Publication Items

For Oil Market Data, You Don’t Need Slippery Sources

Tracking the oil market — or more precisely, the price of oil — will tell you a great deal about environmental issues, whether it be fracking, pipelines, land use, toxic emissions or more. The latest Reporter’s Toolbox helps you follow the data for your stories. Plus, a Backgrounder on Big Oil and how it drives not just energy but environment stories.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox
Topics on the Beat:
Economy & Business
Energy & Fuel
Journalism & Media
Natural Resources
Region:
National (U.S.)
International
Visibility:
Public
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Turmoil in World Oil Markets Tips Environmental Scales Too

The dramatic drop in demand for oil, driven by the shutdown of world economies by coronavirus, has meant a corresponding fall in prices. And that has profound environmental implications. But it’s a complicated dynamic to assess. Our Issue Backgrounder provides a look under the hood of Big Oil, and explains what it means for environment reporters. Plus, a Reporter’s Toolbox for tracking the data.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change
Economy & Business
Energy & Fuel
Environmental Politics
Government
Journalism & Media
Laws & Regulations
Natural Resources
Policy
Region:
National (U.S.)
International
Europe
Middle East
Visibility:
Public
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When the Crisis Was Immense, SEJ Award-Winner Went Narrow

How do you gain perspective on a widespread public health disaster? Award-winning reporter Apoorva Mandavilli shares valuable lessons on using a small lens to cover a big story — no, not COVID-19, but the deadly 1984 gas leak in Bhopal, India. And as she explains in this Inside Story Q&A, this decades-old story never really went away in the first place.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story
Topics on the Beat:
Activism
Air
Chemicals
Disasters
Environmental Health
Government
Health
Journalism & Media
People & Population
Pollution
Water & Oceans
Region:
International
Asia
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about When the Crisis Was Immense, SEJ Award-Winner Went Narrow
Go-To Books for Understanding and Surviving a Pandemic

If you’re looking for perspective in your reporting connected with the coronavirus story, it might help to turn to the extensive library of non-fiction books offering insight into disease and epidemics. Our own Bob Wyss offers a helping hand, with a select list of the most useful texts. Plus, links to resource lists for many more, in the latest BookShelf.

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters
Environmental Health
Health
Journalism & Media
People & Population
Science
Region:
National (U.S.)
California
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD)
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT)
International
Central America & the Caribbean
Europe
Visibility:
Public
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Coronavirus Threatens Health of U.S. Journalism, Plus Climate ‘Blackout’ & Disabling FOIA

The economic fallout from COVID-19 is severely damaging the news business, but may also point to transformative new ways of doing journalism, writes columnist Joseph A. Davis in the latest WatchDog. Meanwhile, the coronavirus-climate connection shows the importance of good, scientifically sound journalism. And are federal agencies leaning on COVID-19 to slow FOIA actions?

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog
Topics on the Beat:
Activism
Climate Change
Disasters
Environmental Politics
Government
Health
Journalism & Media
Laws & Regulations
Policy
Science
Region:
National (U.S.)
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Coronavirus Threatens Health of U.S. Journalism, Plus Climate ‘Blackout’ & Disabling FOIA
In Days of Social Distancing, Getting the Goods … Virtually

Can “phoning it in” actually be sound advice for journalists? It can — in the current coronavirus crisis — writes Cynthia Barnett, environmental journalist-in-residence at the University of Florida. In a special EJ Academy, she looks at how to teach young reporters to gather immersive reporting from afar.

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ Academy
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media
Region:
National (U.S.)
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN)
Visibility:
Public
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Covering Climate Change in Age of Coronavirus

The coronavirus pandemic has pushed climate change out of the headlines. But the two stories have much in common if journalists look beneath the surface. That was the consensus of expert panelists at an April 2 webinar organized by the Society of Environmental Journalists, who also had suggestions on how to cover both beats better. Read more, or check out video or audio.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News
Topics on the Beat:
Activism
Climate Change
Disasters
Environmental Politics
Government
Health
Journalism & Media
Planning & Growth
Policy
Region:
National (U.S.)
International
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Covering Climate Change in Age of Coronavirus
Climate, Environment Stories Abound in COVID-19 Rescue Bill

While the COVID-19 outbreak may be absorbing most of the world’s attention, the latest TipSheet advises journalists not to back-burner climate-related energy reporting, as industries and activists continue lobbying for new energy stimulus measures from Congress. On the watch list: tax breaks, airline emission cuts, infrastructure, fossil fuel industry bailouts and more.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Activism
Climate Change
Disasters
Economy & Business
Energy & Fuel
Environmental Politics
Government
Journalism & Media
Laws & Regulations
Policy
Region:
National (U.S.)
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Climate, Environment Stories Abound in COVID-19 Rescue Bill
Q&A Column Resumes with New Co-Editors, New Award Winners

SEJ’s 2020 reporting awards’ deadline is coming up April 24 and the SEJournal is bringing back its Inside Story Q&A feature to share insights from previous award winners. Meet the column’s two new co-editors, including former SEJ president, Emilia Askari (pictured left), and awards committee member Parimal Rohit (pictured right). And find out which award winner, with highly relevant disaster coverage, will relaunch the column in the coming weeks.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters
Journalism & Media
Region:
National (U.S.)
International
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Q&A Column Resumes with New Co-Editors, New Award Winners
Standing Together in Spite of Distancing

Journalists cannot help but be part of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic story, balancing our mandate to be a key information source with our own health and safety, writes Society of Environmental Journalists President Meera Subramanian. But SEJ is right there with them, providing resources and a shared sense of purpose and connection. Find out how SEJ can help, plus SEJ’s plans to weather the related economic crisis, preparations for the annual conference this fall and more. Read the latest SEJ President’s Report.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ Presidents Report
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters
Economy & Business
Journalism & Media
Region:
National (U.S.)
International
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Standing Together in Spite of Distancing