Topical resources Archives

Resource Database / Guide

Resources to help journalists cover the 2024 US election

The Journalist's Resource

"All year, journalists all over the United States have been hard at work covering the 2024 election. The Journalist’s Resource team has been hard at work, too, creating resources to help you cover the news in the lead-up to Election Day and beyond. Here’s a collection of the election-related tip sheets, research roundups and explainers we’ve published this year so far."

Resources to help journalists cover the 2024 US election

Summary:

"All year, journalists all over the United States have been hard at work covering the 2024 election. The Journalist’s Resource team has been hard at work, too, creating resources to help you cover the news in the lead-up to Election Day and beyond. Here’s a collection of the election-related tip sheets, research roundups and explainers we’ve published this year so far."

Organization:

The Journalist's Resource

Date:

October 16, 2024

Category:

For:

Journalists

VISIT

Resource Database / Guide

The Public Health Communicators Guide to Misinformation

Public Health Communications Collaborative

"Building continued trust in public health requires communicators to learn how to identify false narratives and respond with clarity, accurate information, and accessible language. This guide, developed by the Public Health Communications Collaborative in partnership with the Infodemiology Training Program, provides foundational insights into the current misinformation landscape and an overview of tools for assessing risk and determining responses."

The Public Health Communicators Guide to Misinformation

Summary:

"Building continued trust in public health requires communicators to learn how to identify false narratives and respond with clarity, accurate information, and accessible language. This guide, developed by the Public Health Communications Collaborative in partnership with the Infodemiology Training Program, provides foundational insights into the current misinformation landscape and an overview of tools for assessing risk and determining responses."

Organization:

Public Health Communications Collaborative

Date:

September 18, 2024

Category:

For:

VISIT

Podcast

Why a science magazine went political

STAT News

"For several years now, newspapers have been moving away from a longstanding tradition: endorsing candidates for political office... But Scientific American is bucking the trend. In 2020, for the first time, the 179-year-old magazine endorsed Joe Biden for president. They followed suit this year, endorsing Kamala Harris. In both 2020 and 2024, the move spurred a great deal of discussion about scientific objectivity, journalistic objectivity, and the point of endorsements. To learn more about the decision to endorse and the process behind it, I spoke with Scientific American editor-in-chief Laura Helmuth and chief opinion editor Megha Satyanarayana (formerly of STAT)."

Why a science magazine went political

Summary:

"For several years now, newspapers have been moving away from a longstanding tradition: endorsing candidates for political office... But Scientific American is bucking the trend. In 2020, for the first time, the 179-year-old magazine endorsed Joe Biden for president. They followed suit this year, endorsing Kamala Harris. In both 2020 and 2024, the move spurred a great deal of discussion about scientific objectivity, journalistic objectivity, and the point of endorsements. To learn more about the decision to endorse and the process behind it, I spoke with Scientific American editor-in-chief Laura Helmuth and chief opinion editor Megha Satyanarayana (formerly of STAT)."

Organization:

STAT News

Date:

October 9, 2024

Category:

For:

VISIT

Resource Database / Guide

The Climate Blueprint

Covering Climate Now, Solutions Journalism Network

This collection of articles includes reflections from leading climate journalists about how to better cover the all-encompassing climate crisis. It includes connecting climate to every beat, engagement, visualization, disinformation, local journalism, identifying impact, collaborations, and more. The project was led by Solutions Journalism Network and Covering Climate Now, following discussions from a conference in fall 2023.

The Climate Blueprint

Summary:

This collection of articles includes reflections from leading climate journalists about how to better cover the all-encompassing climate crisis. It includes connecting climate to every beat, engagement, visualization, disinformation, local journalism, identifying impact, collaborations, and more. The project was led by Solutions Journalism Network and Covering Climate Now, following discussions from a conference in fall 2023.

Organization:

Covering Climate Now, Solutions Journalism Network

Date:

September 26, 2024

Category:

For:

VISIT

Fellowships & Grants

Seed grants for climate and environmental journalism

Earth Journalism Network

"EJN is offering seed grants of approximately $8,000 each to three immigrant, Black, Indigenous and/or people of color-serving newsrooms and media collectives in the United States and Canada, with support from the Wikimedia Foundation. These grants are intended to fund the initial production of new journalistic tools or resources (such as open-source databases) and/or the publication of multi-part, longform journalistic work (such as an investigative series or a podcast). Along with funding, selected grantees will benefit from mentorship from media trainers, facilitated connections to relevant experts and assistance with media sustainability." The deadline is October 31, 2024.

Seed grants for climate and environmental journalism

Summary:

"EJN is offering seed grants of approximately $8,000 each to three immigrant, Black, Indigenous and/or people of color-serving newsrooms and media collectives in the United States and Canada, with support from the Wikimedia Foundation. These grants are intended to fund the initial production of new journalistic tools or resources (such as open-source databases) and/or the publication of multi-part, longform journalistic work (such as an investigative series or a podcast). Along with funding, selected grantees will benefit from mentorship from media trainers, facilitated connections to relevant experts and assistance with media sustainability." The deadline is October 31, 2024.

Organization:

Earth Journalism Network

Category:

For:

Journalists

VISIT

Video

Writing about climate change for kids

The Highlights Foundation

In this virtual event from The Highlights Foundation, authors Pam Courtney, Andrea Loney, and Crystal Allen discussed writing about climate change for children. The conversation identifies ways that "children’s books can offer a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between social justice, racial equity, and caring for our planet."

Writing about climate change for kids

Summary:

In this virtual event from The Highlights Foundation, authors Pam Courtney, Andrea Loney, and Crystal Allen discussed writing about climate change for children. The conversation identifies ways that "children’s books can offer a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between social justice, racial equity, and caring for our planet."

Organization:

The Highlights Foundation

Date:

August 13, 2024

Category:

For:

VISIT

Awards

Reed Environmental Writing Award

The Southern Environmental Law Center's annual Reed Environmental Writing Award "seeks to enhance public awareness of the value and vulnerability of the South’s natural treasures by giving special recognition to writers who most effectively tell the stories about the region’s environment." There are two categories: Book, for works of nonfiction (not self-published), and Journalism, for newspaper, magazine, and online writing that is published by a recognized institution such as a newspaper, university, or nonprofit organization. Entries must relate to the natural treasures or environmental challenges in at least one of SELC’s states: Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Virginia. Winners will be invited to read from their winning entry at a special SELC event during the Virginia Festival of the Book, held every March in Charlottesville,Va. The deadline for the 2025 awards is October 1.

Reed Environmental Writing Award

Summary:

The Southern Environmental Law Center's annual Reed Environmental Writing Award "seeks to enhance public awareness of the value and vulnerability of the South’s natural treasures by giving special recognition to writers who most effectively tell the stories about the region’s environment." There are two categories: Book, for works of nonfiction (not self-published), and Journalism, for newspaper, magazine, and online writing that is published by a recognized institution such as a newspaper, university, or nonprofit organization. Entries must relate to the natural treasures or environmental challenges in at least one of SELC’s states: Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Virginia. Winners will be invited to read from their winning entry at a special SELC event during the Virginia Festival of the Book, held every March in Charlottesville,Va. The deadline for the 2025 awards is October 1.

Category:

For:

VISIT

Resource Database / Guide

GIJN Guide to Investigating Extreme Heat

"The negative effects of higher temperatures can be seen everywhere, offering many opportunities for investigative journalism." This guide from the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) provides potential topics to cover, story angles, many story examples, resources, and more.

Fellowships & Grants

MIT Environmental Solutions Journalism Fellowships

MIT

"The MIT Environmental Solutions Journalism Fellowship supports freelance and staff journalists associated with U.S. local/regional newsrooms in developing a high-impact news project that reports on how climate change and/or the shift to a low-carbon economy relates to local communities and regions, in a way that centers local messengers, values, and priorities." For 2025, "special consideration will be given to news projects centered on climate solutions within the food and waste systems, including food waste and methane emissions in waste management." "Starting in January 2025, Fellows will participate in a four-month nonresident program that includes a multi-day virtual workshop where fellows will connect with MIT climate scientists, earth modeling researchers, political scientists, energy economists, and others; access to an editor to support project structure and packaging; training on using MIT’s extensive library databases, socioeconomic climate analyses, and other resources as requested; twice a month virtual cohort meetings; republication of the project through MIT and partner channels; and stipends of $10,000 plus up to $5,000 for qualified expenses. Applications are due October 14, 2024.

MIT Environmental Solutions Journalism Fellowships

Summary:

"The MIT Environmental Solutions Journalism Fellowship supports freelance and staff journalists associated with U.S. local/regional newsrooms in developing a high-impact news project that reports on how climate change and/or the shift to a low-carbon economy relates to local communities and regions, in a way that centers local messengers, values, and priorities." For 2025, "special consideration will be given to news projects centered on climate solutions within the food and waste systems, including food waste and methane emissions in waste management." "Starting in January 2025, Fellows will participate in a four-month nonresident program that includes a multi-day virtual workshop where fellows will connect with MIT climate scientists, earth modeling researchers, political scientists, energy economists, and others; access to an editor to support project structure and packaging; training on using MIT’s extensive library databases, socioeconomic climate analyses, and other resources as requested; twice a month virtual cohort meetings; republication of the project through MIT and partner channels; and stipends of $10,000 plus up to $5,000 for qualified expenses. Applications are due October 14, 2024.

Organization:

MIT

Category:

For:

Journalists

VISIT

Fellowships & Grants

Logan Science Journalism Program fellowships

Marine Biological Laboratory

"The Logan Science Journalism Program, founded in 1986, offers science journalists, writers, editors, and broadcast journalists a chance to forget about story deadlines and immerse themselves in basic biomedical or environmental research." Journalists can apply for an introductory course in biomedical research or one in environmental research, both of which are hosted in-person at the Marine Biological Laboratory. Travel, lodging, food, and course fees are covered for fellows. The 2025 program will take place May 18-May 28, and the deadline to apply is January 15.

Logan Science Journalism Program fellowships

Summary:

"The Logan Science Journalism Program, founded in 1986, offers science journalists, writers, editors, and broadcast journalists a chance to forget about story deadlines and immerse themselves in basic biomedical or environmental research." Journalists can apply for an introductory course in biomedical research or one in environmental research, both of which are hosted in-person at the Marine Biological Laboratory. Travel, lodging, food, and course fees are covered for fellows. The 2025 program will take place May 18-May 28, and the deadline to apply is January 15.

Organization:

Marine Biological Laboratory

Location:

Woods Hole, Mass.

Category:

For:

Journalists

VISIT

Article

Repetition makes climate misinformation feel more true — even for those who back climate science

"Climate misinformation may be more effective than we’d like to think because of a phenomenon called the illusory truth effect. In short, we are more likely to believe a lie if we encounter it repeatedly. Worse, the effect works immediately — a lie seems to be more true even after just one repetition." This article in Nieman Lab summarizes a recent paper by the same authors (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0307294) in which the researchers put the illusory truth effect to the test among people with strongly held existing beliefs.

Repetition makes climate misinformation feel more true — even for those who back climate science

Summary:

"Climate misinformation may be more effective than we’d like to think because of a phenomenon called the illusory truth effect. In short, we are more likely to believe a lie if we encounter it repeatedly. Worse, the effect works immediately — a lie seems to be more true even after just one repetition." This article in Nieman Lab summarizes a recent paper by the same authors (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0307294) in which the researchers put the illusory truth effect to the test among people with strongly held existing beliefs.

Published By:

NiemanLab

Date:

August 12, 2024

Category:

For:

VISIT

Article

What journalists need to know when covering extreme weather and climate change

The NPR Climate Desk put together this bulleted list of ready-to-use, sourced (to NPR articles) bullet points about climate change, organized by topic. Many are from the latest National Climate Assessment.

What journalists need to know when covering extreme weather and climate change

Summary:

The NPR Climate Desk put together this bulleted list of ready-to-use, sourced (to NPR articles) bullet points about climate change, organized by topic. Many are from the latest National Climate Assessment.

Published By:

National Public Radio (NPR)

Date:

July 23, 2024

Category:

For:

Journalists

VISIT

Article

Mpox: An explainer and research roundup

"A handful of researchers tried to notify the international community about a brewing problem with mpox, but their reports went mostly unnoticed until an outbreak in the United Kingdom in May 2022." This piece, first published in 2022, was updated in August 2024 given new alerts and emergency declarations from the U.S. CDC, Africa CDC, and World Health Organization.

Article

Routine childhood vaccinations and changing school requirements: A primer and research roundup

"As schools prepare for the fall semester, administrators are checking children’s shot records and working with families to help kids get up to date." This research roundup explains strategies to increase childhood vaccinations and context, as vaccination rates have fallen in recent years with disruptions and mistrust tied to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Video

Engaging the public on LGBTQ health: A conversation with journalist Erin Reed

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

In this virtual event presented by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence, journalist and activist Erin Reed spoke to Ivan Hsiao, founder of Trans Health HQ. They discussed "ways to translate and disseminate research about LGBTQ health for policy and public discourse, combat misinformation and disinformation, and support progress toward a more equitable future for the LGBTQ community."

Engaging the public on LGBTQ health: A conversation with journalist Erin Reed

Summary:

In this virtual event presented by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence, journalist and activist Erin Reed spoke to Ivan Hsiao, founder of Trans Health HQ. They discussed "ways to translate and disseminate research about LGBTQ health for policy and public discourse, combat misinformation and disinformation, and support progress toward a more equitable future for the LGBTQ community."

Organization:

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Date:

July 24, 2024

Category:

For:

VISIT

Article

How investigative journalists can fight back against health misinformation

The panel "Mis- and Disinformation about Health is Killing Us. What Should Journalists Be Doing about It?" presented at the 2024 International Journalism Festival in Perugia, Italy, explored how certain industries are exploiting a vacuum of trusted health information to misinform and disinform the public about their products and policies. Moderated by Pulitzer Center senior editor Susan Ferriss and featuring Will Fitzgibbon of The Examination; Chrissie Giles, deputy editor of the London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism; and Mia Malan, founder and editor-in-chief of the South Africa-based Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism, the panelists "discussed their experiences working on impactful investigations and shared advice for journalists who want to cover health issues but don’t know where to start."

Video

Talking shop: When debunking climate disinformation gets labeled “censorship”

Covering Climate Now

"Increasingly, disinformation peddlers are protecting their lies by accusing anyone who fact-checks or debunks climate disinformation of censorship, bias, or being anti–free speech and debate. How can journalists preempt such charges, or deal with them, as we continue to tackle climate disinformation on the beat? In this press briefing, co-sponsored by Covering Climate Now and Climate Action Against Disinformation, experts detailed strategies used by disinformers to discredit journalists and how you can protect your reporting and serve your audiences. Kendra Pierre-Louis of Bloomberg; Marco Silva of BBC News; and Wudan Yan, freelance journalist, fact-checker, and entrepreneur, joined moderator Amy Westervelt, executive editor of Drilled, for a one-hour conversation."

Talking shop: When debunking climate disinformation gets labeled “censorship”

Summary:

"Increasingly, disinformation peddlers are protecting their lies by accusing anyone who fact-checks or debunks climate disinformation of censorship, bias, or being anti–free speech and debate. How can journalists preempt such charges, or deal with them, as we continue to tackle climate disinformation on the beat? In this press briefing, co-sponsored by Covering Climate Now and Climate Action Against Disinformation, experts detailed strategies used by disinformers to discredit journalists and how you can protect your reporting and serve your audiences. Kendra Pierre-Louis of Bloomberg; Marco Silva of BBC News; and Wudan Yan, freelance journalist, fact-checker, and entrepreneur, joined moderator Amy Westervelt, executive editor of Drilled, for a one-hour conversation."

Organization:

Covering Climate Now

Date:

June 18, 2024

Category:

For:

VISIT

Resource Database / Guide

A freelancer’s guide to reporting on climate change

"For freelance journalists, reporting on environmental issues and climate change is a chance to cover a diverse range of stories, places, and characters with an opportunity to build data, multimedia, and storytelling skills to better engage audiences... In this guide you will learn to help audiences connect with the subject of climate change; learn how environmental issues overlap with everyday events or trending topics; and learn to connect the dots globally." The guide, published by the European Journalism Centre, is available in English, Arabic, French, and Spanish.

A freelancer’s guide to reporting on climate change

Summary:

"For freelance journalists, reporting on environmental issues and climate change is a chance to cover a diverse range of stories, places, and characters with an opportunity to build data, multimedia, and storytelling skills to better engage audiences... In this guide you will learn to help audiences connect with the subject of climate change; learn how environmental issues overlap with everyday events or trending topics; and learn to connect the dots globally." The guide, published by the European Journalism Centre, is available in English, Arabic, French, and Spanish.

Published By:

European Journalism Centre

Category:

For:

VISIT

Newsletter

Climate on the Ballot newsletter

Covering Climate Now

The Climate on the Ballot newsletter, from Covering Climate Now, is delivered every Monday and covers a topic to help journalists integrate climate into their newsroom’s campaign reporting. It is also available in Spanish here: https://coveringclimatenow.org/from-us/el-clima-en-la-boleta/

Video

Making obscure animals and ecosystems compelling main characters

SEJ

Pandas and forests are out. Moths and peatlands are in. During this session at the 2024 Society of Environmental Journalists annual meeting, a panel of wildlife writers discussed how to get readers deeply invested in stories about wildlife and ecosystems that are not traditionally charismatic. These could be obscure creatures and places that some readers have never heard of, or animals that many people consider icky pests.

Making obscure animals and ecosystems compelling main characters

Summary:

Pandas and forests are out. Moths and peatlands are in. During this session at the 2024 Society of Environmental Journalists annual meeting, a panel of wildlife writers discussed how to get readers deeply invested in stories about wildlife and ecosystems that are not traditionally charismatic. These could be obscure creatures and places that some readers have never heard of, or animals that many people consider icky pests.

Organization:

SEJ

Date:

April 4, 2024

Category:

For:

VISIT

Article

Covering abortion as a health care story, not just a political one

Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ)

"Nearly two years after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, pregnant people continue to have difficulty accessing abortion care across the country. During a panel at HJ24, a group of medical professionals discussed the impact of the reversal, including what they’re seeing on the ground." The panel included insight from doctors and recommendations for journalists.

Video

Media briefing: Reproductive health and abortion

SciLine

"This briefing, part of a series of SciLine media briefings covering key issues in the 2024 election, covered what the latest scientific research says about the latest stats on abortion, including geographic, demographic, and late- versus early-term distribution; the types of abortions that are available remotely and in healthcare settings, including surgical versus medication, and their relative prevalence; physical and mental health effects of getting an abortion or being unable to access a desired abortion; and challenges in data collection and data reliability."

Media briefing: Reproductive health and abortion

Summary:

"This briefing, part of a series of SciLine media briefings covering key issues in the 2024 election, covered what the latest scientific research says about the latest stats on abortion, including geographic, demographic, and late- versus early-term distribution; the types of abortions that are available remotely and in healthcare settings, including surgical versus medication, and their relative prevalence; physical and mental health effects of getting an abortion or being unable to access a desired abortion; and challenges in data collection and data reliability."

Organization:

SciLine

Date:

July 11, 2024

Category:

For:

Journalists

VISIT

Article

Trauma-informed journalism: What it is, why it’s important and tips for practicing it

"Experts and journalists who have researched and worked with trauma survivors say that practicing trauma-informed journalism not only leads to better, more accurate stories, but also helps protect survivors from further harm." This explainer and tip sheet is based on a review of several reliable sources on trauma-informed reporting and interviews with Elana Newman of the Dart Center, and Tamara Cherry, founder of Pickup Communications PR agency, both experts who focus on this area.

Resource Database / Guide

Tip sheet: Reporting on hot-button topics as a science writer: Lessons from abortion coverage

CASW Connector, The Journalist's Resource

On July 11, CASW Connector and The Journalist’s Resource hosted a Chat discussing how journalists can better cover hot-button topics, focusing on abortion as an example of a medical topic that has become increasingly political. The panelists shared lessons from their research and reporting, offered guidance for journalists covering abortion, and answered questions from the audience. The event was moderated by Naseem Miller, senior health editor at The Journalist’s Resource, and the panelists were Sarah McCammon, national political correspondent at NPR who covers abortion policy among other divisive topics, and Katie Woodruff, public health social scientist in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Services at the University of California, San Francisco.

Tip sheet: Reporting on hot-button topics as a science writer: Lessons from abortion coverage

Summary:

On July 11, CASW Connector and The Journalist’s Resource hosted a Chat discussing how journalists can better cover hot-button topics, focusing on abortion as an example of a medical topic that has become increasingly political. The panelists shared lessons from their research and reporting, offered guidance for journalists covering abortion, and answered questions from the audience. The event was moderated by Naseem Miller, senior health editor at The Journalist’s Resource, and the panelists were Sarah McCammon, national political correspondent at NPR who covers abortion policy among other divisive topics, and Katie Woodruff, public health social scientist in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Services at the University of California, San Francisco.

Organization:

CASW Connector, The Journalist's Resource

Date:

July 18, 2024

Category:

For:

VISIT

Newsletter

Locally Sourced — Covering Climate Now

Covering Climate Now

Locally Sourced is a biweekly newsletter from Covering Climate Now. It's for journalists working on local angles of the climate story. Each edition includes story idea suggestions, reporting tips, and examples to serve as inspiration. It's also available in Spanish as “Fuentes Locales.”

Find a resource

Library

Resources to help journalists cover the 2024 US election

The Public Health Communicators Guide to Misinformation

Why a science magazine went political

The Climate Blueprint

Seed grants for climate and environmental journalism

Writing about climate change for kids

Reed Environmental Writing Award

GIJN Guide to Investigating Extreme Heat

MIT Environmental Solutions Journalism Fellowships

Logan Science Journalism Program fellowships

Repetition makes climate misinformation feel more true — even for those who back climate science

What journalists need to know when covering extreme weather and climate change

Mpox: An explainer and research roundup

Routine childhood vaccinations and changing school requirements: A primer and research roundup

Engaging the public on LGBTQ health: A conversation with journalist Erin Reed

How investigative journalists can fight back against health misinformation

Talking shop: When debunking climate disinformation gets labeled “censorship”

A freelancer’s guide to reporting on climate change

Making obscure animals and ecosystems compelling main characters

Covering abortion as a health care story, not just a political one

Media briefing: Reproductive health and abortion

Trauma-informed journalism: What it is, why it’s important and tips for practicing it

Tip sheet: Reporting on hot-button topics as a science writer: Lessons from abortion coverage