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Issue Backgrounder is a monthly SEJournal Online feature to help journalists better cover emerging environmental issues, especially challenging or under-reported topics. Each Backgrounder focuses on a specific environmental topic, offering key questions, basic answers, source contacts and other resources.

For questions and comments, or to suggest future Issue Backgrounders, email Backgrounder Editor Joseph A. Davis at sejournaleditor@sej.org.

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July 15, 2014

Living in Harm’s Way: Louisiana’s Struggle Between Land and Sea

After Katrina, Louisiana may have hit the national spotlight for a time, but coastal communities elsewhere around the country will have to find their own answers to the question “Why does anyone still live there in harm’s way?” — even as more and more people move toward the coast and the water moves ever closer to them.

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October 15, 2013

Climate Adaptation Story Reaches Tipping Point

This special report on climate change adaptation will help environmental journalists better understand and cover this growing topic. Top-notch beat reporters share how to best get at the nuts and bolts of adaptation in coastal communities and agricultural ones, a leading communications thinker shares insights into the “message” of adaptation, and we provide snapshots of a few of the many noteworthy adaptation projects, as well as the special challenges faced in one developing nation.

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July 15, 2013

The Endangered Species Act at 40: Forty Things Journalists Should Know

John Platt, author of Scientific American's Extinction Countdown blog, offers up a great list of things that may help environmental journalists illuminate some of the issues in question as the Act prepares for its second 40 years. Photo: A California condor outfitted with tracking tags, courtesy USFWS.

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April 15, 2013

Elephant Wrangling on the Energy Beat

More than one observer has compared covering energy to the folk tale about the blind men who try to describe an elephant, and end up shouting at each other because they’ve each grasped a different part of the beast and believe their portion represents the whole thing. Freelancer Jennifer Weeks reports.

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January 15, 2013

Are We Ready for the Next Superstorm?

Francesca Lyman asks "What does Hurricane Sandy tell us about coping with human health and consequences of climate change?"

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September 15, 2012

Bridging the Journalism/Science Divide, Professions Seek New Ways To Collaborate

Bud Ward, editor of The Yale Forum on Climate Change & The Media, writes about the ways for these two disciplines to get along and learn from each other — while preserving their own independence and remaining loyal to their underlying principles.

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April 15, 2012

Are Meteorologists Environmental Journalists?

The answer is Yes. No. Maybe … and it depends.

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Getting into the (Clean Water) Act

InvestigateWest's Robert McClure gets into the (clean water) act by asking, "Four decades later, is our water cleaner?" You'll find shocking answers and a flood of ways to localize this issue.

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October 15, 2011

Covering Trauma, Surviving Trauma and Gaining New Insight into How To Handle It

Miami-based radio news director Dan Grech recounts his journey covering the traumatic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, becoming homeless thanks to Hurricane Wilma, his subsequent training on trauma reporting, and shares his lessons learned with you.

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July 15, 2011

Enterprising Stories Stand Out in Recent Disaster Coverage — From Japan to Texas

Here's a sampling of coverage of recent extreme weather disasters, with particular focus on a few of the many enterprise stories that emanated from four clusters of events — the tsunami-caused crisis at Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant, drought and wildfires in Texas, death-dealing tornadoes in the Southeast and massive flooding in the Mississippi River system.

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Backgrounders

July 15, 2014

Living in Harm’s Way: Louisiana’s Struggle Between Land and Sea

October 15, 2013

Climate Adaptation Story Reaches Tipping Point

July 15, 2013

The Endangered Species Act at 40: Forty Things Journalists Should Know

April 15, 2013

Elephant Wrangling on the Energy Beat

January 15, 2013

Are We Ready for the Next Superstorm?

September 15, 2012

Bridging the Journalism/Science Divide, Professions Seek New Ways To Collaborate

April 15, 2012

Are Meteorologists Environmental Journalists?

Getting into the (Clean Water) Act

October 15, 2011

Covering Trauma, Surviving Trauma and Gaining New Insight into How To Handle It

July 15, 2011

Enterprising Stories Stand Out in Recent Disaster Coverage — From Japan to Texas

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