Government

Coronavirus Silence, Secrecy Harms Public Health

Mishandling of vital information by the U.S. government worsened the COVID-19 pandemic, argues the latest WatchDog. The no-holds-barred opinion piece, which notes that coronavirus is as much an environmental story as a public health one, points the finger at the White House and the “Silent CDC,” sifts the wreckage of the testing program and speculates about the dearth of data as the nation reopens.

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June 5, 2020

Stories from the Frontlines: Journalists and Protests with CNN's Brian Stelter

Join CNN Reliable Sources host Brian Stelter as he talks with journalists covering the protests over the death of George Floyd. Why have journalists faced such unprecedented harassment, intimidation and detainment during this fast-moving story? How can they protect themselves and get the access they need to keep their communities informed going forward? An SPJ Live Online Session, 12:00 p.m. ET.

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June 5, 2020

Covering Protests: Journalists Under Attack

Join the International Center for Journalists, 10:00 a.m. ET, for a special event on the alarming trend of police targetting journalists covering protests, featuring Linda Tirado, a freelance photojournalist who was blinded in one eye while covering the Minneapolis protests; Branden Hunter, Detroit Free Press; Maria Salazar-Ferro, CPJ; and Ahmer Khan, winner of the 2020 Human Rights Press Award for his coverage of unrest in Kashmir.

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June 29, 2020

DEADLINE: NPF's Tracking Coronavirus Relief Funds: How to Follow the Taxpayers' Money

National Press Foundation will offer a free online training program for 25 journalists to help them track how federal pandemic assistance funds are being used. The training will be held for two hours per day from July 13-17 (10 hours total). Fellows will be offered subsequent confidential follow-up sessions with experts and data analysts to help them bring their stories to successful publication.

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"'Gutted' Interior Agency Moves Out West With Top Posts Unfilled"

"The Interior Department is struggling to fill top positions at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) despite assurances from officials that the agency's relocation from Washington to Colorado is helping recruit top talent, according to an analysis by The Hill."

Source: The Hill, 06/03/2020

Letter From DC: Journalists Standing Together

Society of Environmental Journalists' Executive Director Meaghan Parker offers reassurance to members on SEJ's stability in a time of turmoil, while stressing the importance of ongoing initiatives to support a free press, as well as journalists and communities of color. See also:

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Hurricane Season Collides With Coronavirus, as Communities Plan

"Robin Rokobauer doesn't like to chance it. When there's a hurricane, she almost always evacuates. Rokobauer lives in Cocoa Beach, on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and 153-mile-long Indian River Lagoon. Her mother is 93."

Source: InsideClimate News, 06/02/2020

Using Data Sources To Track Climate-Driven Mayhem at Superfund Sites

Hazardous waste and floodwaters don’t typically mix well together. So when a Michigan dam recently burst, and flooded not just the local community, but also threatened a nearby Superfund site, it prompted Reporter’s Toolbox to look at how environmental journalists could track similar threats in their areas, especially as climate change raises the risks of similar disasters.

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"Senior Interior Official Broke Ethics Rules a 2nd Time, Watchdog Says"

"A senior Department of Interior official violated federal ethics rules by using his position to try to get a family member a job at the Environmental Protection Agency, the Interior Department’s internal watchdog said in a report published Friday."

Source: NYTimes, 06/01/2020

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