While the name of Stewart Udall, U.S. interior secretary through the tumultuous 1960s, may have faded from public memory, his influence on environmental policies is still felt today. Contributor Francesca Lyman shines the spotlight on a new documentary about Udall and his legacy, and talks with director John de Graaf about Udall’s insights and inspiration.

The energy transition imperative to move from fossil fuels toward renewable energies could leave out individual homeowners unable to install rooftop solar. But as the latest TipSheet points out, there’s an alternative: community solar. Good local reporting is needed to demystify it though. The backstory, plus more than a dozen story ideas and reporting resources.

As part of a new initiative for the Society of Environmental Journalists' 2024 annual conference [43] in Philadelphia, PA, from April 3-7, the SEJ Publications team has organized an inaugural student newsroom to provide running coverage throughout the conference and beyond.

Numerous sessions and workshops touched on issues ranging from climate, war and migration to sustainable foods, just transitions and watershed solutions, with viewpoints from luminary scientists and top government officials, plus experts, activists and leading environment reporters. Explore on-the-spot writeups and images from our student reporters.

SEJ Sessions and Workshops: Climate Disinformation [44] | Environmental Consequences of War [45] | Climate Migration Reporting [46] | Rural Reporting [47] | Sustainable Food Systems [48] | Whistleblower Stories [49] | Just Transition for Oil Towns [50] | Watersheds [51] | More [42]

Plus, hundreds of attendees crisscrossed the region on a series of day-long tours, with our student reporters going along for the ride. On-the-scene reporting and images from our student newsroom:

SEJ Tours: From Farmbelt to Pinelands [52] | Revolutionary Raptors [53] | Climate Challenges on Delaware Bayshore [54] | Gap Over Future of Delaware Water Gap [55] | Delaware's ‘Holy Trinity’ [56]

Also see SEJ.org’s multimedia coverage [57], including audio recordings of most conference sessions and videos of the plenary sessions. And view other #SEJ2024 resources, like Instagram highlights [58] and coverage stories [59].

Top-flight regional reporting (and data analysis) that explored inequities between Black and white communities around Baltimore, Maryland, yielded journalist Scott Dance a wide range of stories — and a first-place prize in the most recent awards from the Society of Environmental Journalists. Dance, now on the climate desk for The Washington Post shares insights from the beat in the new Inside Story.