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]
Wildfire Data, With Its Hair on Fire [12]

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 [13]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [3]
Health [5]
Journalism & Media [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
California [15]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [16]
Northwest (OR WA) [17]
International [10]
Canada [18]
Europe [19]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Wildfire Data, With Its Hair on Fire [12]
Extremely Hot Weather Cooks Up Unusually Awful Air Pollution [20]

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 [21]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [22]
Air [23]
Chemicals [24]
Climate Change [25]
Energy & Fuel [26]
Environmental Health [27]
Government [4]
Health [5]
Journalism & Media [14]
Laws & Regulations [28]
Pollution [29]
Transportation [30]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
International [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Extremely Hot Weather Cooks Up Unusually Awful Air Pollution [20]
Taming the Freight Beast [31]

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 [32]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [22]
Air [23]
Climate Change [25]
Consumer [33]
Economy & Business [34]
Energy & Fuel [26]
Environmental Health [27]
Environmental Justice [35]
Environmental Politics [36]
Government [4]
Health [5]
Infrastructure [37]
Journalism & Media [14]
Laws & Regulations [28]
Policy [7]
Pollution [29]
Technology [38]
Transportation [30]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
California [15]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [39]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Taming the Freight Beast [31]
Reporters Uncover a State Parks Scandal in Florida [40]

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 [41]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [22]
Environmental Politics [36]
Government [4]
Journalism & Media [14]
Laws & Regulations [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [42]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Reporters Uncover a State Parks Scandal in Florida [40]
The Case for Hope in Saving the World’s Birds [43]

With billions of North American birds lost during recent decades, a survey of the successful efforts to save their species is a welcome read. Author Scott Weidensaul highlights winning initiatives, such as rewilding, innovations to protect puffins and more, along with appraisals of less fruitful projects. BookShelf contributor Jennifer Weeks has a review of “The Return of the Oystercatcher.”

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [44]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about The Case for Hope in Saving the World’s Birds [43]
Climate Data Site Spiked, Resurrected by Ex-NOAA Employees [45]

An effort by the Trump administration to tank a highly useful data source on climate change trends has met impressive resistance — in the form of a group of fired NOAA staffers who have rebuilt the climate.gov website stripped by the federal government. And as the latest Toolbox notes, it’s a great resource. Reacquaint yourself with it.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [13]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [22]
Climate Change [25]
Environmental Politics [36]
Environmental Studies [46]
Government [4]
Science [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
International [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Climate Data Site Spiked, Resurrected by Ex-NOAA Employees [45]
SEJournal Adds Two New Editors [47]

SEJournal welcomes two additions to our Publications masthead — veteran data/multimedia journalist Geoff McGhee and early-career freelancer Julie Zenderoudi. McGhee joins us as co-editor of our visual journalism column, EJ InSight. And Zenderoudi comes aboard as co-editor of Freelance Files. Learn more about them and watch for their contributions to our pages in the near future. Plus, two farewells.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [48]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
International [10]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about SEJournal Adds Two New Editors [47]
Gas Prices Still Fuel Local Environmental Stories [49]

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 [21]
Topics on the Beat:
Consumer [33]
Energy & Fuel [26]
Environmental Politics [36]
Journalism & Media [14]
Natural Resources [50]
Policy [7]
Transportation [30]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Gas Prices Still Fuel Local Environmental Stories [49]
Trump Wants Nondisclosure Agreements for Federal Employees [51]

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 [52]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [4]
Journalism & Media [14]
Laws & Regulations [28]
Policy [7]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [11]
- Read more about Trump Wants Nondisclosure Agreements for Federal Employees [51]

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