Publication Items

‘Carbon Colonialism’ Details the Exporting of Degradation, Climate Collapse [1]

The climate change debate is often so focused on fossil fuels and mining that it ignores impacts in economic, political, neo-colonial and social terms, writes BookShelf’s Melody Kemp in her review of “Carbon Colonialism: How Rich Countries Export Climate Breakdown.” Why concepts like corporate social responsibility do little to stem the losses that come with such development.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Climate Change [4]
Consumer [5]
Economy & Business [6]
Energy & Fuel [7]
Environmental Justice [8]
Environmental Politics [9]
Forests [10]
Health [11]
Natural Resources [12]
People & Population [13]
Policy [14]
Pollution [15]
Region:
International [16]
Asia [17]
Europe [18]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about ‘Carbon Colonialism’ Details the Exporting of Degradation, Climate Collapse [1]
Rockets and Bombs and Chemicals — The Environmental Horrors of War [20]

With the world in the midst of wars in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, it’s time for journalists to appraise — and report on — the intersection of conflict and the environment, argues the new Backgrounder. That means considering the environment not only as a victim of war, but also as the cause of war and a means of carrying it out.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [21]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [22]
Climate Change [4]
Disasters [23]
Environmental Health [24]
Environmental Politics [9]
Government [25]
Health [11]
Journalism & Media [26]
Military [27]
People & Population [13]
Policy [14]
Water & Oceans [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [29]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [30]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [31]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [32]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [33]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [34]
International [16]
Africa [35]
Asia [17]
Europe [18]
Middle East [36]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Rockets and Bombs and Chemicals — The Environmental Horrors of War [20]
Take This Clean Electricity ‘Dashboard’ for a Trip Into the Energy Transition Future [37]

To better understand progress in the U.S. energy transition, some of the best nonpartisan data comes from the Energy Information Administration. And, as the latest Reporter’s Toolbox explains, EIA has an effective dashboard tool for exploring state-by-state variations in clean energy performance, among other things. Here’s how to use it smartly. Plus, a few caveats.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [38]
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel [7]
Government [25]
Journalism & Media [26]
Laws & Regulations [39]
Natural Resources [12]
Planning & Growth [40]
Policy [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [29]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Take This Clean Electricity ‘Dashboard’ for a Trip Into the Energy Transition Future [37]
What’s Ahead on Climate Justice, Climate Crisis Beat [41]

What environment stories will matter most in 2024 to communities of color and Indigenous communities? Columnist Yessenia Funes sheds light on concerns ranging from the environmental damage in Gaza and extreme weather across the United States to the fallout from the U.S. presidential election to the local impacts of the clean energy transition. Insights in the latest Voices of Environmental Justice.

SEJ Publication Types:
Voices of Environmental Justice [42]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Climate Change [4]
Disasters [23]
Diversity [43]
Economy & Business [6]
Energy & Fuel [7]
Environmental Justice [8]
Environmental Politics [9]
Government [25]
Health [11]
Infrastructure [44]
Journalism & Media [26]
Military [27]
People & Population [13]
Planning & Growth [40]
Policy [14]
Pollution [15]
Water & Oceans [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [29]
Alaska and Hawaii [45]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [33]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [34]
International [16]
Middle East [36]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about What’s Ahead on Climate Justice, Climate Crisis Beat [41]
Drainage Infrastructure Leads to Wet Basement Stories [46]

Nothing may seem more personal than a home flooded by heavy rains. But the latest TipSheet points out that for local environmental reporters, there’s a bigger story to be told: how your community regulates stormwater and storm sewers, especially in the face of climate change-driven extreme precipitation. More than a dozen reporting ideas and resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [47]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [4]
Infrastructure [44]
Journalism & Media [26]
Planning & Growth [40]
Waste [48]
Water & Oceans [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [29]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [30]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [49]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [31]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Drainage Infrastructure Leads to Wet Basement Stories [46]
Will Journalism Be a Crime in a Second Trump Administration? [50]

For environmental journalists who recall the first Trump administration’s hostility toward media, the prospects of a second Trump presidency are troubling. But not nearly as worrying, WatchDog Opinion writes, as what a Trump reelection would mean for press freedom as a whole, nor for the democracy that hinges on that freedom. Read why the risks of journalists being targeted are real.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [51]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [9]
Government [25]
Journalism & Media [26]
Policy [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [29]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Will Journalism Be a Crime in a Second Trump Administration? [50]
Clearing the Smoke — Collaboration Exposes Impacts of Wildfire Pollution-Reporting Rules [52]

Climate change is fueling the frequency and severity of wildfires, but a little-known Clean Air Act rule lets environmental agencies downplay the impacts of wildfire smoke. A collaborative investigation into this loophole connected dots that even the experts didn’t know about. Journalists Dillon Bergin and Molly Peterson explain their reporting process and offer advice for following your own local leads.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [53]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [54]
Climate Change [4]
Disasters [23]
Environmental Health [24]
Government [25]
Health [11]
Journalism & Media [26]
Laws & Regulations [39]
Pollution [15]
Region:
National (U.S.) [29]
Alaska and Hawaii [45]
California [55]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [30]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [49]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [31]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [32]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [33]
Northwest (OR WA) [56]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [34]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [57]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Clearing the Smoke — Collaboration Exposes Impacts of Wildfire Pollution-Reporting Rules [52]
Watershed Data … for the Rest of Us [58]

If you find yourself covering local waterways and are not a numbers geek but still want good-quality, easy-to-use data to inform your reporting, the latest Reporter’s Toolbox has a handy web app for you. “How’s My Waterway” uses numerous authoritative government datasets in a straightforward format that’s super easy to explore. Get started with intro videos, webcasts, widgets and a ZIP code-based map.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [38]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [26]
Water & Oceans [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [29]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Watershed Data … for the Rest of Us [58]
Neither Pandemic Nor Politics Derailed Grantee’s Trophy Hunting Story [59]

When freelancer Rachel Nuwer decided to tackle a controversial story about trophy hunting and wildlife conservation she confronted not only tricky logistics and demanding field work, but last-minute publication conflicts and the COVID-19 pandemic. But with a grant and an understanding editor, she got her clip and a new commitment to continue covering similarly challenging topics. Nuwer shares her experience in the new FEJ StoryLog.

SEJ Publication Types:
FEJ StoryLog [60]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Biodiversity [61]
Economy & Business [6]
Environmental Health [24]
Environmental Politics [9]
Journalism & Media [26]
Wildlife [62]
Region:
International [16]
Africa [35]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Neither Pandemic Nor Politics Derailed Grantee’s Trophy Hunting Story [59]
Personal Care Products — Bringing the Problems Home [63]

Health and environmental concerns about some beauty items — like the use of formaldehyde in certain hair straighteners — have started to emerge as a focus for federal regulation. But as the latest TipSheet points out, the response has been slow and fitful. Meanwhile, here are story ideas and resources to help reporters find local angles for this environmental and public health hazard.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [47]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [22]
Consumer [5]
Government [25]
Health [11]
Journalism & Media [26]
Laws & Regulations [39]
Region:
National (U.S.) [29]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Personal Care Products — Bringing the Problems Home [63]

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