The SEJ WatchDog Alert

The WatchDog Alert (formerly WatchDog TipSheet from 2008-2019) was a regular source of story ideas, articles, updates, events and other information with a focus on freedom-of-information issues of concern to environmental journalists in both the United States and Canada.

WatchDog was compiled, edited and written by Joseph A. Davis, who directs the WatchDog Project, an activity of SEJ's Freedom of Information Task Force that reports on secrecy trends and supports reporters' efforts to make better use of FOIA.

Topics on the Beat:

Journalism & Media

Public

Latest WatchDog Alert Items

May 22, 2019

SEJ in Press Freedom Case, Chem Secrecy Bill Fails and More

SEJ joined with several dozen other journalism groups to support the right to film police activity in a public place, and bills to block information of importance to environmental reporters failed in Louisiana, California and Iowa, but a Colorado paper was blocked from covering a wild horse roundup. All that in this month’s WatchDog Tipsheet.

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May 7, 2019

"Chemicals: Enviros File FOIA Suits For Pesticide Docs"

"Environmentalists went to court today in hopes of squeezing myriad pesticides-related documents out from several allegedly unresponsive federal agencies."

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April 24, 2019

Protecting Journalists from Attack, Info Row at Interior, PIO Standards and More

Do we need a bill to criminalize attacks against those who report the news? Some Dems in Congress think so. And the Interior Department is at the center of a conflicts over freedom of information involving lobbying contacts with the newly confirmed secretary. The latest WatchDog has those developments, plus more.

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March 27, 2019

SEJ Joins Lawsuits; Press Freedom Tracker Gets Update; Docs on ANWR Drilling Concealed, and More

The Society of Environmental Journalists is backing right-to-know lawsuits brought by journalism groups, and a collaborative press freedom tracker gets new funding. Meanwhile, at the Interior Department, one watchdog group angles for environmental impact statements on ANWR drilling, while others track possible conflicts of interest by the acting secretary. That and more in the latest WatchDog roundup.

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February 27, 2019

Climate Scientist Canned, SCOTUS To Rule on Chemical ‘Secrets’ and Army Corps Sued Over Permit Info

A scientist contracted to report on climate impacts for the National Park Service was caught up in a fracas over attempted censorship of her findings. Now she’s been fired. That, plus a FOIA case before the Supreme Court and an enviro group sues the Army Corps of Engineers over info on a permit for a new plastics plant in Louisiana. Read the latest on freedom-of-information issues in this month’s WatchDog TipSheet.

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January 30, 2019

Under Siege from Ethics Probes, Interior Dept. Proposes Gutting Rules on Open Records

Journalism groups, among them the Society of Environmental Journalists, have raised objections to an under-the-radar plan by the Interior Department that would essentially allow it to turn down almost any Freedom of Information Act requests it chose. SEJ filed comments opposing the proposal on Jan. 28. See what rules change Interior has requested and get more on SEJ’s response in the latest WatchDog Tipsheet.

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January 2, 2019

Oversight on EPA FOIA Screening, Covering Pipeline Protests, Feedlot Air Emissions, Data on Illegal Fishing

The new year will likely mean subpoenas on EPA’s FOIA response policies, as a Democrat takes the chair in the House Oversight Committee amid charges the agency is choking off politically sensitive record requests. And are new laws in a dozen states making coverage of pipeline protests a felony? That, plus air emission exemptions for animal feedlot operators and data on illegal fishing. All in the latest issue of the WatchDog.

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December 31, 2018

Interior Proposes Rule To Make FOIA Requests Harder To Fulfill

"Trump administration officials took steps on Friday to crack down on transparency at one of the largest US federal agencies, proposing a slew of changes that could make it harder for the public and media to obtain records of agency dealings."

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November 14, 2018

Pushback on White House, Info Access Summit, Records Destruction & more

The Society of Environmental Journalists last week objected to the White House suspension of CNN reporter Jim Acosta after a contentious briefing with President Donald Trump and the release of a doctored video of the incident. SEJ joined numerous other journalism groups in fighting what it called unacceptable censorship. Details in this month’s WatchDog TipSheet. Plus, science writers host an “info access summit,” a look at issues around secrecy at the Interior Department and the CNN pipe bomb.

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October 17, 2018

SEJ Weighs in on Khashoggi, Parks Canada; Plus, Zinke Calendar & Data Resources

The Society of Environmental Journalists has joined several dozen other journalism groups calling for the investigation into the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and separately, urged Parks Canada to stop imposing reporting barriers for journalists. That, plus black holes in the calendar for Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke, and new data resources for reporters. All in the latest WatchDog Tipsheet.

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The SEJ WatchDog Alert

Latest WatchDog Alert Items

May 22, 2019

SEJ in Press Freedom Case, Chem Secrecy Bill Fails and More

May 7, 2019

"Chemicals: Enviros File FOIA Suits For Pesticide Docs"

April 24, 2019

Protecting Journalists from Attack, Info Row at Interior, PIO Standards and More

March 27, 2019

SEJ Joins Lawsuits; Press Freedom Tracker Gets Update; Docs on ANWR Drilling Concealed, and More

February 27, 2019

Climate Scientist Canned, SCOTUS To Rule on Chemical ‘Secrets’ and Army Corps Sued Over Permit Info

January 30, 2019

Under Siege from Ethics Probes, Interior Dept. Proposes Gutting Rules on Open Records

January 2, 2019

Oversight on EPA FOIA Screening, Covering Pipeline Protests, Feedlot Air Emissions, Data on Illegal Fishing

December 31, 2018

Interior Proposes Rule To Make FOIA Requests Harder To Fulfill

November 14, 2018

Pushback on White House, Info Access Summit, Records Destruction & more

October 17, 2018

SEJ Weighs in on Khashoggi, Parks Canada; Plus, Zinke Calendar & Data Resources

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