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Publication Items

The Case of the Secret Openness Award

AP reported President Barack Obama received an award "for making the government more open and transparent — presented to him behind closed doors with no news coverage or public access allowed." The event offered evidence that Obama's minders may be the worst enemies of his presidency — and that the PR pros are badly fumbling the PR ball.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Government
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about The Case of the Secret Openness Award
GOP Slash-and-Burn Targets Data Openness

Watchdogs were alarmed last week that the GOP "budget-cutting" campaign had targeted OpenGov data programs in order to fund tax cuts for billionaires. But sharp-eyed Daniel Schuman has been covering the developments on the Sunlight Foundation's blog since the first fiscal year 2011 budget bill passed.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Government
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about GOP Slash-and-Burn Targets Data Openness
Scattered Clouds Persist During, After Sunshine Week

The Freedom-of-Information establishment annually tries to remind the citizens and journalists of our democracy that this form of government must have a free press and lots of information to be healthy. This year was no exception. They celebrated "Sunshine Week," advancing freedom-of-information on many fronts.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Government
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Scattered Clouds Persist During, After Sunshine Week
Floods Threaten Midwest and Elsewhere As Thaw Progresses

Get your flood resources here, from the National Weather Service's National Hydrologic Assessment, FEMA's "Flood Hazard" webpage and Flood Insurance Rate Maps, to the National Flood Insurance Program's "Media Resources" site, NOAA's "Floods Monitor", USGS' "WaterWatch," advice from the CDC, and more.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Water & Oceans
Disasters
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Floods Threaten Midwest and Elsewhere As Thaw Progresses
On-Farm Renewable Energy Generation Rises Sharply

The first national report on renewable energy generation on farms and ranches indicates that the number of solar, wind, and methane digestion energy sources is increasing substantially. The US Dept. of Agriculture report, based on 2009 data, provides information on multiple factors.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel
Agriculture
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about On-Farm Renewable Energy Generation Rises Sharply
Are Farmland Prices Ready To Burst?

If this happens, the agricultural community could suffer much as many people did after the recent housing-market implosion. It could significantly damage farmers, food production, certain banks, and bond holders who are the sole source of capital for some banks.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Economy & Business
Agriculture
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Are Farmland Prices Ready To Burst?
Wildfire Mitigation Work Continues This Spring

Wildfire season has begun. Some of the areas going up in flames include the increasingly developed zone known as the wildland-urban interface, where fire risks are most apparent to people. One of the steps being taken to help reduce the hazard is fuel reduction work that thins out or removes dense tree stands, making them less prone to wildfire, or at least easier to control when they do burn.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Forests
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Wildfire Mitigation Work Continues This Spring
Japan Nuclear Crisis: Non-Disclosure Hides Multitude of Sins

As a quake-stricken Japanese nuclear plant continues to spew radiation into the environment, journalists and people across the world are getting an unwelcome lesson in how secrecy can threaten people's health and safety. A New York Times team finally on March 16 did the story on the withholding of information. Read their coverage, as well as others.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Pollution
Energy & Fuel
Disasters
Region:
Asia
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Japan Nuclear Crisis: Non-Disclosure Hides Multitude of Sins
Some Key Sources for Reporting on Nuclear Issues

Here you'll find links to Japanese News Agencies; International News Sources; International and National Nuclear Agencies; Nuclear Industry Trade Groups; and Environmental, Anti-Nuclear, and Scientists' Groups
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Some Key Sources for Reporting on Nuclear Issues
Upcoming Decisions on US Nuclear Program

Will the newly budget-conscious GOP-dominated 112th Congress fund all the nuclear loan guarantees currently available or in the pipeline? Signals from the Obama administration — even after the Japan meltdown — are that it will push forward with its nuclear plans, despite budget deficits and safety perils.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Upcoming Decisions on US Nuclear Program

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