TOOLBOX: Social Media Tools for the Environment Beat

May 14, 2008–What's all this twitter about Twitter? Can it help you cover breaking news?

MUCKRAKING NOT DEAD, NIEMAN REPORTS DECLARES

May 7, 2008–Feeling discouraged about the erosion of journalists' traditional role as watchdogs? Lighten up with the Spring 2008 issue of Nieman Reports, published by the foundation at Harvard University. Titled "21st Century Muckrakers: Who Are They? How Do They Do Their Work?" the issue includes nearly 50 articles chronicling the "Muckraker" tradition of American investigative journalism and documenting that muckraking is alive and well, even in today's digital age.

SEJ Joins in Suit on Officials' E-mails

May 7, 2008–The Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) joined other journalism groups May 6, 2008, in filing a "friend of the court" brief in a Washington state lawsuit seeking access to public officials' e-mails under state law.

Bush Administration Opposes Bill to Shield Press Sources

April 9, 2008–"Attorney General Michael Mukasey and three other top Bush administration officials are weighing in against legislation that would allow reporters to protect the identities of confidential sources..."

New Mexico Activists Win FOIA Case Against Nuclear Agency

April 9, 2008–A federal district judge ruled that agencies can't use delay to create secrecy when the Freedom of Information Act requires them to disclose records.

Rail, Other Accident Reports Now Online

April 9, 2008–Environmental reporters who want to keep track of accidents on their beats may want to know about these useful tools and resources.

Federal Shield Law Awaits Senate Action-Blocked by Sen. Kyl

March 26, 2008–Judiciary Committee leaders urged Senate leaders March 6, 2008, to schedule a floor vote on a bill to create a federal "shield law" for journalists.

It's Sunshine Week-Do you Know Where Your City's Secrets Are?

March 12, 2008–"News is what people want to keep hidden - and everything else is publicity." Bill Moyers made famous that maxim he gleaned from a Texas mentor.

TOOLBOX: Wilileaks Offers Offshore Protection for Disclosure of Wrongdoing

March 12, 2008–Virtually unknown until the Swiss bank Julius Baer tried to censor it for publishing allegations of financial hanky-panky, a website called Wikileaks has catapulted to fame as a potential tool for journalists... and those who leak to them.

Use It or Lose It: EPA Releases Toxics Data Feb. 24

March 12, 2008–EPA made public the latest year's data from the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) February 21, 2008, catching a few journalists by surprise, as usual.