Publication Items

Farm Bill May Stir Up Local Hornets’ Nest on Pesticides [1]

Local pesticide bans that go beyond federal restrictions may be a growing trend, but it’s one that has brought on a backlash by GOP politicians and farmers. The conflict may soon be resolved — or not — by Congress, as it closes in on a new U.S. Farm Bill. Meanwhile, this week’s TipSheet helps explain the dispute and provides resources and signs to watch.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Agriculture [4]
Chemicals [5]
Economy & Business [6]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Politics [8]
Food [9]
Government [10]
Health [11]
Journalism & Media [12]
Laws & Regulations [13]
Policy [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Farm Bill May Stir Up Local Hornets’ Nest on Pesticides [1]
Prize-winner Looks for ‘Stories that Surprise’ [17]

An unexpected story, a never-before-seen photo — those are ingredients for the kinds of environment and climate story ideas that won one environment reporter top honors in large market beat reporting in SEJ’s annual awards last year. A conversation with Craig Welch of National Geographic for our latest Inside Story Q&A.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [18]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [19]
Climate Change [20]
Journalism & Media [12]
Science [21]
Water & Oceans [22]
Wildlife [23]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
International [24]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Prize-winner Looks for ‘Stories that Surprise’ [17]
Coal Ash Ruling Will Generate Piles of State-level News [25]

Now that a top court has tossed out parts of coal ash disposal rules, also in question is a planned loosening under the Trump EPA. That means potential state-level stories on how this coal combustion byproduct may threaten environmental health and water supplies. This week’s TipSheet runs down the issue and suggests resources and questions to ask.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Consumer [26]
Disasters [27]
Energy & Fuel [28]
Environmental Health [7]
Journalism & Media [12]
Laws & Regulations [13]
Pollution [29]
Water & Oceans [22]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [30]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [31]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [32]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [33]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [34]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Coal Ash Ruling Will Generate Piles of State-level News [25]
Ditching Plastic Straws — A Strawman for the Real Problem of Marine Litter? [35]

Plastic straws might have quickly become this summer’s bogeyman, with bans by Starbucks, hotel chains, resorts and some big cities. But as this week’s TipSheet points out, straws are only a part of the massive marine litter problem facing the world’s oceans. Here’s how to put recent straw bans into broader perspective.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Consumer [26]
Environmental Health [7]
Fish & Fisheries [36]
Food [9]
Journalism & Media [12]
Pollution [29]
Water & Oceans [22]
Wildlife [23]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Alaska and Hawaii [37]
California [38]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [31]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [39]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [33]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [34]
International [24]
Canada [40]
Mexico [41]
Asia [42]
Australia & Oceania [43]
Central America & the Caribbean [44]
South America [45]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Ditching Plastic Straws — A Strawman for the Real Problem of Marine Litter? [35]
Too Late To Wait for Covering Infrastructure Vulnerability, Resilience [46]

Could U.S. infrastructure go from being a saver of lives to a bringer of disaster? Yes, warns our latest Issue Backgrounder, which looks at vulnerabilities for our drinking water supply, sewage systems, flood control, power grids, pipelines, refineries and even hospitals. Are environmental reporters paying enough attention? Here’s why they should, with suggestions on how to go about it.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [47]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [20]
Disasters [27]
Energy & Fuel [28]
Government [10]
Health [11]
Journalism & Media [12]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [48]
People & Population [49]
Technology [50]
Water & Oceans [22]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Too Late To Wait for Covering Infrastructure Vulnerability, Resilience [46]
New Leadership, Old Business and Future Challenges [51]

A call to confront anti-press sentiment with a crusade for the value of journalism, plus a welcome for the new executive director for the Society of Environmental Journalists, and important housekeeping on voting rights for SEJ’s academic and associate members — all in the new report from SEJ President Bobby Magill.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ Presidents Report [52]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Government [10]
Journalism & Media [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
International [24]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about New Leadership, Old Business and Future Challenges [51]
When Travel Expenses Get Too Expensive [53]

A big reporting jaunt can be a professional thrill. That is, until you consider the upfront costs you might be expected to shoulder as an independent journalist. The latest Freelance Files, from multimedia journalist Gloria Dickie, looks at the realities of travel expenses and offers half-a-dozen workarounds to lighten the load.

SEJ Publication Types:
Freelance Files [54]
Topics on the Beat:
Economy & Business [6]
Journalism & Media [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
International [24]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about When Travel Expenses Get Too Expensive [53]
With Wildfire, When Is Climate Change the Spark? [55]

Massive wildfires have been a huge news story this summer. But caught up in the conflagration is a big question: To what extent can climate change be blamed? This week’s TipSheet looks at the controversy, and helps journalists work their way through the challenge without getting burned.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [20]
Disasters [27]
Forests [56]
Journalism & Media [12]
People & Population [49]
Planning & Growth [57]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
California [38]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about With Wildfire, When Is Climate Change the Spark? [55]
SEJ Names Meaghan Parker as New Executive Director [58]

The Society of Environmental Journalists has tapped former long-time associate board member Meaghan Parker as its new executive director, following a nearly six-month-long search. Parker, praised by SEJ President Bobby Magill for her experience, vision and commitment to environmental journalism, will take on the post on Sept. 17.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [59]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about SEJ Names Meaghan Parker as New Executive Director [58]
Journalism, Science Students Taught To Tune Their B.S. Detectors [60]

When it comes to nosing out the real “fake news,” reporters who cover environment, health and science have a long history of unmasking hype, misinformation and propaganda. The latest EJ Academy shares a new initiative to teach budding journalism and science students together, so they can be advocates for science and information literacy.

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ Academy [61]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [4]
Climate Change [20]
Consumer [26]
Health [11]
Journalism & Media [12]
Science [21]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Journalism, Science Students Taught To Tune Their B.S. Detectors [60]

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