Publication Items

Going Whole Hog on Innovative Student Project [1]

SEJ Publication Types:
EJ Academy [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Journalism & Media [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Going Whole Hog on Innovative Student Project [1]
Yes, You Should Run for SEJ’s Board [6]

Busy people know how to get things done. So, when I suggest that you consider running for a seat on the board of directors of the Society of Environmental Journalists, your first reaction (“I’m far too busy!”) can be quickly countered: Busy people are known for managing their time. Read more from SEJ President Jeff Burnside.

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ Presidents Report [7]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Yes, You Should Run for SEJ’s Board [6]
Are Health Warnings on Soda Unconstitutional? Industry Says Yes [8]

The American Beverage Association, California State Outdoor Advertising Association and California Retailers Association sued San Francisco for requiring health warnings on advertisements for certain sugary beverages when posted on city property, saying it violates their First Amendment rights.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [9]
Topics on the Beat:
Consumer [10]
Economy & Business [11]
Health [12]
Region:
California [13]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Are Health Warnings on Soda Unconstitutional? Industry Says Yes [8]
Filming in Parks and Forests: The Alaskan Angle [14]

Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski (pictured) has proposed a bill that would (among other things) set a flat $200 annual fee to permit unlimited shooting by small film crews. Now E&E Daily reports Murkowski's filmmaker nephew faced the fees-and-permits barrier when he wanted to shoot near her father's home, surrounded by the Tongass National Forest.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [9]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [4]
Laws & Regulations [15]
Natural Resources [16]
Region:
National (U.S.) [17]
Alaska and Hawaii [18]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Filming in Parks and Forests: The Alaskan Angle [14]
Railroads Still Don't Want Public To Know Oil Train Danger [19]

If you want to know whether an oil train is going by your community, just go down to the railroad tracks and watch for it. But don't ask the railroad or the state. In many cases, they don't think you can be trusted with this secret.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [9]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [20]
Energy & Fuel [21]
People & Population [22]
Transportation [23]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Railroads Still Don't Want Public To Know Oil Train Danger [19]
EPA Crisis Communications Plan: Accurate, Timely, Approved Information [24]

EPA's Plan, approved back on January 15, 2009, mandates giving "understandable, timely, accurate, and consistent information to the public." The plan laudably emphasizes coordination with other agencies — but it also leads to strong message control.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [9]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [20]
Environmental Politics [25]
Government [26]
Journalism & Media [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about EPA Crisis Communications Plan: Accurate, Timely, Approved Information [24]
Secret Congressional Background Reports Leak Again; Debate Continues [27]

Here are some recently leaked CRS reports of relevance to environmental journalists, as well as the latest on the debate following the NYT editorial calling for the reports to be made public.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [9]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [28]
Climate Change [29]
Health [12]
Laws & Regulations [15]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [30]
Water & Oceans [31]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Secret Congressional Background Reports Leak Again; Debate Continues [27]
Backroom Plot To Scuttle Wisconsin FOIA Falls to Disclosure, Outrage [32]

When a stealth legislative move to dismantle Wisconsin's open records law was revealed this month, a statewide uproar caused sponsors to back off. Appropro that the old lesson "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty" would be taught once again around July 4, 2015.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [9]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [26]
Region:
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [33]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Backroom Plot To Scuttle Wisconsin FOIA Falls to Disclosure, Outrage [32]
Release-to-One, Release-to-All FOIA Pilot Shakes Some Journos [34]

A new pilot program would make available to the public automatically and immediately any information released to an individual FOIA requester. But some journalists would rather not have their pending scoops revealed before they are ripe. Image source: U.S. government.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [9]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [26]
Journalism & Media [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Release-to-One, Release-to-All FOIA Pilot Shakes Some Journos [34]
White House Correspondents Ask for Openness Ground Rules [35]

Environmental journalists aren't the only ones complaining about access to officials being constrained by flacks.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [9]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [4]
Region:
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [36]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about White House Correspondents Ask for Openness Ground Rules [35]

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