Publication Items

Beyond the Fires and Floods — Comprehensively Covering Disasters [1]

Reporting on extreme-weather disasters is complicated, challenging work. Besides covering immediate impacts, there’s the broader context to consider, from climate change to social and political dynamics — all while looking out for your personal safety and well-being. Environmental journalist Colleen Hagerty draws on her own and others’ front-line experiences as she shares insights and advice for telling these high-stakes stories.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [4]
Diversity [5]
Environmental Justice [6]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
California [10]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Beyond the Fires and Floods — Comprehensively Covering Disasters [1]
Is Disaster Aid Backlog Becoming a (Blue State) Disaster? [13]

A critical logjam is emerging for post-disaster aid to U.S. states, $11 billion or more, according to some calculations. At the same time, FEMA, which dispenses much of it, is in the Trump administration’s crosshairs. TipSheet explores how this looks on the ground and how politics play into the backlog, plus offers 10 story ideas and resources for local reporting.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [14]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [4]
Environmental Politics [15]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Policy [16]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Is Disaster Aid Backlog Becoming a (Blue State) Disaster? [13]
Winter Storm — Reporting Resources From SEJ Publications [17]

As a major winter storm dumped snow and ice across much of the United States this weekend, taking lives, leaving many without power and stalling transportation, the SEJ Publications team offers resources for winter storm reporting in your region. We’ve got the latest headlines, plus a Toolbox on data sources, and an array of snow-related TipSheets to help tell the local climate story.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [18]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [4]
Journalism & Media [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Winter Storm — Reporting Resources From SEJ Publications [17]
Trump Tries (and Fails) To Disappear Climate Disaster Data [19]

Even though the United States suffers multiple billion-dollar climate change-related catastrophes, the federal government has ceased sharing the data publicly. And it’s far from the only example of environmental data being blacked out, notes the latest Reporter’s Toolbox. But at least in some cases, civil society organizations have rescued the information and put it back online. See what’s still available.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [20]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [4]
Environmental Politics [15]
Environmental Studies [21]
Government [7]
Science [22]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Trump Tries (and Fails) To Disappear Climate Disaster Data [19]
Solutions Stories a Compass for Readers [23]

Get more Voices of Environmental Justice in 2026, as we increase column frequency to bimonthly. And for her first contribution of the year, writer Yessenia Funes calls on climate reporters to offer audiences a sense of hope by leaning into solutions narratives, hard-hitting and data-driven stories that hold the powerful accountable. Expert advice on how to make solutions journalism work.

SEJ Publication Types:
Voices of Environmental Justice [24]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [4]
Economy & Business [25]
Environmental Studies [21]
Health [26]
Journalism & Media [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
California [10]
International [27]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Solutions Stories a Compass for Readers [23]
Between the Lines — Writing Nature Through Illness and Disability [28]

Writers with disabilities and chronic illnesses explore perspectives on nature and environment in a unique anthology, “Moving Mountains.” Editor Louise Kenward discusses the recent volume with contributor William Allen in a new BookShelf “Between the Lines” Q&A — the connection between climate change and disability, the benefits of learning to rest, the value of engaging with different perspectives and more.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [29]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [4]
Diversity [5]
Environmental Justice [6]
Environmental Politics [15]
Health [26]
Journalism & Media [8]
People & Population [30]
Policy [16]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
International [27]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Between the Lines — Writing Nature Through Illness and Disability [28]
As Realty Risk Data Is Pulled From Web, Alternatives Are Ready [31]

As one data source disappears, another often emerges, finds Reporter’s Toolbox, as it searches for ways to report on real estate risk. In our latest column, insight into where to find information on home hazards, especially from climate change, plus smart ways to use the data for your reporting and some emerging gaps to be aware of.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [20]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [3]
Consumer [32]
Disasters [4]
Journalism & Media [8]
Planning & Growth [33]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about As Realty Risk Data Is Pulled From Web, Alternatives Are Ready [31]
A Town Derailed, a Trust Obtained [34]

The devastating 2023 East Palestine, Ohio, toxic train derailment left a legacy of illness and a town torn by competing understandings of the contamination’s aftereffects. A yearlong reporting initiative with photojournalist Rebecca Kiger and Time magazine writer Alejandro de la Garza worked to gain the community’s confidence and tell its story. Their prize-winning feature, in the latest Inside Story Q&A.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [35]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [36]
Chemicals [37]
Disasters [4]
Environmental Health [38]
Environmental Justice [6]
Health [26]
Journalism & Media [8]
People & Population [30]
Pollution [39]
Science [22]
Transportation [40]
Water & Oceans [41]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [42]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about A Town Derailed, a Trust Obtained [34]
Top Environment and Energy Topics To Watch in 2026 [43]

Explore our 10th annual Journalists’ Guide to Environment + Energy, as we scour the beat to identify 15 top stories to put on your radar for 2026. Our updated format for the special report provides a quick read and a broad scope — with insights on climate change and environmental justice, bird and insect declines, data centers and deep sea mining, deregulation and PFAS and much more. Get started here [43].

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [18]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [44]
Agriculture [45]
Air [36]
Biodiversity [46]
Chemicals [37]
Climate Change [3]
Disasters [4]
Economy & Business [25]
Energy & Fuel [47]
Environmental Health [38]
Environmental Justice [6]
Environmental Politics [15]
Environmental Studies [21]
Fish & Fisheries [48]
Forests [49]
Government [7]
Health [26]
Infrastructure [50]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [51]
Military [52]
Natural Resources [53]
Policy [16]
Pollution [39]
Science [22]
Technology [54]
Waste [55]
Water & Oceans [41]
Wildlife [56]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Alaska and Hawaii [57]
California [10]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [42]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [58]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [59]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [60]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [61]
Northwest (OR WA) [62]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [11]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [63]
International [27]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Top Environment and Energy Topics To Watch in 2026 [43]
Database of Flood Events Helps Cover Catastrophes, Past or Present [64]

A massive trove of mappable water data from the U.S. Geological Survey offers reporters resources to cover present-day flooding threats, compare them to past flood events or help prepare reporting for tomorrow’s disasters. According to the latest Reporter’s Toolbox, its various tools let you pinpoint immediate flooding, map future flood hazards and even configure phone alerts for breaking events.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [20]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [4]
Environmental Studies [21]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Water & Oceans [41]
Wildlife [56]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Database of Flood Events Helps Cover Catastrophes, Past or Present [64]

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