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]
Wildfire Data, With Its Hair on Fire [19]

As wildfires rage in the U.S. West, Canada and other hot spots around the globe, reporters covering this environmental hazard in the United States can access high-quality data of exceptional timeliness via the Watch Duty app, finds the latest Reporter’s Toolbox. The tool offers everything from emergency notifications to data deep dives, all smartly integrated in its mapping interface.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [20]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [21]
Health [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
California [13]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [22]
Northwest (OR WA) [16]
International [23]
Canada [24]
Europe [25]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Wildfire Data, With Its Hair on Fire [19]
Taming the Freight Beast [26]

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 [27]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [28]
Air [29]
Climate Change [30]
Consumer [31]
Economy & Business [32]
Energy & Fuel [33]
Environmental Health [4]
Environmental Justice [34]
Environmental Politics [35]
Government [36]
Health [7]
Infrastructure [37]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [38]
Policy [39]
Pollution [10]
Technology [40]
Transportation [41]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
California [13]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [42]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Taming the Freight Beast [26]
Is Climate Disaster Insurance a Worsening Disaster? [43]

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 [30]
Consumer [31]
Disasters [21]
Environmental Politics [35]
Government [36]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [38]
People & Population [44]
Planning & Growth [45]
Policy [39]
Water & Oceans [11]
Wildlife [46]
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? [43]
Reporters Expose Failed Systems After Hurricane Ian, Maui Fires [47]

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 [48]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [21]
Environmental Politics [35]
Journalism & Media [8]
People & Population [44]
Policy [39]
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 [47]
National Seashores Are a Secret Summer Treasure [49]

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 [36]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [38]
Natural Resources [9]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
California [13]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [42]
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) [50]
International [23]
Canada [24]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about National Seashores Are a Secret Summer Treasure [49]
Fire Sleuths Can Spark Story Ideas With Wildland Urban Interface Data Maps [51]

Communities surrounded by forest can be a beautiful place to live … or a wildfire trap. Environmental journalists can readily map and identify these so-called wildland urban interfaces through a federal government resource, writes the latest Reporter’s Toolbox. More on this data mapping tool and how to use it to track your area’s risk, explore historical trends and layer other data.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [20]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [21]
Environmental Studies [52]
Forests [53]
Government [36]
Journalism & Media [8]
People & Population [44]
Planning & Growth [45]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Alaska and Hawaii [54]
California [13]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Fire Sleuths Can Spark Story Ideas With Wildland Urban Interface Data Maps [51]
Beyond the Fires and Floods — Comprehensively Covering Disasters [55]

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 [27]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [30]
Disasters [21]
Diversity [56]
Environmental Justice [34]
Government [36]
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 [55]
Solutions Stories a Compass for Readers [57]

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 [58]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [30]
Disasters [21]
Economy & Business [32]
Environmental Studies [52]
Health [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
California [13]
International [23]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Solutions Stories a Compass for Readers [57]
Geothermal a Valuable, But Overlooked Clean Energy Source? [59]

More heat pumps than ever are going into homes and businesses in the United States these days. But they are just one small-scale use of geothermal energy, a promising utility-scale technology that is growing worldwide — and with a minimal carbon footprint to boot. But there are drawbacks as well. The new Issue Backgrounder explains how it all works.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [60]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [30]
Energy & Fuel [33]
Natural Resources [9]
Technology [40]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
California [13]
International [23]
Asia [61]
Australia & Oceania [62]
Europe [25]
Middle East [63]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Geothermal a Valuable, But Overlooked Clean Energy Source? [59]

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