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

October 22, 2008

Info on Clean Water Priced Like Gold in Alaska

"When an environmental group, Alaskans for Clean Water, asked for copies of state records about an unsuccessful ballot proposal to limit mining pollution, officials initially said they would turn over the documents — for $50,000," the Associated Press reported October 20, 2008.

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Judge Rules Sandia Landfill Pollution Can't Be Secret

A new ruling by a New Mexico state district judge requires that a report on groundwater pollution from a mixed-waste landfill at Sandia National Laboratories be made public.

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TOOLBOX: Foreign Agents Database and More

This database is useful for environmental and energy reporters looking for mischief perpetrated by government officials and the industries who influence them with money.

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October 8, 2008

More Tools for Covering Capitol Hill — From Outside the Beltway

Reporters on "Main Street" need not feel hindered in covering action on Capitol Hill. Here are more tools for Outside-the-Beltway reporters who want to keep an eye on Congress.

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Follow the Money: Oil and Coal Edition

Deep Throat's advice was never more needed: "Follow the money." Those reporters who want to follow Deep Throat's advice now have tools undreamed of in Woodward and Bernstein's hey-day.

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House Panel Probes Political Censorship of Science at EPA

More details of White House efforts to silence science at EPA emerged at a September 18, 2008, hearing of a House Energy investigations panel.

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EPA Libraries Open Doors

EPA reopened five libraries September 30, 2008, after fighting its own scientists, enforcement lawyers, open-information groups, and eventually Congress for two years in an unsuccessful effort to keep them closed.

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September 24, 2008

Agency FOIA Logs Posted on Watchdog Site

The FOIA logs of agencies covered by environmental reporters offer fascinating insight into their workings — and some good story ideas.

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TOOLBOX: Online Sources for Researching Medical Literature

A useful roundup of links and leads for reporters researching the published literature on medical and some environmental health topics is available online at LLRX.com.

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EPA'S IRIS Chemical Risk Database in Shambles: GAO

Interference by the White House Office of Management and Budget has badly damaged the "credibility and timeliness" of IRIS.

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The SEJ WatchDog Alert

Latest WatchDog Alert Items

October 22, 2008

Info on Clean Water Priced Like Gold in Alaska

Judge Rules Sandia Landfill Pollution Can't Be Secret

TOOLBOX: Foreign Agents Database and More

October 8, 2008

More Tools for Covering Capitol Hill — From Outside the Beltway

Follow the Money: Oil and Coal Edition

House Panel Probes Political Censorship of Science at EPA

EPA Libraries Open Doors

September 24, 2008

Agency FOIA Logs Posted on Watchdog Site

TOOLBOX: Online Sources for Researching Medical Literature

EPA'S IRIS Chemical Risk Database in Shambles: GAO

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