Publication Items

Appeals Court Radically Expands FOIA 'Safety' Exemption [1]

A federal appeals court created a sweeping and dangerous precedent January 22, 2014, when it ruled the U.S. public had no right to know whether it is endangered by failures of federal dam safety agencies to do their jobs. If the ruling stands, federal agencies could withhold from disclosure almost any information showing federal failure to protect the public from infrastructure dangers.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [3]
Health [4]
Laws & Regulations [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Appeals Court Radically Expands FOIA 'Safety' Exemption [1]
EWG Database Helps Public, Journos Find Drinking Water Threats [7]

While EPA and local utilities make much data available online, the Environmental Working Group has compiled a tap water database that is much easier to use. It gathers data from the states as well as from EPA, and compiles city-by-city rankings of the best and worst drinking water quality. It also explains the health significance of contaminants and lists contaminants not regulated by EPA.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Water & Oceans [8]
Technology [9]
Laws & Regulations [5]
Health [4]
Region:
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [10]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about EWG Database Helps Public, Journos Find Drinking Water Threats [7]
Photog Claims Damages from CalTrans, CHP for Arrest, False Report [11]

The California Highway Patrol lied in reports when it violated the First Amendment rights of news photographer Steve Eberhard of the Willitts News by illegally arresting him to intimidate newsgatherers at a protest site in July 2013, Eberhard says in a legal claim against CHP and Caltrans.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [5]
Journalism & Media [12]
Region:
California [13]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Photog Claims Damages from CalTrans, CHP for Arrest, False Report [11]
FAA Nixes Drones for Journos [14]

Drones might count as new media — and certainly have journalistic uses in covering everything from prairie fires to chemical emergencies. The federal government, which devotes enormous technical resources to spying on its citizens, now says this is illegal. The Federal Aviation Administration issued the ruling, saying there was no grey area: hobbyists can legally fly video drones. But journalists can not. Image: Cade Cleavelin, a science/ag journalism senior at U of Missouri, demonstrates a DJY Phantom quadcopter at the 2013 SEJ Conference in Chattanooga, TN. © Roger Archibald.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Technology [9]
Laws & Regulations [5]
Journalism & Media [12]
Government [15]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about FAA Nixes Drones for Journos [14]
Drinking Water Crisis Reveals Knowledge Gaps [16]

You read about the 300,000 West Virginians who don't know if they are drinking safe water — and ask "Could it happen here?" The answer is "You betcha!" Environmental journalists have many tools for discovering drinking-water disasters-waiting-to-happen in their own bailiwicks.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Water & Oceans [8]
Laws & Regulations [5]
Disasters [3]
Chemicals [17]
Region:
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [10]
National (U.S.) [18]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Drinking Water Crisis Reveals Knowledge Gaps [16]
Secret CRS Reports on Environment Published [19]

Taxpayers' money funds the Congressional Research Service as it produces objective and authoritative reports on issues facing Congress — many on subjects of interest to environmental journalists. Congress, however, does not share these reports with the public who paid for them. Thanks to the Project on Government Secrecy, another batch of the reports has been leaked and published.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Technology [9]
Natural Resources [20]
Laws & Regulations [5]
Government [15]
Energy & Fuel [21]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Secret CRS Reports on Environment Published [19]
J-Groups Challenge Utah Ag-Gag Law on First Amendment Grounds [22]

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and 16 other journalism organizations, including the publishers of two major Utah newspapers, filed a friend-of-the-court brief December 10, 2013, arguing that Utah's ag-gag law infringes on constitutionally protected newsgathering rights.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [5]
Food [23]
Agriculture [24]
Region:
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [25]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about J-Groups Challenge Utah Ag-Gag Law on First Amendment Grounds [22]
Top Photo Winners Span the Globe [26]

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [27]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [12]
Laws & Regulations [5]
Wildlife [28]
Region:
Africa [29]
Asia [30]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Top Photo Winners Span the Globe [26]
Animal Rights Activist Charged for Video Exposing Cruelty [31]

Reporting on abuse of animals is now officially a crime — at least under Colorado law. Animal-rights activist Taylor Radig was charged after she made public a video showing employees of a Colorado ranch abusing calves.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [5]
Agriculture [24]
Activism [32]
Region:
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [25]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Animal Rights Activist Charged for Video Exposing Cruelty [31]
Senate GOPers Seek To Hide Silica Science Funding [33]

OSHA's proposed silica rule "requests" (not requires) that commenters state clearly who paid for any research they cite and declare whether there may be possible conflicts of interest or whether the funder of the research may have influenced its findings. But 16 Senate Republicans have complained of OSHA's request for funding disclosure.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Science [34]
Laws & Regulations [5]
Health [4]
Environmental Politics [35]
Energy & Fuel [21]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Senate GOPers Seek To Hide Silica Science Funding [33]

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