Journalism & Media

In the wake of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, terrorism is likely to continue to impact all beats, including the environment beat.

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.

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.

Some of "The Rules" laid down by the EPA press office, as experienced by SEJ members, include the following:

A Senate bill would require members of Congress who add FOIA exemptions to legislation to flag them.

In the old days, the newsroom at most local dailies had a police scanner squawking like a nervous parrot in the background, to get the jump in case something big happened. To get environmental news today, you need other tools.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Oct. 16, 2007, to create a federal shield law which would offer limited protection for reporters from being compelled to disclose confidential sources.

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.

In this issue: War and recession: reporters still optimistic on job security, future; U.S. Senator Tim Wirth, host of experts slated for first SEJ national conference; a reporter's reflections on Kuwait 's devastation; traffic in rare plants and animals; indispensable reference texts; more.