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‘Trade Secrets’ Keep Journalists, Public in the Dark [1]

So-called confidential business information is a major obstacle to the dissemination of knowledge about environmental threats for the public, cautions WatchDog Opinion. Part of the problem is how federal agencies treat requests for confidentiality, and so is the way environmental laws handle the issue. A look at the worst offenders, and a call for journalists to break through the veil of secrecy.

SEJ Publication Types: 
WatchDog [2]
Topics on the Beat: 
Chemicals [3]
Economy & Business [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [6]
Health [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Policy [10]
Region: 
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility: 
Public [12]
  • Read more about ‘Trade Secrets’ Keep Journalists, Public in the Dark [1]

Oysters, Boisterous or Scarce, Fuel Local Environment Stories [13]

The world may be your oyster, but if you’re an environmental journalist, the oyster may also be your story. The latest TipSheet points out (amid numerous tasty serving tips) that oysters say a great deal about the health of local waters … and of the humans who consume the mollusk. Get a dozen-plus oyster story ideas and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types: 
TipSheet [14]
Topics on the Beat: 
Biodiversity [15]
Environmental Health [16]
Fish & Fisheries [17]
Food [18]
Health [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [19]
Pollution [20]
Water & Oceans [21]
Region: 
National (U.S.) [11]
California [22]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [23]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [24]
Northwest (OR WA) [25]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [26]
Visibility: 
Public [12]
  • Read more about Oysters, Boisterous or Scarce, Fuel Local Environment Stories [13]

Burning Man Begins This Week As Hawk Fire Reaches 95% Containment [27]

"Around 70,000 are expected be at the Nevada desert festival, with it urging attendees to treat “everyone affected by this emergency with patience and care.”"

Activism [28]
Climate Change [29]
Environmental Health [16]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Natural Resources [19]
People & Population [30]
Water & Oceans [21]
Public [12]
National (U.S.) [11]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [31]
Source: Washington Post [32], 08/31/2026
  • Read more about Burning Man Begins This Week As Hawk Fire Reaches 95% Containment [27]

Trump Administration Proposes Changes To Biden-Era Climate Report [33]

"The Tr ump administration is looking to change a portion of a 2023 federal climate report." "The administration proposed to reframe how the Fifth National Climate Assessment sees its worst-case scenarios after U.N. scientists said earlier this year that a worst-case scenario was not plausible."

Climate Change [29]
Conflict/Corruption [34]
Energy & Fuel [35]
Environmental Politics [5]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Science [36]
Public [12]
National (U.S.) [11]
Source: The Hill [37], 08/31/2026
  • Read more about Trump Administration Proposes Changes To Biden-Era Climate Report [33]
September 15, 2026

DEADLINE: The Penlight Prize for Excellence in Paywall-free Public Records Reporting [38]

The Penlight Prize, presented by Freedom of the Press Foundation, honors exemplary public-records-based news stories made available to readers free of charge with a $25,000 prize. DEADLINE EXTENDED TO SEPT. 15.

Awards and Grants [39]
Visibility: 
Public [12]
Topics on the Beat: 
Journalism & Media [8]
Other or All [40]
Region: 
National (U.S.) [11]

Sometimes You Have To Laugh [41]

"Climate journalism is crucial, but it’s not enough. Release the comedians!"

Climate Change [29]
Journalism & Media [8]
People & Population [30]
Public [12]
National (U.S.) [11]
California [22]
Source: Climate-Colored Glasses [42], 08/27/2026
  • Read more about Sometimes You Have To Laugh [41]

West Point Climate Prof. Says He Was Fired for Refusing to ‘Defy Science’ [43]

"Dr. Adam Kalkstein is suing the U. S. Military Academy, where he was a professor of geography and the only climate scientist, after being fired." "After 17 years of teaching science at West Point, Dr. Adam Kalkstein says he was suddenly ordered last year to cut from his curriculum information about the human causes of climate change, according to a new lawsuit filed against the U.S. Military Academy."

Climate Change [29]
Conflict/Corruption [34]
Energy & Fuel [35]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [6]
Journalism & Media [8]
Military [44]
People & Population [30]
Science [36]
Public [12]
National (U.S.) [11]
Source: New York Times [45], 08/27/2026
  • Read more about West Point Climate Prof. Says He Was Fired for Refusing to ‘Defy Science’ [43]

Trump Border Wall Construction Threatens Rock Art As Old As The Pyramids [46]

"On an overcast summer morning, Carolyn Boyd, an archeologist at Texas State University, stood at the foot of a cave in west Texas, looking up toward a series of towering murals painted on a rock wall. Three massive human-like figures soared toward an overhang that had sheltered the painting from the elements since they were drawn here perhaps 4,000 years ago."

Journalism & Media [8]
Natural Resources [19]
People & Population [30]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [47]
Public [12]
National (U.S.) [11]
Source: Public Domain [48], 08/26/2026
  • Read more about Trump Border Wall Construction Threatens Rock Art As Old As The Pyramids [46]

Fossil Lobbyists Also Represent 100s Of Cities Fighting For Climate Damages [49]

"Congressional lobbyists working for fossil fuel firms that are exacerbating the climate crisis are simultaneously representing more than 300 local governments raising funding to recover from climate damage, according to a new analysis."

Climate Change [29]
Conflict/Corruption [34]
Economy & Business [4]
Energy & Fuel [35]
Environmental Health [16]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [6]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
People & Population [30]
Pollution [20]
Technology [50]
Public [12]
National (U.S.) [11]
Source: Guardian [51], 08/26/2026
  • Read more about Fossil Lobbyists Also Represent 100s Of Cities Fighting For Climate Damages [49]

Ohio Grapples With Fake Comments On Clean Energy: Some Want Crackdown [52]

"A troubling trend has shown up in some communities around the U.S.: Public officials are being inundated with seemingly fake public feedback that aims to block renewable energy and promote fossil fuels."

Activism [28]
Climate Change [29]
Conflict/Corruption [34]
Consumer [53]
Economy & Business [4]
Energy & Fuel [35]
Environmental Health [16]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [6]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
People & Population [30]
Pollution [20]
Technology [50]
Public [12]
National (U.S.) [11]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [54]
Source: Canary Media [55], 08/26/2026
  • Read more about Ohio Grapples With Fake Comments On Clean Energy: Some Want Crackdown [52]

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Links
[1] https://www.sej.org/publications/watchdog/trade-secrets-keep-journalists-public-dark [2] https://www.sej.org/category/sej-publication-types/watchdog [3] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/chemicals/toxics [4] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/business [5] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-politics [6] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/government [7] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/health [8] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/journalism/media [9] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/laws [10] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/policy [11] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national [12] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/81 [13] https://www.sej.org/publications/tipsheet/oysters-boisterous-or-scarce-fuel-local-environment-stories [14] https://www.sej.org/category/sej-publication/tipsheet [15] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/biodiversity-1 [16] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-health [17] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/fisheries [18] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/food [19] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/land [20] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/pollution [21] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/water [22] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/california [23] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/mid-atlantic [24] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/northeast [25] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/northwest [26] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/southeast [27] https://www.sej.org/headlines/burning-man-begins-week-hawk-fire-reaches-95-containment [28] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/activism [29] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/climate-change [30] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/people-population [31] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/mountain-west [32] https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/08/28/burning-man-begins-this-weekend-hawk-fire-reaches-95-containment/ [33] https://www.sej.org/headlines/trump-administration-proposes-changes-biden-era-climate-report [34] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/conflictcorruption [35] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/energy [36] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/science [37] https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/6055980-trump-biden-climate-change-report/ [38] https://www.sej.org/calendar/deadline-penlight-prize-excellence-paywall-free-public-records-reporting [39] https://www.sej.org/category/event-type/awards [40] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/other/all/no-category [41] https://www.sej.org/headlines/sometimes-you-have-laugh [42] https://www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/climate-change-comedy [43] https://www.sej.org/headlines/west-point-climate-prof-says-he-was-fired-refusing-defy-science [44] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/military [45] https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/26/us/politics/west-point-climate-professor-lawsuit.html?unlocked_article_code=1.8lA.4TRA.ACOAdOylgMoG&smid=url-share [46] https://www.sej.org/headlines/trump-border-wall-construction-threatens-rock-art-old-pyramids [47] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/religion-faith-and-spirituality [48] https://www.publicdomain.media/p/border-wall-rock-art-murals [49] https://www.sej.org/headlines/fossil-lobbyists-also-represent-100s-cities-fighting-climate-damages [50] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/technology [51] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/25/fossil-fuel-lobbyists-fight-climate-damage [52] https://www.sej.org/headlines/ohio-grapples-fake-comments-clean-energy-some-want-crackdown [53] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/consumer [54] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/great-lakes [55] https://www.sej.org/https//www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-energy/ohio-fake-comments-clean-energy [56] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/journalism/media?page=8 [57] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/journalism/media?page=5 [58] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/journalism/media?page=6 [59] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/journalism/media?page=7 [60] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/journalism/media?page=10 [61] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/journalism/media?page=11 [62] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/journalism/media?page=12 [63] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/journalism/media?page=13 [64] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/journalism/media?page=584