Searchable archives of the biweekly WatchDog TipSheet's story ideas, articles, updates, events and other information with a focus on freedom-of-information issues of concern to environmental journalists in both the U.S. and Canada are posted here on the day of publication. Journalists are eligible for a free email subscription; send name and full contact information to the SEJ office. WatchDog TipSheet is also available via RSS feed. 
Latest WatchDog TipSheet Items
May 21, 2008
White House Issues Policy Keeping Much Unclassified Info Secret
May 21, 2008–Inspection reports on badly maintained dams - or information on what homes would be swept away if they failed?May 7, 2008
EPA SCIENTISTS COMPLAIN OF BEING GAGGED, POLITICAL PRESSURE TO ALTER SCIENCE
May 7, 2008– Hundreds of EPA scientists are complaining that they are being pressured by political appointees who run EPA to alter their scientific findings to support the administration's deregulatory agenda, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.IS USDA SWITCHING SECRECY STRATEGY FOR FEEDLOT PHONE BOOK?
May 7, 2008–House and Senate conferees have dropped from the 2007 Farm Bill language that would keep secret the names and addresses of feedlot operators. Faced with recent defeats in both Congress and the courts, the USDA and meat industry, both of whom seem determined to keep such information secret, may be shifting their strategy to trying to accomplish the same result by using Privacy Act regulations.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.April 23, 2008
After Denials, White House Caves on Censored Gerberding Climate-Health Testimony
April 23, 2008–It was news when the White House censored testimony prepared in October 2007 by Centers for Disease Control Director Julie Gerberding - testimony detailing the health hazards likely to result from climate change.Earmarks 101: All Pork Is a Local Story
April 23, 2008–In every Congressional district - including yours - there are dozens of "pork barrel" politics stories.EPA Submits Plan for Reopening Libraries, Which Remain Closed
April 23, 2008–EPA on March 26, 2008, delivered a report Congress had demanded on its plan to reopen the agency's shuttered libraries.New Rail Hazmat Regs Include Non-Disclosure Provisions
April 23, 2008–A rule issued April 16, 2008, ostensibly to keep the public safe from shipments of highly hazardous materials by rail, has been little-understood by the public.Now's Your Chance: Talk to EPA About Information You Need
April 23, 2008–EPA has begun a "National Dialogue" about what information the public needs from the agency and how the agency can better provide that information.
Advertisements 
