Publication Items

Terrorism Database Speaks of Environmental Secrecy [1]

For the past decade, federal and state officials have put an immense amount of environmental information behind a veil of secrecy, justifying it on the grounds that the information could help terrorists. A look at the most comprehensive open-source terrorism database offers strong evidence that such fears are ill-founded.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [3]
Region:
National (U.S.) [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Terrorism Database Speaks of Environmental Secrecy [1]
PACER Turns 20 — Still a Workhorse for Reporters [6]

The PACER system puts many — but not all — federal court records on line. It's an easy-to-use information access tool for journalists.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [3]
Region:
National (U.S.) [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about PACER Turns 20 — Still a Workhorse for Reporters [6]
Federal Workers Union Wants Burrowers Lists [7]

Federal employee unions want lists of political appointees whose status has been transferred to career civil service positions at the end of the Bush administration.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [3]
Region:
National (U.S.) [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Federal Workers Union Wants Burrowers Lists [7]
Whistleblowers Might Be Your Best Sources [8]

Whistleblowers can be a reporter's best friend — although friends that must often be handled with care. If you know a federal agency employee who tells you "Call me on January 21" — be sure to do it.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [3]
Region:
National (U.S.) [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Whistleblowers Might Be Your Best Sources [8]
League of Conservation Voters Releases Annual "Scorecard" [9]

Scorecard reports environmental records of US Representatives and Senators
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [10]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [3]
Policy [11]
Environmental Politics [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about League of Conservation Voters Releases Annual "Scorecard" [9]
Farm Bill Launches Sweeping New Secrecy Initiative [13]

New language added to the 2007/08 Farm Bill by conferees at the 11th hour could create a sweeping new secrecy mandate that would prohibit the Agriculture Department from disclosing almost any information about individual US farm operations.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [14]
Government [3]
Policy [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Farm Bill Launches Sweeping New Secrecy Initiative [13]
Midnight Regs: Many Environmental Items on Final Bush Agenda (Part 1) [15]

As the Bush administration closes out its terms in office, a number of rules, policies, orders, and other actions related to the environment are expected by Jan. 19, 2009.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [10]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [16]
Government [3]
Environmental Politics [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Midnight Regs: Many Environmental Items on Final Bush Agenda (Part 1) [15]
Is EPA's Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Program Working? [17]

EPA and states may be cutting companies slack if they "audit" their own violations. Here's a database that will help you audit whether local polluters are abusing the program.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [10]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [16]
Government [3]
Region:
National (U.S.) [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Is EPA's Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Program Working? [17]
Judge Rules City Can't Keep Ties With Utility Secret [18]

Great Falls, Montana, wouldn't let its citizens know details of its contracts with a utility. But a judge stopped that.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [3]
Region:
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [19]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Judge Rules City Can't Keep Ties With Utility Secret [18]
TOOLBOX: Reginfo.gov Offers Beat Reporters a Powerful Mischief Detector [20]

Reginfo.gov helps reporters track regulatory mischief — and deregulatory mischief too — government-wide.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [16]
Government [3]
Journalism & Media [21]
Region:
National (U.S.) [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about TOOLBOX: Reginfo.gov Offers Beat Reporters a Powerful Mischief Detector [20]

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