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

July 20, 2016

News Media Groups Complain About Convention Restrictions

Authorities in both Cleveland and Philadelphia placed new restrictions on media covering the Republican convention, including banning gas masks, backpacks and bags bigger than 18" x 13" x 7" — which severely cramps broadcast journalists' ability to carry electronic gear.

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Ag Department To Release Food Safety Inspection Data

Data journalists may be salivating at news that the USDA will soon release facility-specific federal food safety inspection information in database form. Photo: © Clipart.com

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July 6, 2016

Enviros Want To See Fired New Brunswick Scientist's Glyphosate Report

The Council of Canadians, an environmental group, is calling for release of a report on the herbicide glyphosate that New Brunswick's chief medical officer was working on when she was dismissed six months ago.

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Obama Signs FOIA Improvement Legislation into Law

Just in time for the 50th anniversary of the original Freedom of Information Act, President Obama June 30, 2016, signed into law a package of amendments to strengthen it. The bill codifies the "presumption of openness."

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Reporters Committee Calls for Federal Anti-SLAPP Law

"Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation" are legal bullying, using the resources of well-heeled business or political groups to harass smaller citizens' groups or (sometimes) news media who can barely afford lawyers. Now some are calling for a federal law to counter them.

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U.S. Appeals Court Rules Private Emails Not Always Exempt from FOIA

When a government official sends work-related emails over a private or personal email account, the emails are not necessarily exempt from the Freedom of Information Act, a federal appeals court ruled July 5, 2016.

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June 22, 2016

Some Steps Forward on Open Data

Don't get us wrong: the U.S. federal government's openness to public scrutiny leaves much to be desired. Still, it's worth noting that some improvements have taken place. Here are a few prominent ones. Image: Clipart.com.

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FOIA Improvement Bill Awaits Signature on Obama's Desk

FOIA reform: it's all over but the shouting — and the implementation. The package of amendments to FOIA features codification of the "presumption of openness," would establish a single online federal portal for FOIA requests and strengthen the role of the Office of Government Information Services. Image: Clipart.com.

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Canadian Government Drafts New 3-Year Open Government Plan

Overall goals of the new draft plan are to make all government data and information open by default and to eliminate all fees except for an initial $5 filing fee. The Canadian government invites comments on the plan before June 30, 2016.

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FAA Finally Legalizes Drone Journalism

Journalism may finally be ready to stride into the brave new techno-world of drone reporting now that the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a regulation removing the previous cloud of illegality and uncertainty. It's just the beginning.

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