Publication Items

Irrigation Districts Are Key to Covering Coming Drought [1]

With megadrought a growing reality, one way into the story is through ubiquitous water management agencies. TipSheet surveys the “waterscape” of these governmental bodies — from local irrigation districts to multi-state regional water compacts — and how focusing on them can yield vital insights for drought stories. Plus, questions to ask and links to reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Climate Change [4]
Consumer [5]
Disasters [6]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Politics [8]
Fish & Fisheries [9]
Government [10]
Infrastructure [11]
Journalism & Media [12]
Laws & Regulations [13]
Natural Resources [14]
People & Population [15]
Planning & Growth [16]
Water & Oceans [17]
Region:
National (U.S.) [18]
Visibility:
Public [19]
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Is Investor Activism Really Greening Corporate Policy? [20]

Corporate boardrooms are increasingly arenas in the fight over the future of energy and the environment, making it vital for journalists to understand the players, their motivations and the potential impacts on business planning. The new Issue Backgrounder explores the implications of recent news around investment policy, explaining some of its origins and deciphering the shifting scrimmage ahead.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [21]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [22]
Climate Change [4]
Consumer [5]
Economy & Business [23]
Energy & Fuel [24]
Environmental Politics [8]
Journalism & Media [12]
Policy [25]
Region:
National (U.S.) [18]
International [26]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Is Investor Activism Really Greening Corporate Policy? [20]
Forest Service Offers Mapping Database on Potential Wildfire Hazards [27]

With a particularly dangerous wildfire season ahead, environmental journalists can better cover the heightened risk with a specialized U.S. Forest Service database. It predicts fire risk using a range of frequently updated variables like amount and condition of fuel, drought and topography, then maps it in high resolution with overlays of human structures and populations. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox has more on the database, and details how to make smart use of it.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [28]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [4]
Disasters [6]
Forests [29]
Journalism & Media [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [18]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Forest Service Offers Mapping Database on Potential Wildfire Hazards [27]
Before You Cover That Pipeline Protest, Check the Law [30]

At least 16 states currently have critical infrastructure anti-protest laws that could sweep up journalists on the scene, reports the latest TipSheet. The laws, which more states are considering, apply to pipelines, but sometimes other facilities that impact the environment too, like powerlines, dams, port facilities and refineries. How to keep track and avoid going to jail.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [22]
Energy & Fuel [24]
Environmental Justice [31]
Environmental Politics [8]
Government [10]
Infrastructure [11]
Journalism & Media [12]
Laws & Regulations [13]
Policy [25]
Region:
National (U.S.) [18]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [32]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [33]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [34]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [35]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [36]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [37]
Visibility:
Public [19]
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Reconciling the Divide — How To Report Environment and Religion Together [38]

New thinking and narratives are needed to solve complex environmental challenges like the climate crisis. But for journalists, the ongoing split between religion and environment beats hampers that effort. It’s a reality environmental journalist Meera Subramanian knows from conversations at her own kitchen table. So she helped organize a recent Society of Environmental Journalists’ webinar to explore closing the gap.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [39]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [4]
Diversity [40]
Journalism & Media [12]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [41]
Region:
National (U.S.) [18]
International [26]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Reconciling the Divide — How To Report Environment and Religion Together [38]
Digging Deep Into an Insect ‘Die-off’ When the Data Is Missing [42]

Even with a book in the works and a pledge to not take on new projects, freelance environmental journalist Jeremy Hance couldn’t say no to a series on global insect decline. Despite missing data and numerous other challenges, the resulting project was an award-winning example of explanatory reporting. Insights and lessons learned, in the new Inside Story.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [43]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [44]
Environmental Health [7]
Environmental Studies [45]
Journalism & Media [12]
Science [46]
Wildlife [47]
Region:
National (U.S.) [18]
International [26]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Digging Deep Into an Insect ‘Die-off’ When the Data Is Missing [42]
When No News Is Bad News — EPA Uncensors Climate Indicators [48]

A government website that tracked climate change is back after being frozen by the Trump administration. But the return of the EPA’s climate indicator page, argues the new WatchDog opinion column, is just one step in undoing a longer-term and more systematic assault on science that has hobbled truth-seeking journalists. WatchDog on what must come next.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [49]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [22]
Climate Change [4]
Environmental Politics [8]
Environmental Studies [45]
Government [10]
Journalism & Media [12]
Policy [25]
Science [46]
Region:
National (U.S.) [18]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about When No News Is Bad News — EPA Uncensors Climate Indicators [48]
Forest Inventory May Provide Trail Guide to Ongoing Policy Crisis [50]

U.S. forests face damage from drought, climate-driven disease and wildfire. To help track the state of our trees, Reporter’s Toolbox explores a massive set of Forest Service databases that details everything from deforestation and dead fuel status to deforestation and species mix. There’s even info on urban forests and grasslands. A closer look at the Forest Inventory and Analysis program.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [28]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [4]
Environmental Health [7]
Forests [29]
Government [10]
Journalism & Media [12]
Natural Resources [14]
Science [46]
Region:
National (U.S.) [18]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Forest Inventory May Provide Trail Guide to Ongoing Policy Crisis [50]
The Year Nature Became Mainstream Medicine [51]

An unusual student journalist, moonlighting in between his Ph.D. training as a clinical psychologist, turned an interest in the ways nature can heal into an award-winning story for a prominent magazine, and in the process helped prompt skyrocketing interest among mainstream physicians in “prescribing nature.” Aaron Reuben shares his experience in the new EJ Academy.

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ Academy [52]
Topics on the Beat:
Health [53]
Journalism & Media [12]
People & Population [15]
Science [46]
Region:
National (U.S.) [18]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about The Year Nature Became Mainstream Medicine [51]
Webinar Offers Insight Into Complexities of Environmental Justice Reporting [54]

Long overlooked or misunderstood outside of the communities they affected, issues of environmental equity are now increasingly the focus of both government action and journalistic digging. A recent webinar from the Society of Environmental Journalists explored new developments with this many-layered challenge and offered advice on how it can be better covered. Webinar moderator and reporter Perla Trevizo has a rundown.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [39]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [22]
Diversity [40]
Environmental Justice [31]
Environmental Politics [8]
Government [10]
Health [53]
Journalism & Media [12]
People & Population [15]
Policy [25]
Pollution [55]
Region:
National (U.S.) [18]
Visibility:
Public [19]
- Read more about Webinar Offers Insight Into Complexities of Environmental Justice Reporting [54]

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