Publication Items

Reporters Expose Failed Systems After Hurricane Ian, Maui Fires [1]

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 [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [3]
Environmental Politics [4]
Journalism & Media [5]
People & Population [6]
Policy [7]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
California [9]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Reporters Expose Failed Systems After Hurricane Ian, Maui Fires [1]
Hazard Duty — Government Data Portals Help Report Extreme Weather [12]

When it comes to tracking weather phenomena from heat waves and tornadoes to wildfire smoke or storm surge, environmental journalists could hardly do better than the vast array of data from the National Weather Service, writes the latest Reporter’s Toolbox. A tour of data maps and viewers, forecasts and weather insights from the large scale to the local.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [13]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [14]
Disasters [3]
Journalism & Media [5]
Science [15]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Hazard Duty — Government Data Portals Help Report Extreme Weather [12]
Graphic Content — Journalistic Lessons From Crossing Genres [16]

Today’s teens are growing up in a world of conspicuous climate change, often directly affected by its consequences. Despite their youth, some are at the forefront of the fight against this threat. Freelance journalist and author Meera Subramanian — co-creator of a new nonfiction graphic novel about young climate campaigners — on teens as sources, activism as a topic and the pleasures of collaboration. See a sample of the book [17].

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [18]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [19]
Biodiversity [20]
Climate Change [14]
Disasters [3]
Diversity [21]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Justice [23]
Environmental Politics [4]
Environmental Studies [24]
Health [25]
Journalism & Media [5]
Pollution [26]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [27]
Science [15]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [28]
International [29]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Graphic Content — Journalistic Lessons From Crossing Genres [16]
National Seashores Are a Secret Summer Treasure [30]

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 [31]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [32]
Journalism & Media [5]
Laws & Regulations [33]
Natural Resources [34]
Water & Oceans [35]
Region:
California [9]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [36]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [37]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [28]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [10]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [38]
International [29]
Canada [39]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about National Seashores Are a Secret Summer Treasure [30]
Scouring the Skies for Methane Data [40]

Emissions of the global warming gas methane are widely tracked through satellite sensors, despite some unexpected bumps in the data-gathering effort. But a big challenge is how to interpret and use the resulting insights in your coverage. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox points out several important methane datasets and offers useful insights into how to turn them into stories.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [13]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [14]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Studies [24]
Journalism & Media [5]
Science [15]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
International [29]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Scouring the Skies for Methane Data [40]
#SEJ2026 Live — Coverage of Conference Tours [41]

SEJournal is providing full coverage of all eight of the day-long tours from the annual Society of Environmental Journalists’ conference, April 15-18, in Chicago. In Part 2, contributors Meg Duff [42], Nathaniel Eisen [43], Nhung Nguyen [44] and Marlowe Starling [45] provide detailed reports from tours focused on the transitioning steel industry, microgrids, climate-friendly crop practices and evolving Midwestern agricultural systems.

Also check out the first round of tour coverage and read all the great work [41] from our team of early-career freelance journalists, part of SEJournal’s live #SEJ2026 Live conference reporting.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [46]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [19]
Agriculture [47]
Air [48]
Biodiversity [20]
Chemicals [49]
Climate Change [14]
Consumer [50]
Economy & Business [51]
Energy & Fuel [52]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Justice [23]
Environmental Politics [4]
Environmental Studies [24]
Food [53]
Forests [54]
Government [32]
Health [25]
Infrastructure [55]
Journalism & Media [5]
Laws & Regulations [33]
Natural Resources [34]
People & Population [6]
Planning & Growth [56]
Policy [7]
Pollution [26]
Science [15]
Technology [57]
Transportation [58]
Waste [59]
Water & Oceans [35]
Wildlife [60]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [36]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about #SEJ2026 Live — Coverage of Conference Tours [41]
War and Pizza — #SEJ2026 in Chicago [61]

Nearly as rejuvenating as attending the Society of Environmental Journalists’ annual gathering is perusing the après-conference spoof by contributing quipster David Helvarg. While it seemed he was mostly there unabashedly preselling his forthcoming book, he somehow found time to send up SEJ’s earnest sessions, lambast its blown-up tours and rib its beat dinners. Read his Chicago roast.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [46]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [47]
Air [48]
Chemicals [49]
Climate Change [14]
Economy & Business [51]
Energy & Fuel [52]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Justice [23]
Environmental Politics [4]
Fish & Fisheries [62]
Government [32]
Health [25]
Journalism & Media [5]
Natural Resources [34]
Policy [7]
Pollution [26]
Science [15]
Waste [59]
Water & Oceans [35]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [36]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about War and Pizza — #SEJ2026 in Chicago [61]
Why the Silencing of Protest Matters [63]

As the Trump administration and its allies seek to stifle free speech and paint protest as domestic terrorism, Voices columnist Yessenia Funes argues that environmental journalists must heed the impact on the environmental movement we cover. Start with what happened in Standing Rock, which swept back into the news this spring. Funes explains the connection, and where we may be headed.

SEJ Publication Types:
Voices of Environmental Justice [64]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [19]
Climate Change [14]
Energy & Fuel [52]
Environmental Health [22]
Environmental Justice [23]
Environmental Politics [4]
Government [32]
Journalism & Media [5]
Natural Resources [34]
People & Population [6]
Policy [7]
Pollution [26]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [27]
Water & Oceans [35]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [36]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [65]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Why the Silencing of Protest Matters [63]
National Trails System — You Can Get There From Here [66]

A walk in the woods can get you more than a good time — it can get you a good story. TipSheet explores the National Trails System and other trail systems around the United States, which provide scenic and historic high points for your reporting, along with traveler interviews and insights. A dozen story ideas and reporting resources for exploring your area’s natural wonders.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [31]
Topics on the Beat:
Forests [54]
Government [32]
Journalism & Media [5]
Natural Resources [34]
Water & Oceans [35]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about National Trails System — You Can Get There From Here [66]
Bringing Back National Interest — and Climate Coverage — With VOA? [67]

Once a U.S. propaganda vehicle, the Voice of America became much more — a lifeline for millions across the globe. And one that, WatchDog Opinion notes, offered more climate news than most. That is, until Trump tried to kill it. Now that a legal ruling has given it new life, what’s the next chapter? And what will that mean for U.S. press freedom?

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [68]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [32]
Journalism & Media [5]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
International [29]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Bringing Back National Interest — and Climate Coverage — With VOA? [67]

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