Publication Items

Senate Passes FOIA Improvement Bill [1]

The Senate March 15, 2016, unanimously passed a bill (S 337) improving the 50-year-old Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). But the appearance of bipartisan consensus may belie a rocky road to final enactment in a highly politicized election year.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [3]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Senate Passes FOIA Improvement Bill [1]
The Path to Better Investigative Science Reporting [5]

In the latest Reporter's Toolbox, Climate Central senior science writer John Upton defines investigative science reporting’s major role, and shares his personal nine ways to do the job better.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [6]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [7]
Forests [8]
Journalism & Media [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [10]
Europe [11]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about The Path to Better Investigative Science Reporting [5]
Finding the Right Fit for Journalism Fellowships [12]

For this edition of EJ Academy, MU journalism master's grad Caleb O'Brien surveyed SEJ academics and current and former students to get tips on finding the best internships — and making the most of the experience. Excerpted from the Spring 2016 SEJournal.

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ Academy [13]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Finding the Right Fit for Journalism Fellowships [12]
Will Journalists Heed the Lessons of Flint? [14]

SEJ’s WatchDog Project director Joseph A. Davis analyzes local and regional media's role in reporting — or not — the Flint water debacle.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [15]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [16]
Environmental Politics [17]
Health [18]
Water & Oceans [19]
Region:
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [20]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Will Journalists Heed the Lessons of Flint? [14]
Environmental Sleuthing Toolbox [21]

This special issue of SEJ's WatchDog celebrated "Sunshine Week," the national reminder that freedom of information and open government are essential for a working democracy. Lots of info is available for environmental reporters about pollutants and hazards that can harm people. Our Sunshine toolbox is ... well ... full of flashlights — environmental databases that can help you see things. Categories include chemicals, disasters, energy, health and pollution. Shine on!

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Environmental Sleuthing Toolbox [21]
Data Journalism Tools and Tips from MIT [22]

The availability of government data has soared over the last decade — offering a huge opportunity for watchdog journalists to find stories that advance the public interest. The environmental beat is the Saudi Arabia of data (yes, that means vast, rich, accessible, and untapped reserves).
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [9]
Technology [23]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Data Journalism Tools and Tips from MIT [22]
Trump Hopes To Use Libel Laws To Get at Journalists [24]

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is promising to toughen libel laws to get back at news media who "write purposely negative and horrible and false articles." Especially those that criticize him. Photo: By Marc Nozell [25] (Flickr) [CC BY 2.0 [26]].

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [3]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Trump Hopes To Use Libel Laws To Get at Journalists [24]
House OKs Lands Bill with Photo Fees, Permits — Now It's Up to Senate [27]

The Senate Energy Committee last November approved a different version of the bill which seems to include an exemption from fees and permits for "news gathering." But whether it will pass on the floor or get reconciled with the House bill in an election year is unknown.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [17]
Journalism & Media [9]
Laws & Regulations [3]
Natural Resources [28]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about House OKs Lands Bill with Photo Fees, Permits — Now It's Up to Senate [27]
Scientist Says USDA Used Press Office To Silence Him [29]

Scientist Jonathan Lundgren (left), who has been researching the effects of neonicotinoid pesticides on Monarch butterflies, filed a whistleblower complaint and lost. And, Lundgren claimed his supervisors at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service told him not to talk to news media and punished him when he did.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [30]
Biodiversity [31]
Chemicals [16]
Environmental Politics [17]
Science [32]
Wildlife [33]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Scientist Says USDA Used Press Office To Silence Him [29]
Memo to Energy, Business, Science and Health Reporters [34]

Fellow Journalists, we have a lot in common. We’ve read many of your stories on issues surrounding energy, business, science and health. We couldn’t help noticing a common link in so many of your stories: The environment. Those of us at the Society of Environmental Journalists think we are a very good fit for you. Read all the reasons why, by board president Jeff Burnside in the new issue of SEJournal.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ Presidents Report [35]
Topics on the Beat:
Economy & Business [36]
Energy & Fuel [37]
Health [18]
Journalism & Media [9]
Science [32]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Memo to Energy, Business, Science and Health Reporters [34]

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