Publication Items

Great Lakes Study Suppressed [1]

For more than seven months, the nation's top public health agency has blocked the publication of an exhaustive federal study of environmental hazards in the eight Great Lakes states.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Pollution [3]
Water & Oceans [4]
Region:
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Great Lakes Study Suppressed [1]
Access to Congress: A Few Coverage Tips and Tricks [7]

The U.S. Congress can be even more frustrating to cover than executive agencies.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Access to Congress: A Few Coverage Tips and Tricks [7]
FERC Slightly Eases Some Secrecy Requirements [10]

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has slightly relaxed some requirements for secrecy on decisions it makes on "critical energy infrastructure."

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about FERC Slightly Eases Some Secrecy Requirements [10]
CRS PUBLISHES BACKGROUNDER ON JOURNALISTS' PRIVILEGE [12]

The Oct. 18, 2007 issue of Congressional Research Service has published a useful backgrounder on the current lack of a "shield law" protecting reporters from legal penalties, including jail, when they refuse prosecutors' requests to disclose the identities of confidential sources.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about CRS PUBLISHES BACKGROUNDER ON JOURNALISTS' PRIVILEGE [12]
Artist Sues Local Cops Over Right To Photograph Power Lines [14]

Shirley E. Scheier, a University of Washington fine-arts professor, was handcuffed, frisked, and detained for 44 minutes when she took some art photos of powerlines against the sky in Snohomish County, Washington.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [11]
Region:
Northwest (OR WA) [15]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Artist Sues Local Cops Over Right To Photograph Power Lines [14]
SEJ, OTHER J-GROUPS ASK SENATE TO DROP ANIMAL SECRECY [16]

Even as major companies recalled their shipments of hamburgers made with possibly tainted meat, beef and pork lobbyists worked hard to keep U.S meat eaters from finding out what was going on. They lobbied to amend the Farm Bill to include secrecy language that would make make it illegal for anyone to publicly disclose such information. SEJ and other journalism organization are urging senators to remove that language from the bill.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about SEJ, OTHER J-GROUPS ASK SENATE TO DROP ANIMAL SECRECY [16]
National Response Center Changes Leak Report Policy [17]

The National Response Center has changed its policy on releasing chemical accident reports, making it much harder for journalists to gather crucial information about hazardous materials spills on deadline.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [13]
Chemicals [18]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about National Response Center Changes Leak Report Policy [17]
SEJ Opposes Defanging of FOIA Ombud Office [19]

The Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) urged Congress to use its funding power to establish a new independent "ombudsman" office.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about SEJ Opposes Defanging of FOIA Ombud Office [19]
Now Environment Canada Muzzles Scientists, Too: Report [20]

"Environment Canada has 'muzzled' its scientists around the country, ordering them to refer all media queries to Ottawa.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [13]
Region:
Canada [21]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Now Environment Canada Muzzles Scientists, Too: Report [20]
NIEHS Director Schwartz Resigns [22]

David Schwartz, the embattled director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), resigned the post Feb. 8, 2008
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Other or All [23]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about NIEHS Director Schwartz Resigns [22]

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