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

January 28, 2009

Whistleblower Bill Awaits Congressional Action

An amendment adding whistleblower protection to the economic stimulus bill before the House will be voted on soon.

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FDA Knew About Mercury in Corn Syrup — And Kept Silent

In spite of one of its own scientists co-authoring a 2005 study finding toxic mercury in high fructose corn syrup, the Food and Drug Administration gave a green light to the corn industry's campaign advertising corn syrup as "natural."

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CJR: "What We Didn't Know Has Hurt Us"

A Jan/Feb 2009 Columbia Journalism Review article enumerates many kinds of information the Bush administration veiled with secrecy; argues that disclosure is essential for democracy, yet the harm will not be easily undone.

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Are You Ready for Sunshine Week? — March 15-21

News media across the country will again be undertaking open-government projects in 2009. The Sunshine Week website offers you ideas on stories you could dig out of hard-to-see public records.

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Perchlorates Offer Early Test of EPA Openness

Incoming EPA administrator Lisa Jackson faces an immediate test on perchlorate secrecy, as the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia rejects EPA's argument for FOIA exemption. Will EPA and the Justice Department appeal, even though Obama urges agency openness?

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January 22, 2009

Obama Orders Rollback of Bush Secrecy on 1st Day

President Barack Obama signalled that open access to information will be a top priority for his administration, issuing two memos to all executive agencies and one executive order at a January 21, 2009, session open to reporters and cabinet members.

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January 14, 2009

SEJ Urges Energy Department To Drop New Secrecy Rule

The Society of Environmental Journalists has urged the Energy Department to abandon a new rule making it easier for the agency to deny or resist Freedom of Information Act requests.

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SEJ Urges Prompt, Full EPA Release of Ash Spill Testing Data

SEJ urged EPA Region 4 to release promptly and fully any environmental monitoring data it collects related to the December 2008 spill of coal ash from an east Tennessee impoundment.

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Bush OMB Claims Public Health Endangerment As Secret

The White House Office of Management and Budget has denied a FOIA request by the online newsletter Greenwire to release EPA's public health "endangerment finding" on climate change.

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December 31, 2008

CNN, Weather Channel Axe Environmental Units

At a time when public understanding of complex science and environmental issues grows critical, CNN laid off its entire science/enviro team and NBC's The Weather Channel fired the staff of the "Forecast Earth" environmental program.

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The SEJ WatchDog Alert

Latest WatchDog Alert Items

January 28, 2009

Whistleblower Bill Awaits Congressional Action

FDA Knew About Mercury in Corn Syrup — And Kept Silent

CJR: "What We Didn't Know Has Hurt Us"

Are You Ready for Sunshine Week? — March 15-21

Perchlorates Offer Early Test of EPA Openness

January 22, 2009

Obama Orders Rollback of Bush Secrecy on 1st Day

January 14, 2009

SEJ Urges Energy Department To Drop New Secrecy Rule

SEJ Urges Prompt, Full EPA Release of Ash Spill Testing Data

Bush OMB Claims Public Health Endangerment As Secret

December 31, 2008

CNN, Weather Channel Axe Environmental Units

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