Publication Items

US, Canada, Mexico Aim To Coordinate Toxics Databases [1]

The North American Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (NAPRTR) Consultative Group, under the auspices of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, will meet November 10-11, 2009, in Guadalajara, Mexico to review the programs of the 3 countries.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [3]
Region:
International [4]
Canada [5]
National (U.S.) [6]
Mexico [7]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about US, Canada, Mexico Aim To Coordinate Toxics Databases [1]
EPA Uses Online Forum To Address TRI Mining Changes [9]

EPA seems to be making efforts to use social media to improve public participation in its decisions, says the watchdog group OMB Watch, citing the TRI forum as one example of several.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [10]
Government [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about EPA Uses Online Forum To Address TRI Mining Changes [9]
Advisory Arrives Hours After Vilsack Presser [12]

You know you are not on the A-list when the press advisory is sent to you after the press conference takes place, as one SEJ member experienced on October 16, 2009.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Advisory Arrives Hours After Vilsack Presser [12]
EPA Releases Bush-Suppressed Endangerment Finding [13]

Persistence pays off for Greenwire reporter Darren Samuelsohn who filed his first Freedom of Information Act request for it back in July 2008, re-filed it in January 2009 at the start of the Obama administration, and finally received it October 13, 2009.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [11]
Journalism & Media [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about EPA Releases Bush-Suppressed Endangerment Finding [13]
Do E-Journalists Have a "Document Cloud" in Their Future? [15]

An online compendium of key source documents behind all the big stories seems on its way for future reference from ProPublica, thanks to a Knight News Challenge $719,500 grant.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Do E-Journalists Have a "Document Cloud" in Their Future? [15]
FOIA Not Fixed Yet: Senate Panel [16]

Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) says Congress has to do more to fix the Freedom of Information Act — especially stemming the hundreds of special exemptions created by Congress itself.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [17]
Government [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about FOIA Not Fixed Yet: Senate Panel [16]
Sen. Schumer Pushes Back Against WH Effort To Weaken Shield Law [18]

A federal law protecting reporters who maintain the confidentiality of their sources is currently stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee as Obama breaks campaign promise.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [17]
Government [11]
Journalism & Media [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Sen. Schumer Pushes Back Against WH Effort To Weaken Shield Law [18]
Supreme Court Hears Animal Video Case [19]

Some justices skeptically questioned a 10-year-old law, intended to outlaw "crush videos," making it a criminal offense to possess or publish many depictions of cruelty to animals.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [17]
Government [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Supreme Court Hears Animal Video Case [19]
Senate Dents Shield Law for Reporters [20]

A de facto filibuster by several Republicans, plus quibbling by some Democrats, caused a long-awaited markup of bill S 448 to end with no action.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [17]
Government [11]
Journalism & Media [14]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Senate Dents Shield Law for Reporters [20]
Coal Ash Data Waiting for Local Reporters [21]

Use this roundup of sources to write a probing story about the ash, slag, and sludge from coal-burning electric utilities — which containins heavy metals that can pollute water, and even bury people's houses.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [3]
Disasters [22]
Energy & Fuel [23]
Pollution [24]
Government [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [6]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Coal Ash Data Waiting for Local Reporters [21]

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