Publication Items

WatchDog Group Sues for Records as Pruitt Confirmation Vote Nears & More [1]

The latest WatchDog TipSheet details an open-records case against U.S. EPA nominee Scott Pruitt (shown), the scoop on an Agriculture Department animal welfare database that vanished then returned, a reporter busted at Standing Rock, plus items on whistleblowers, coal-ash and more.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Agriculture [4]
Energy & Fuel [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [10]
Policy [11]
Pollution [12]
Waste [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [15]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [16]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [17]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about WatchDog Group Sues for Records as Pruitt Confirmation Vote Nears & More [1]
As EPA, Other Agencies Muzzle Staff, WatchDog Issues Leaker's Guide [19]

At a time when government information may be harder than ever to access, WatchDog offers a unique guide to leaks that reporters can offer potential whistleblowers. Also in the latest column, sealed records on a weedkiller-cancer connection, secret talks on coal-ash regs and more.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [4]
Chemicals [20]
Economy & Business [21]
Energy & Fuel [5]
Environmental Health [22]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Pollution [12]
Waste [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about As EPA, Other Agencies Muzzle Staff, WatchDog Issues Leaker's Guide [19]
U.S. Bars Canadian Photojournalist En Route To Cover Dakota Pipeline Protests [23]

The SEJ has voiced concerns to the U.S. government over an incident in which a Canadian photojournalist en route to cover the Dakota Access Pipeline protests was searched at the U.S. border, then prevented entering. The latest WatchDog TipSheet outlines the free speech implications, including for U.S. reporters.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
International [24]
Canada [25]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about U.S. Bars Canadian Photojournalist En Route To Cover Dakota Pipeline Protests [23]
Analysis: Whither Transparency Under Trump? [26]

A flap over pool coverage of President-elect Trump may prove a prologue to new challenges for the news media. Will journalists have access to the sources and information needed to do their jobs, including covering coming policy battles over the environment? Our WatchDog editor reads the signals on press relations under a Trump Administration. Photo: By Marc Nozell [27] (Flickr) [CC BY 2.0 [28]].

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Policy [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [14]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Analysis: Whither Transparency Under Trump? [26]
Got Coal Ash? Southeast Database Helps Watchdog Power Plants [29]

Another database upgrade that will help environmental journalists is available from the group Southeast Coal Ash. This database site covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel [5]
Pollution [12]
Technology [30]
Region:
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [16]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Got Coal Ash? Southeast Database Helps Watchdog Power Plants [29]
EPA Beefs Up ECHO Database for Drinking Water Enforcement [31]

U.S. EPA's refinement of ECHO's search engine for drinking water violations should make it possible for journalists to ask much more sophisticated and complex questions — but the usual caveats apply.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Technology [30]
Water & Oceans [32]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about EPA Beefs Up ECHO Database for Drinking Water Enforcement [31]
You Aren't Allowed To Know How Much of Your Coal Is Being Sold (Cheap?) [33]

The vast coal seams below federally owned lands in the West are a resource owned by the American people as a whole — and when rights to mine them are sold to coal companies, it is supposed to be on terms that are in the public interest. So you'd think public scrutiny via open information would be a given. The Interior Department says not, recently denying a FOIA request for this information. Image: © Clipart.com [34].

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel [5]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about You Aren't Allowed To Know How Much of Your Coal Is Being Sold (Cheap?) [33]
SEJ Objects To Prosecution of Journalists Covering Pipeline Protests [35]

UPDATE: The Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) on Oct 19, 2016 wrote law enforcement officials at the state and federal levels, objecting to prosecution of journalists who have been covering protests against the Dakota Access Pipe Line and other pipelines. The prosecutor who charged Democracy Now's Amy Goodman has responded to SEJ's letter.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel [5]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about SEJ Objects To Prosecution of Journalists Covering Pipeline Protests [35]
Newly Leaked: CRS Explainers To Help Environmental Journalists [36]

The Federation of American Scientists' Project on Government Secrecy publishes leaked copies of Congressional Research Service research papers. Here are a few recent ones of use to environmental journalists.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [4]
Biodiversity [37]
Climate Change [38]
Energy & Fuel [5]
Health [39]
Technology [30]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Newly Leaked: CRS Explainers To Help Environmental Journalists [36]
Reporters Committee, Others Launch FOIA Wiki Beta: Help Is on the Way [40]

A promising new resource has begun helping reporters trying to use the Freedom of Information Act to pry loose government information relevant to their stories. The "FOIA Wiki" is a collaborative and explanatory collection of information meant to help you.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [7]
Visibility:
Public [18]
- Read more about Reporters Committee, Others Launch FOIA Wiki Beta: Help Is on the Way [40]

Pages