Publication Items

Interior Brass Under Investigation for Political Interference with Science [1]

Top officials at the Bureau of Ocean Energy, Management, Regulation and Enforcement have been charged with scientific misconduct regarding a possible cover-up over the suspension and sudden reinstatement of Dr. Charles Monnett, who authored a paper suggesting climate change was harming polar bears.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Science [3]
Environmental Politics [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Interior Brass Under Investigation for Political Interference with Science [1]
SEJ Urges EPA To Make Science More Open to News Media [6]

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 [3]
Policy [7]
Government [8]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about SEJ Urges EPA To Make Science More Open to News Media [6]
Urban Forest Projects Address Energy, Health, Education, More [9]

Organizations in IL, NY, and TX received substantial funding from the US Forest Service so they can work on projects related to urban forests. The products and efforts are available for use by others around the country, making them of interest to any journalist covering urban environmental or health issues.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [10]
Topics on the Beat:
Forests [11]
Region:
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [12]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [13]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [14]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Urban Forest Projects Address Energy, Health, Education, More [9]
Are Fed Energy Grants to Farmers Pork, Or Money Well Spent? [15]

The US Dept. of Agriculture will award more than 900 grants worth a total of about $11.6 million to individuals and companies around the country for projects such as installing photovoltaic solar panels for a barn, improving energy efficiency of greenhouses, and installing a geothermal system for an agricultural building.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [10]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [4]
Energy & Fuel [16]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Are Fed Energy Grants to Farmers Pork, Or Money Well Spent? [15]
Feds Provide Conservation Funds, But Won't Disclose Recipients [17]

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 [10]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [18]
Government [8]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Feds Provide Conservation Funds, But Won't Disclose Recipients [17]
Special Edition: Natural Disasters Toolbox [19]

When covering each type of natural disaster, you'll need to dig into a wide range of human, weather/climate, and geography issues to describe accurately to your audience what the trends are, how prevention and emergency responses might be improved, etc. Here are resources for hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms, heat waves, drought, blizzards, and more.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [10]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [20]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Special Edition: Natural Disasters Toolbox [19]
New Data Site Maps "Dirty Energy Money" [21]

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 [8]
Energy & Fuel [16]
Economy & Business [22]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about New Data Site Maps "Dirty Energy Money" [21]
EPA Begins Collecting Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data [23]

The system, proposed during the first months of the Obama administration, was delayed when it faced heavy opposition from industry groups and Republicans. In response, EPA reduced the number of businesses that need to report their emissions.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Pollution [24]
Climate Change [25]
Air [26]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about EPA Begins Collecting Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data [23]
NASA Takes a Pass on Scientific Integrity Policy Improvement [27]

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 [3]
Policy [7]
Government [8]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about NASA Takes a Pass on Scientific Integrity Policy Improvement [27]
SEJ Comments On NOAA Science Policy; Seeks More Openness [28]

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 [3]
Policy [7]
Government [8]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about SEJ Comments On NOAA Science Policy; Seeks More Openness [28]

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