Publication Items

Are We Ready for the Next Pandemic? [1]

If you’ve been pondering what recent Cyclospora, Legionella and Ebola outbreaks tell us about the state of preparedness for future pandemics, Backgrounder has some sobering insights. A reminder of the uneven response to COVID-19 and a look forward at how current Trump administration policy has weakened public health structures and likely left us unready for what’s ahead.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [3]
Government [4]
Health [5]
People & Population [6]
Policy [7]
Science [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
International [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Are We Ready for the Next Pandemic? [1]
Taming the Freight Beast [12]

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 [13]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [14]
Air [15]
Climate Change [16]
Consumer [17]
Economy & Business [18]
Energy & Fuel [19]
Environmental Health [20]
Environmental Justice [21]
Environmental Politics [22]
Government [4]
Health [5]
Infrastructure [23]
Journalism & Media [24]
Laws & Regulations [25]
Policy [7]
Pollution [26]
Technology [27]
Transportation [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
California [29]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [30]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Taming the Freight Beast [12]
Gas Prices Still Fuel Local Environmental Stories [31]

The spike in prices at the pump in recent months, thanks largely to the U.S.’s war with Iran, offers energy and environment reporters numerous local reporting angles, writes the latest TipSheet. A quick perspective and backstory, then more than a dozen story ideas to pursue, smart questions to ask and useful reporting resources to tap.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [32]
Topics on the Beat:
Consumer [17]
Energy & Fuel [19]
Environmental Politics [22]
Journalism & Media [24]
Natural Resources [33]
Policy [7]
Transportation [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Gas Prices Still Fuel Local Environmental Stories [31]
Trump Wants Nondisclosure Agreements for Federal Employees [34]

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 [35]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [4]
Journalism & Media [24]
Laws & Regulations [25]
Policy [7]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Trump Wants Nondisclosure Agreements for Federal Employees [34]
Why the Loss of Voting Rights Is a Climate Crisis [36]

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 [37]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [14]
Climate Change [16]
Disasters [3]
Environmental Justice [21]
Environmental Politics [22]
Government [4]
Journalism & Media [24]
Laws & Regulations [25]
People & Population [6]
Policy [7]
Pollution [26]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [38]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [39]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Why the Loss of Voting Rights Is a Climate Crisis [36]
Is Climate Disaster Insurance a Worsening Disaster? [40]

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 [32]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [16]
Consumer [17]
Disasters [3]
Environmental Politics [22]
Government [4]
Journalism & Media [24]
Laws & Regulations [25]
People & Population [6]
Planning & Growth [41]
Policy [7]
Water & Oceans [42]
Wildlife [43]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
California [29]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [38]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Is Climate Disaster Insurance a Worsening Disaster? [40]
How Attribution Science Can Help Reporters on the Heat Beat [44]

With 2026 shaping up to be an exceptional El Niño year, expect lots of record-breaking heat waves and other extreme weather. But climate change will also contribute. Explaining the role of both is essential to complete coverage. Journalist Ethan Brown shares tips and resources for using climate attribution science as a powerful reporting tool. Plus, five questions to ask while covering the next extreme climate event.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [13]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [16]
Disasters [3]
Environmental Politics [22]
Environmental Studies [45]
Journalism & Media [24]
Policy [7]
Science [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
International [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about How Attribution Science Can Help Reporters on the Heat Beat [44]
Risk Data Is There Despite Efforts To Hide It [46]

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 [47]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [15]
Chemicals [48]
Disasters [3]
Environmental Politics [22]
Government [4]
Journalism & Media [24]
Laws & Regulations [25]
Policy [7]
Pollution [26]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Risk Data Is There Despite Efforts To Hide It [46]
Why Environmental Journalists Should Care About the Presidential Records Act [49]

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 [35]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [22]
Government [4]
Journalism & Media [24]
Laws & Regulations [25]
Policy [7]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Why Environmental Journalists Should Care About the Presidential Records Act [49]
Reporters Expose Failed Systems After Hurricane Ian, Maui Fires [50]

In the wake of two major disasters, beat reporters at The Washington Post examined systemic failures in response and recovery, and the human toll for affected communities. Journalist Brianna Sacks shares what she learned from those investigations, which won a large market award for beat reporting from the Society of Environmental Journalists. Read our Inside Story Q&A.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [51]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [3]
Environmental Politics [22]
Journalism & Media [24]
People & Population [6]
Policy [7]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
California [29]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [38]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Reporters Expose Failed Systems After Hurricane Ian, Maui Fires [50]

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