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 12, 2011

Sunshine Week Coming March 13-19, 2011

Many publications and groups schedule special stories, reports, panels, or events during this week to promote freedom of information and to exercise their First Amendment rights. Find suggestions at the American Society of News Editors' official Sunshine Week website.

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December 15, 2010

Earmark Database Now Covers Fiscal 2011

The downloadable, Zipped Excel spreadsheet, produced by Taxpayers for Common Sense, WashingtonWatch.com, and Taxpayers Against Earmarks, contains 39,294 requested earmarks, worth $130 billion.

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Court OKs USDA Secrecy on Wolf Killings of Livestock

The environmental groups' request for GPS information about where the introduced, protected Mexican grays had killed livestock was denied on grounds that data collected by Wildlife Service personnel visiting private ranch property is exempt from FOIA requests.

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High Court Mulls Public's Right To Know of Threats to Its Safety

In the case of Milner v. Navy, a Puget Sound resident and activist sought information that would identify the locations and potential blast ranges of explosive ordnance stored at Washington’s Naval Magazine Indian Island.

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Groups Challenge Canada's Secrecy on Breeding Proposal for GM Salmon

A coalition of some 60 environmental, fisheries, and consumer groups want to know whether the Canadian government is undertaking a risk assessment before allowing AquaBounty's genetically engineered eggs to be grown on Prince Edward Island.

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SLAPP Win: Court Awards Legal Fees to Filmmaker in Dole Case

The makers of "Bananas!," which claimed that Dole's use of pesticides had caused harm to farm workers in Nicaragua, were awarded $200,000 in court costs and attorney fees.

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Senate Passes Whistleblower Protection Bill; House Pending

The bill (S 372) would beef up the weakened protections for federal whistleblowers against retaliation for revealing fraud, waste, and abuse.

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December 1, 2010

Enviropork: Reporting on the Secret Santas

The Senate's Nov. 30 vote not to impose a moratorium on "earmarks" practically ensures that pork-barrel spending will live on as a subject for journalists — at least in fiscal 2011.

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111th Congress Ending with Unfinished FOI To-Do List

The open-government agenda made only a little progress in the session of Congress now waddling to a lame-duck close. Hope still remains for a few measures that would increase public access to government information — but it dwindles with every day that passes.

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EPA Won't Disclose Alternative Study on Spruce Mine MTR Permit

Despite promises of transparency, the US Environmental Protection Agency has denied a Freedom-of-Information request by Charleston Gazette reporter Ken Ward Jr. for the contractor study, which apparently outlines less harmful options for this West Virginia mountaintop-removal project.

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The SEJ WatchDog Alert

Latest WatchDog Alert Items

January 12, 2011

Sunshine Week Coming March 13-19, 2011

December 15, 2010

Earmark Database Now Covers Fiscal 2011

Court OKs USDA Secrecy on Wolf Killings of Livestock

High Court Mulls Public's Right To Know of Threats to Its Safety

Groups Challenge Canada's Secrecy on Breeding Proposal for GM Salmon

SLAPP Win: Court Awards Legal Fees to Filmmaker in Dole Case

Senate Passes Whistleblower Protection Bill; House Pending

December 1, 2010

Enviropork: Reporting on the Secret Santas

111th Congress Ending with Unfinished FOI To-Do List

EPA Won't Disclose Alternative Study on Spruce Mine MTR Permit

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