Publication Items

Extremely Hot Weather Cooks Up Unusually Awful Air Pollution [1]

Summertime and the livin' is smoggy. American air may be clearer now than when the Clean Air Act was passed in 1970, but pollutants still abound. Heat and sunlight stoke chemical reactions that exacerbate health hazards. And worsening wildfires mix in harmful smoke. The latest TipSheet has more than a dozen story ideas and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Air [4]
Chemicals [5]
Climate Change [6]
Energy & Fuel [7]
Environmental Health [8]
Government [9]
Health [10]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Pollution [13]
Transportation [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
International [16]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Extremely Hot Weather Cooks Up Unusually Awful Air Pollution [1]
Taming the Freight Beast [18]

The U.S. freight system delivers significant environmental impacts nationwide, especially in states that host major rail-and-road hubs and seaports. Meanwhile, new federal laws and policies are making it harder to curtail pollution generated by freight trucks, trains and warehouses. Journalist John Lippert looks at how the public, private and nonprofit sectors are rising to this challenge.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [19]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Air [4]
Climate Change [6]
Consumer [20]
Economy & Business [21]
Energy & Fuel [7]
Environmental Health [8]
Environmental Justice [22]
Environmental Politics [23]
Government [9]
Health [10]
Infrastructure [24]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Policy [25]
Pollution [13]
Technology [26]
Transportation [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
California [27]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [28]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Taming the Freight Beast [18]
Reporters Uncover a State Parks Scandal in Florida [29]

Emailed documents and an anonymous memo set two Tampa Bay Times reporters to investigate government development plans for sensitive state lands. Max Chesnes and Emily L. Mahoney followed the fast-moving story for more than a year, approaching it as a drumbeat of scoops. Ultimately, the government reversed course. Read about this award-winning series in the latest Inside Story Q&A.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [30]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Environmental Politics [23]
Government [9]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [31]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Reporters Uncover a State Parks Scandal in Florida [29]
Trump Wants Nondisclosure Agreements for Federal Employees [32]

As if it’s not already hard enough for reporters to talk to civil servants, the Trump administration wants all federal government employees to sign a nondisclosure agreement that could cost them their jobs if they do. The new WatchDog Opinion column spotlights the dangers of such a policy and details the widespread opposition it has engendered.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [33]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [9]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Policy [25]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Trump Wants Nondisclosure Agreements for Federal Employees [32]
Why the Loss of Voting Rights Is a Climate Crisis [34]

When the Supreme Court further hollowed out the Voting Rights Act this spring, it augured a historic loss of civic power for Black communities. And with that comes a further blow — to progress on the environment. For as Voices of Environmental Justice columnist Yessenia Funes explains, key to climate policy are Black voters, and the Black legislators they bring into office.

SEJ Publication Types:
Voices of Environmental Justice [35]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Climate Change [6]
Disasters [36]
Environmental Justice [22]
Environmental Politics [23]
Government [9]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
People & Population [37]
Policy [25]
Pollution [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [31]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [38]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Why the Loss of Voting Rights Is a Climate Crisis [34]
Is Climate Disaster Insurance a Worsening Disaster? [39]

The growing disconnect between climate risk and risk insurance for homeowners is leaving millions on the knife-edge of economic disaster. But the latest TipSheet suggests that reality offers environmental journalists an opportunity to navigate the morass, community by community. Get more than a dozen story ideas and reporting resources in the latest column.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [6]
Consumer [20]
Disasters [36]
Environmental Politics [23]
Government [9]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
People & Population [37]
Planning & Growth [40]
Policy [25]
Water & Oceans [41]
Wildlife [42]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
California [27]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [31]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Is Climate Disaster Insurance a Worsening Disaster? [39]
Risk Data Is There Despite Efforts To Hide It [43]

Hazmat risk data has long been subject to blackout efforts by industry. And now, Trump administration allies may change the rules to make existing information even harder to get. But Reporter’s Toolbox knows where journalists can still find the goods to support their reporting. Read on to learn about risks to the program in question — and Toolbox workarounds.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [44]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [4]
Chemicals [5]
Disasters [36]
Environmental Politics [23]
Government [9]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Policy [25]
Pollution [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Risk Data Is There Despite Efforts To Hide It [43]
Why Environmental Journalists Should Care About the Presidential Records Act [45]

It may not seem at first glance like an environmental matter, but the Trump Justice Department’s declaration that the Presidential Records Act is unconstitutional potentially undermines the preservation of key administration records, warns WatchDog Opinion. That includes all kinds of environmental policy decision-making by the president, White House and other executive branch staff. Here’s why we need the act.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [33]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [23]
Government [9]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Policy [25]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Why Environmental Journalists Should Care About the Presidential Records Act [45]
National Seashores Are a Secret Summer Treasure [46]

While less heralded than its national park system, the United States abounds in waterfront treasures that are part of the national seashore and lakeshore program. The latest TipSheet takes you on a guided tour of more than a dozen, from barrier islands and dunes to tidepools and turtles. Plus, a half-dozen reporting ideas for your own region.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [9]
Journalism & Media [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Natural Resources [47]
Water & Oceans [41]
Region:
California [27]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [28]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [48]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [49]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [31]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [38]
International [16]
Canada [50]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about National Seashores Are a Secret Summer Treasure [46]
What Is the Half-Life of a Nuclear Revival? Part 2 [51]

Is the United States in the midst of a “nuclear renaissance”? This two-part Backgrounder explores the question, with a look at next-gen reactor design, the (lack of) independence of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and what to do with nuclear waste. Plus, see Part 1 [52] on the government role in developing nuclear power and an earlier effort at industry rebirth.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [53]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [36]
Energy & Fuel [7]
Environmental Politics [23]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [54]
Policy [25]
Technology [26]
Region:
National (U.S.) [15]
International [16]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about What Is the Half-Life of a Nuclear Revival? Part 2 [51]

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