Publication Items

Agency FOIA Logs Posted on Watchdog Site [1]

The FOIA logs of agencies covered by environmental reporters offer fascinating insight into their workings — and some good story ideas.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [3]
Journalism & Media [4]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Agency FOIA Logs Posted on Watchdog Site [1]
EPA Doesn't Bother to Collect Chemical Safety Data From Companies [7]

Neither EPA nor the American public know very much about the possible health effects of tens of thousands of chemicals used in commerce and consumer products every day.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [8]
Consumer [9]
Government [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about EPA Doesn't Bother to Collect Chemical Safety Data From Companies [7]
USDA Stops Pesticide, Fertilizer Data [11]

The Bush administration is killing a longstanding program that publishes free the information it gathers on the application of pesticides and fertilizer by U.S. farmers.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [3]
Chemicals [8]
Agriculture [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about USDA Stops Pesticide, Fertilizer Data [11]
Proposed Fisheries Rule Would Cut Public Input, Info [13]

Reporters trying to cover fisheries issues may soon find decisions happening faster than they can cover them.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Fish & Fisheries [14]
Environmental Politics [3]
Journalism & Media [4]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Proposed Fisheries Rule Would Cut Public Input, Info [13]
Administration Threatens Veto of Shield Law [15]

Top Bush Administration officials are signaling they will recommend veto of a bill to shield reporters from being compelled to disclose their confidential sources.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [16]
Journalism & Media [4]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Administration Threatens Veto of Shield Law [15]
Terrorism Database Speaks of Environmental Secrecy [17]

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 [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Terrorism Database Speaks of Environmental Secrecy [17]
PACER Turns 20 — Still a Workhorse for Reporters [18]

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 [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about PACER Turns 20 — Still a Workhorse for Reporters [18]
Federal Workers Union Wants Burrowers Lists [19]

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 [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Federal Workers Union Wants Burrowers Lists [19]
SPJ Calls for New Congress, Prez To Pass Federal Shield Law [20]

The Society of Professional Journalists has called on President-elect Obama and the incoming Congress to complete action on a federal shield law for journalists.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [4]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about SPJ Calls for New Congress, Prez To Pass Federal Shield Law [20]
Whistleblowers Might Be Your Best Sources [21]

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 [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Whistleblowers Might Be Your Best Sources [21]

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