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The FOI Advocate is a compendium of ideas, edited story excerpts and other materials from a variety of Web sites, as well as original concepts and analysis. When the information comes directly from another source, it will be attributed and a link will be provided whenever possible. The blog relies on the accuracy and integrity of the original sources cited. We will correct errors and inaccuracies when we become aware of them.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Here's a New One: "Editorial Privilege"

It's new to me, anyway...

When the Federal Communications Commission votes on something at a public meeting, the document they are voting on isn't necessarily for public consumption, the agency said Wednesday.

Commissioners unanimously rejected an appeal by the Associated Press for a copy of a document that was approved by a 4-1 vote at a July 31 public meeting.

The document was an order establishing rules that would govern the conduct of a planned auction of television airwaves that would later raise nearly $20 billion.

While commissioners approved the rules in a public vote, staff requested "editorial privileges." A formal document was not released until Aug. 10.


More here.

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