37]

Ever considered starting your own environmental journalism podcast but weren’t sure how? SEJournal’s editors have put together a three-part series to help get the show on the digital road. Part I walks you through finding and refining your podcast concept. Then stay tuned next week for a look at podcast gear and hosting strategies.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [39]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [6]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Environmental Podcasting 101, Pt. I — Find Your Voice on the Digital Frontier [37]
Quagga Mussels — Worse Than Zebra Mussels and Maybe Headed Your Way [40]

An invasive species of mussel — no, not zebra mussels, but quagga mussels — are wreaking havoc not just in the Great Lakes, but have now spread through the Mississippi and Colorado basins, as far west as Lake Mead. The latest TipSheet runs down the extent of the problem, how quaggas may be even worse than zebra mussels, and ideas for reporting on your local waterways.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [21]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Health [4]
Fish & Fisheries [41]
Water & Oceans [9]
Wildlife [42]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [11]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [43]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [44]
International [19]
Canada [45]
Europe [46]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Quagga Mussels — Worse Than Zebra Mussels and Maybe Headed Your Way [40]

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