Government

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.

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."

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

Cropduster flights resumed Sept. 25, 2001. The FBI had ordered cropdusters grounded nationwide temporarily in late Sept. 2001.

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

Need another reason not to go through the "press office?" Try reading the transcript from the White House briefing of June 8, 2005.

Inspection reports on badly maintained dams - or information on what homes would be swept away if they failed?

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 every Congressional district - including yours - there are dozens of "pork barrel" politics stories.