Publication Items

Why Does the CIA Keep Climate a Secret? [1]

A historian at the National Security Archives made a Freedom of Information Act request in March 2010 to the CIA’s Center on Climate Change and National Security (CCCNS). On Sept. 16, 2011, the CIA finally responded, telling Richelson that all the material he requested was classified and thus exempt from FOIA.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [3]
Climate Change [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Why Does the CIA Keep Climate a Secret? [1]
White House, Under Attack for Secrecy, Issues Transparency Report [6]

Under fire from all sides for excessive secrecy, the Obama administration has just issued a status report touting its "open government" achievements. One assessment of the report came from the Federation of American Scientists' long-time secrecy watchdog, Steven Aftergood.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [3]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about White House, Under Attack for Secrecy, Issues Transparency Report [6]
Indiana GOPer Reintroduces Federal Shield Law [7]

Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) has reintroduced a bill that would establish a limited federal protection for journalists when prosecutor and courts seek to compel them to disclose their confidential sources. A similar measure died on the Senate floor at the end of the last Congress.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [8]
Government [3]
Region:
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [9]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Indiana GOPer Reintroduces Federal Shield Law [7]
National Press Club To Host Panel on Obama Science Openness Oct. 3 [10]

The event, co-sponsored by the Society of Environmental Journalists and other groups, is free and open to the public (RSVP). Panelists include: Curtis Brainard, Columbia Journalism Review science editor; Joseph A. Davis, (SEJ) WatchDog editor; Felice Freyer, Association of Health Care Journalists; Darren Samuelsohn, Politico’s senior energy/environment reporter; and Clothilde Le Coz, Reporters Without Borders energy/environment reporter.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [8]
Government [3]
Science [11]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about National Press Club To Host Panel on Obama Science Openness Oct. 3 [10]
CJR Probes Press Office Minders, Permissions at Fed Science Agencies [12]

A joint investigation by Columbia Journalism Review and ProPublica into the Obama administration's science openness policies offered only faint praise for Obama's accomplishments. Nearly 400 of roughly 2,100 invited journalists responded to their survey, and they gave both the Bush and Obama administrations poor marks for openness at science agencies.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Science [11]
Government [3]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about CJR Probes Press Office Minders, Permissions at Fed Science Agencies [12]
SEJ Urges EPA To Make Science More Open to News Media [13]

In formal comments on EPA's August 5, 2011, draft Scientific Integrity Policy, submitted September 2, SEJ recommended that EPA adopt portions of a model policy drafted by the Union of Concerned Scientists in addition to affirming that "media have a right to interact with EPA staff, including scientists, without having agency staff and/or political minders listening in or otherwise taking part."
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Science [11]
Policy [14]
Government [3]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about SEJ Urges EPA To Make Science More Open to News Media [13]
Feds Provide Conservation Funds, But Won't Disclose Recipients [15]

USDA spokeswoman Isabel Benemelis declined to release the names or locations of the landowners who are likely to be participating in two new SAFE (State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement) efforts, saying journalists have to make such requests via FOIA.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [16]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [17]
Government [3]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Feds Provide Conservation Funds, But Won't Disclose Recipients [15]
New Data Site Maps "Dirty Energy Money" [18]

Oil Change International invites you to look up campaign donations from energy companies to members of Congress with data sourced from the Center for Responsive Politics and the Federal Elections Commission.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [3]
Energy & Fuel [19]
Economy & Business [20]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about New Data Site Maps "Dirty Energy Money" [18]
NASA Takes a Pass on Scientific Integrity Policy Improvement [21]

An Aug. 5, 2011, NASA memo says the agency's existing policies are so good they don't need improving — yet the policies do not offer any clear guarantee that reporters can talk to NASA scientists without permission and supervision from the public affairs office.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Science [11]
Policy [14]
Government [3]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about NASA Takes a Pass on Scientific Integrity Policy Improvement [21]
SEJ Comments On NOAA Science Policy; Seeks More Openness [22]

In formal comments, SEJ stated that the section of NOAA guidance policy requiring advance public affairs approval of media interviews — and minders sitting in on those interviews — thwarts open communication between scientists and reporters, which is "unacceptable in a free society."
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Science [11]
Policy [14]
Government [3]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about SEJ Comments On NOAA Science Policy; Seeks More Openness [22]

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