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
April 9, 2008
USDA May Limit Info On Meat Recalls
April 9, 2008–Under industry pressure, the U.S. Agriculture Department is considering hiding from consumers information about which retailers might be selling the tainted meat recalled because of health and safety risks.March 26, 2008
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.Read It Now: Suppressed CDC Great Lakes Toxics Report
March 26, 2008–After Congressional Democrats criticized them for suppressing a report on toxic substances in the Great Lakes, and after an independent investigative journalism group published excerpts, the Centers for Disease Control finally published it March 12, 2008.Soybean Groups Pull Funding for Biofuel Research Over Climate Findings
March 26, 2008–Two soybean industry groups temporarily suspended about $1.5 million in grants to the University of Minnesota for biofuel research after it found using food crops for fuel could worsen global warming and cause other environmental harm.Utilities Say Public Can't Handle the Truth About Drugs in Water
March 26, 2008–When water providers find pharmaceuticals in drinking water, they rarely tell the public.March 12, 2008
AP Water Series Highlights Information Blackout
March 12, 2008–Can the public be trusted with information about drugs in their drinking water?Court Reverses Ban on Farm Data Releasees
March 12, 2008–The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, DC, ruled Feb. 15, 2008, that the public had a legitimate interest in data from some previously unreleased Agriculture Department databases - clearing the way for their release.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.
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