Publication Items

Obscure Farm Bill Provision Blacks Out Agricultural Data [1]

The USDA is interpreting a provision in the 2008 Farm Bill so broadly that it may amount to a FOIA exemption for most information about individual agricultural operations.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Laws & Regulations [4]
Government [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Obscure Farm Bill Provision Blacks Out Agricultural Data [1]
Following Burrowers is a Big Project [7]

A significant number of Bush administration political appointees have converted to career civil service jobs in recent months — many in areas covered by environment, energy, resource, science, and health journalists.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [5]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Following Burrowers is a Big Project [7]
EPA Reports on Info Access 'Listening' Sessions [9]

Results of EPA's 2008 "National Dialogue" to develop an "Information Access Strategy" are now online.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [5]
Journalism & Media [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about EPA Reports on Info Access 'Listening' Sessions [9]
Google Opens Ocean Depths, VP Crib To View [11]

Now journalists can explore the ocean deeps with Google Earth's newest tool.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Water & Oceans [12]
Technology [13]
Region:
International [14]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Google Opens Ocean Depths, VP Crib To View [11]
262 Groups Urge Congress To Protect Whistleblowers [15]

A coalition of 262 citizen groups from many walks of life urge the new Congress to pass legislation ending the widespread practice of government retaliation against federal employees who reveal government waste, fraud, and abuse.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [4]
Activism [16]
Biodiversity [17]
Government [5]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about 262 Groups Urge Congress To Protect Whistleblowers [15]
Perchlorates Offer Early Test of EPA Openness [18]

Incoming EPA administrator Lisa Jackson faces an immediate test on perchlorate secrecy, as the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia rejects EPA's argument for FOIA exemption. Will EPA and the Justice Department appeal, even though Obama urges agency openness?
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [19]
Laws & Regulations [4]
Government [5]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Perchlorates Offer Early Test of EPA Openness [18]
Are You Ready for Sunshine Week? — March 15-21 [20]

News media across the country will again be undertaking open-government projects in 2009. The Sunshine Week website offers you ideas on stories you could dig out of hard-to-see public records.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [4]
Government [5]
Journalism & Media [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Are You Ready for Sunshine Week? — March 15-21 [20]
CJR: "What We Didn't Know Has Hurt Us" [21]

A Jan/Feb 2009 Columbia Journalism Review article enumerates many kinds of information the Bush administration veiled with secrecy; argues that disclosure is essential for democracy, yet the harm will not be easily undone.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [5]
Journalism & Media [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about CJR: "What We Didn't Know Has Hurt Us" [21]
FDA Knew About Mercury in Corn Syrup — And Kept Silent [22]

In spite of one of its own scientists co-authoring a 2005 study finding toxic mercury in high fructose corn syrup, the Food and Drug Administration gave a green light to the corn industry's campaign advertising corn syrup as "natural."
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [19]
Food [23]
Government [5]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about FDA Knew About Mercury in Corn Syrup — And Kept Silent [22]
Whistleblower Bill Awaits Congressional Action [24]

An amendment adding whistleblower protection to the economic stimulus bill before the House will be voted on soon.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [4]
Government [5]
Region:
National (U.S.) [8]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Whistleblower Bill Awaits Congressional Action [24]

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