Publication Items

Oysters, Boisterous or Scarce, Fuel Local Environment Stories [1]

The world may be your oyster, but if you’re an environmental journalist, the oyster may also be your story. The latest TipSheet points out (amid numerous tasty serving tips) that oysters say a great deal about the health of local waters … and of the humans who consume the mollusk. Get a dozen-plus oyster story ideas and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [3]
Environmental Health [4]
Fish & Fisheries [5]
Food [6]
Health [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [9]
Pollution [10]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
California [13]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [14]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [15]
Northwest (OR WA) [16]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [17]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Oysters, Boisterous or Scarce, Fuel Local Environment Stories [1]
Reporters Uncover a State Parks Scandal in Florida [19]

Emailed documents and an anonymous memo set two Tampa Bay Times reporters to investigating 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 [20]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [21]
Environmental Politics [22]
Government [23]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [24]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [17]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Reporters Uncover a State Parks Scandal in Florida [19]
Why the Loss of Voting Rights Is a Climate Crisis [25]

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 [26]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [21]
Climate Change [27]
Disasters [28]
Environmental Justice [29]
Environmental Politics [22]
Government [23]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [24]
People & Population [30]
Policy [31]
Pollution [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [17]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [32]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Why the Loss of Voting Rights Is a Climate Crisis [25]
Great Lakes Steelmaking at a Crossroads [33]

The Great Lakes region is a top steel producer, but its coal-fired steel mills are also a major source of planet-warming emissions and health-harming pollution. Climate advocates, community members and workers have been pushing to clean up these facilities for decades. Now, foreign funding offers new hope for revitalizing and decarbonizing the region’s steel industry. Canary Media’s Maria Gallucci explains.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [34]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [21]
Air [35]
Climate Change [27]
Economy & Business [36]
Energy & Fuel [37]
Environmental Politics [22]
Government [23]
Health [7]
Natural Resources [9]
Pollution [10]
Technology [38]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [39]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [17]
International [40]
Asia [41]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Great Lakes Steelmaking at a Crossroads [33]
Is Climate Disaster Insurance a Worsening Disaster? [42]

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 [27]
Consumer [43]
Disasters [28]
Environmental Politics [22]
Government [23]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [24]
People & Population [30]
Planning & Growth [44]
Policy [31]
Water & Oceans [11]
Wildlife [45]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
California [13]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [17]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Is Climate Disaster Insurance a Worsening Disaster? [42]
Reporters Expose Failed Systems After Hurricane Ian, Maui Fires [46]

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 [20]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [28]
Environmental Politics [22]
Journalism & Media [8]
People & Population [30]
Policy [31]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
California [13]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [17]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Reporters Expose Failed Systems After Hurricane Ian, Maui Fires [46]
National Seashores Are a Secret Summer Treasure [47]

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 [23]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [24]
Natural Resources [9]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
California [13]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [39]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [14]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [15]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [17]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [32]
International [40]
Canada [48]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about National Seashores Are a Secret Summer Treasure [47]
Why the Silencing of Protest Matters [49]

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 [26]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [21]
Climate Change [27]
Energy & Fuel [37]
Environmental Health [4]
Environmental Justice [29]
Environmental Politics [22]
Government [23]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [9]
People & Population [30]
Policy [31]
Pollution [10]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [50]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [39]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [51]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [17]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Why the Silencing of Protest Matters [49]
Beyond the Fires and Floods — Comprehensively Covering Disasters [52]

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 [34]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [27]
Disasters [28]
Diversity [53]
Environmental Justice [29]
Government [23]
Journalism & Media [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
California [13]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [17]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Beyond the Fires and Floods — Comprehensively Covering Disasters [52]
Helping Students Learn the Hard Work of Journalism [54]

Two flourishing nonprofit programs teach young writers the basics of journalism and environmental reporting — mentoring and paying students, who publish enterprise and public records stories, personal essays and narrative features. Read more about Florida Student News Watch with CD Davidson-Hiers [54] and Indiana’s climate solutions-focused Youth Environmental Press Team with Jim Poyser [55], in the new EJ Academy.

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ Academy [56]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [57]
Climate Change [27]
Government [23]
Water & Oceans [11]
Wildlife [45]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [39]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [51]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [58]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [17]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [32]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Helping Students Learn the Hard Work of Journalism [54]

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