Publication Items

Survey Finds Little Early Improvement in Science-Meddling Under Obama [1]

George Washington University's Project on Scientific Knowledge and Public Policy (SKAPP) followed up with 37 scientists at 13 federal agencies to see if conditions had improved at their agencies post-Bush. Survey says: Not really, or not yet.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [3]
Science [4]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Survey Finds Little Early Improvement in Science-Meddling Under Obama [1]
States Push Congress, EPA To End Toxic Trade Secrets [7]

Do commercial products we have body contact with contain toxic chemicals? In too many cases, states and environmentalists are saying, the federal government forbids consumers from knowing.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Economy & Business [8]
Chemicals [9]
Health [10]
Laws & Regulations [11]
Government [3]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about States Push Congress, EPA To End Toxic Trade Secrets [7]
10 Key Open-Gov Resources for Environmental Journalists [12]

In honor of Sunshine Week, which began March 14, the WatchDog serves up a meaty list of essential resources for journalists working to expose governmental secrets voters and taxpayers have a right to know about.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [3]
Journalism & Media [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about 10 Key Open-Gov Resources for Environmental Journalists [12]
SEJ Urges White House To Lose the "Minders" [14]

SEJ wrote White House Communication Director Dan Pfeiffer asking for an end to the practice of requiring permission from the press office at federal agencies before reporters can talk to federal employees — and requiring Saddam-style PIO "minders" to sit in on interviews.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [13]
Government [3]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about SEJ Urges White House To Lose the "Minders" [14]
Secret GSA Contractor Database Could Reveal Waste, Fraud, Abuse [15]

Jim Morris of the Sunlight Foundation reports on the Project on Government Oversight's (POGO) so-far unsuccessful efforts to FOIA the data.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [3]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Secret GSA Contractor Database Could Reveal Waste, Fraud, Abuse [15]
FCC Broadband Plan May Promote Open Gov [16]

John Wonderlich of the Sunlight Foundation has been tracking the Federal Communications Commission plan.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [3]
Technology [17]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about FCC Broadband Plan May Promote Open Gov [16]
Comments on Fed Agencies' Open Government Plans Due March 19 [18]

Various trackers are sorting through and compiling ideas, comments, and agencies' progress towards meeting the deadline.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [3]
People & Population [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Comments on Fed Agencies' Open Government Plans Due March 19 [18]
OSHA Sampling Data Still Unavailable [20]

A former Occupational Safety and Health Administration official requested the data under the Freedom of Information Act in 2005, but was denied. He sued, won in 2007, and now has the data, but OSHA has still not released the data to the public.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [9]
Health [10]
Government [3]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about OSHA Sampling Data Still Unavailable [20]
Forest Service Issues Gag Order to Employees on Talking to Reporters [21]

Monongahela National Forest's public affairs officer recently directed employees there that, if contacted by national reporters on any issue or local reporters regarding national issues, they "cannot talk to the reporter"and suggested that the instructions came from "our Washington office."
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Forests [22]
Government [3]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Forest Service Issues Gag Order to Employees on Talking to Reporters [21]
Agencies Post "Openness" Pages on Web per Obama Order [23]

EPA, Interior, DOE, USDA and others now provide "clearing points" intended to engage the public in their efforts for greater public transparency, participation, and collaboration, and in development of an "Open Government Plan."
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [3]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Agencies Post "Openness" Pages on Web per Obama Order [23]

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