Hello, everyone.
We at NFOIC just wanted to inform you that the FOI Advocate has moved and now has a new address.
You can find us at http://www.nfoic.org/blog.
We've enjoyed our time at Blogger, but we're going to try it out on our new site at http://www.nfoic.org/.
Stop by and see us.
Thanks.
NFOIC Mgmt.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
Former DOJ official: Obama could be forced to release the Osama death photos
from Gawker:
Barack Obama has finally decided against releasing a photo of Osama bin Laden's corpse as proof of his death. But the former chief freedom of information expert for the U.S. government tells Gawker that he may not have that choice.Read the rest here.
Up until a few moments ago, when CBS News reported Obama's decision, the Administration had issued mixed signals on whether it intended to release graphic evidence of Osama's demise. CIA director Leon Panetta stated that he expected a photo would eventually be released, while Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton were reportedly opposed. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said yesterday that "there are sensitivities here in terms of the appropriateness of releasing photographs of Osama bin Laden in the aftermath of this firefight."
But all the agonizing may have been for naught. According to Daniel Metcalfe, the former chief of the Department of Justice's Office of Information and Privacy—a post that effectively made him the government's top expert in the Freedom of Information Act—the odds are better than even that a FOIA lawsuit seeking the photo's release would succeed.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
WikiLeaks: Guantanamo Bay terrorist secrets revealed
from The Telegraph:
Al-Qaeda terrorists have threatened to unleash a “nuclear hellstorm” on the West if Osama Bin Laden is caught or assassinated, according to documents to be released by the WikiLeaks website, which contain details of the interrogations of more than 700 Guantanamo detainees.Read the rest here.
However, the shocking human cost of obtaining this intelligence is also exposed with dozens of innocent people sent to Guantanamo – and hundreds of low-level foot-soldiers being held for years and probably tortured before being assessed as of little significance.
The Daily Telegraph, along with other newspapers including The Washington Post, today exposes America’s own analysis of almost ten years of controversial interrogations on the world’s most dangerous terrorists. This newspaper has been shown thousands of pages of top-secret files obtained by the WikiLeaks website.
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Report: After Michigan FOIAs, Wayne State takes down labor studies website
from TalkingPointsMemo:
[...]Read the rest here.
As Wayne State University considers what to do about the Freedom Of Information Act requests Mackinac sent over last month, lawyers at the school have ordered parts of the Labor Studies Center website shut down over concerns from Mackinac that they violate rules against political advocacy with state resources.
The Michigan Information and Research Service News Service reports (sub req'd) that Wayne has pulled down parts of its labor studies dept website while they're "under review by the university's general counsel to make sure they are not running afoul of state law."
National security: When secrecy is a weapon
from The Bellingham Herald:
In a recent interview with Newsweek magazine, former CIA lawyer John Rizzo spoke with surprising candor about the CIA's "targeted killing" program. He discussed the scope of the program (about 30 people are on the "hit list" at any given time), the process by which the CIA selects its targets (Rizzo was "the one who signed off") and the methods the CIA uses to eliminate them ("The Predator is the weapon of choice, but it could also be someone putting a bullet in your head"). In a wide-ranging conversation, Rizzo volunteered details about a highly controversial counterterrorism program that had previously been cloaked in official secrecy.Read the rest here.
What was most remarkable about the interview, though, was not what Rizzo said but that it was Rizzo who said it. For more than six years until his retirement in December 2009, Rizzo was the CIA's acting general counsel - the agency's chief lawyer. On his watch the CIA had sought to quash a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit by arguing that national security would be harmed irreparably if the CIA were to acknowledge any detail about the targeted killing program, even the program's mere existence.
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Open-gov sites likely to stay online under new CR funding
from ExecutiveGov:
The latest proposal for a continuing resolution to come out of the House Appropriations Committee includes $17 million for the Office of Management and Budget’s E-Government program, which administers funds for open-government sites, Federal News Radio reports.Read the rest here.
However, while a marked increase from the $2 million previously proposed, it is still a far cry from the $35 million the administration has requested.
However, it will likely be enough to keep running eight open-gov websites slated to go dark in May because of a lack funding.
MSU labor prof says university will comply with FOIA
from The Michigan Messenger:
When the Mackinac Center’s requested emails from the labor programs at Wayne State and the University of Michigan, John Beck, Associate Professor and Director of the Labor Education Program at Michigan State University, says his phone started ringing off the hook.Read the rest here.
The media, both local and national, wanted to know about Michigan State University’s request from the right wing think tank. Beck, however, didn’t return those calls and e-mails. Why? The university did not receive a request until Thursday.
“I didn’t want to remind them, in case they forgot about us,” Beck told Michigan Messenger with a smile on his face.
Regardless, he says, “We intend to fully comply with the law.” — though the Mackinac Center might be surprised at the response costs.
Court orders Chestertown Fire to address FOIL requests
from the North Country Gazette:
CHESTERTOWN, NY —-The Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company has been ordered to show cause why they shouldn’t answer outstanding Freedom of Information Law requests that sought copies of fire company minutes, run sheets, raffle proceeds and other financial information pertaining to fire company operations.Read the rest here.
They’ve also been ordered to show cause why they shouldn’t have to comply with the state’s Freedom of Information Law and answer future FOIL requests.
On Friday, Warren County Supreme Court Justice David Krogmann signed an order to show cause submitted by Chestertown fire district taxpayers and residents Christine Hayes and June Maxam which directs the fire company and fire chief Jack Crossman to show legal cause why they shouldn’t answer the FOIL requests which they have ignored since last May.
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
A Semantic Web Founding Father Explains Why Americans Should Care About Keeping Open Government Data Alive
from semanticweb.com:
There’s still no official word on how much peril open government data initiatives such as Data.gov may be in. And perhaps to many Americans, the hand-wringing they’ve heard about funding cuts in this area seem trivial when the country is looking at the U.S. public debt nearing its statutory ceiling of about $14.3 trillion. After all, what’s the real applicability of structured government data sets – and projects that translate that data into RDF, hook it up to the Linked Data cloud, and build apps and demos off it – to their lives?Read the rest here.
More than they know.
'Open' government vow may be undone by red ink
from SFGate.com:
Remember President Obama's vow, in his inaugural speech, to usher in an era of "open and transparent" government?Read the rest here.
It's taken a couple of hits of late.
A White House award ceremony last week honoring his "commitment to transparency" was closed to the press, to the surprise and chagrin of the open government organizations that had joined together to present the award. One of the attendees called the press ban "baffling."
Assessing Illinois' new open records law: frustration, delays
from the Chicago Tribune:
Frustration from city officials throughout Illinois about an avalanche of records requests – including some they argue are motivated by petty agendas – has prompted dozens of new bills to scale back a new open records law enacted last year. Backed by municipal government lobbyists and opposed by open-records advocates, the proposals would limit the rights of repeat records requestors, add exemptions to such things as gun permits and dates of birth, and allow governments to post records online rather than make copies.Read the several stories here.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Sunshine Week news from the states
Sunshine Week Shame: 10 Ways the Government Is Opaque
from Wired.com
As Sunshine Week sets, it's a good time to take a quick inventory of the federal government's ongoing failures of transparency. ...
District spends more than $30,000 on out-of-district travel this year
from The Kansan.com
NEWTON — Editor’s note: This story is part of the Kansan’s coverage for Sunshine Week, which is an event that encourages open government.
Creve Coeur council member wins Sunshine Hero award
from stltoday.com
The Missouri Sunshine Coalition has honored Jeanne Rhoades, a Creve Coeur City Council member, for efforts that promote open records and transparency in government.
POGO at Sunshine Week Hearing: Bring FOIA Out of the Dark Ages
By Bryan Rahija
In case you missed it amid all the other open gov hullabaloo, late last week POGO Director of Public Policy Angela Canterbury shared POGO's views on the state of government openness as a panelist on a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing. You can view footage of her testimony below (starts at the 35:59 mark).
Jonathan Turley, Submitted By Lawrence Rafferty, (rafflaw), Guest Blogger
It wasn’t discussed much in the Corporate Mass Media, but this past week was dubbed, Sunshine Week. Sunshine Week was supposed to celebrate “open Government practices”. I for one, wasn’t convinced that our government had any “open” practices.
Sunshine Week
seMissourian.com
There have been times in recent years when the Sunshine Law, the name for the open records law in Missouri, has been used purely for political purposes. At both the state and local levels, the Sunshine Law has been used irresponsibly by a few politicians and some media to make life difficult for political foes, usually by skewing context. That's unfortunate.
SUNSHINE WEEK: Digital records outpace state law
Clarksville Leaf Chronicle
The information age has made more government documents available to the public than ever before, but experts say open records laws themselves are behind the times.
Sunshine Week ends – but principle doesn’t
Nashua Telegraph
Sunshine Week is now over – at least officially.
No more stories with the logo depicting the sun peeking out from behind the capitol dome that proclaims: “Sunshine Week: Your Right to Know.”
Sunshine Week celebrates openness in government
Joplin Globe
News organizations and watchdog groups across the country are wrapping up Sunshine Week, an initiative designed to highlight the importance of open government. The laws, commonly called sunshine laws, vary among states, but each generally requires that ...
Battles Over Open Government Cast Shadow on 'Sunshine Week'
AOL News
In the middle of Sunshine Week promoting transparency in government, open-government advocates say the apparent demotion of a high-level Department of Homeland Security employee for whistle-blowing is particularly dark. "Our government is sending the ...
Sunshine week coinciding with related court cases
Wisconsin Radio Network
It's been an action packed time for open government during Sunshine Week. Governor Walker's office this week settled a lawsuit brought forth by the Wisconsin Associated Press and Madison weekly newspaper, the Isthmus. ...
Sunshine Week promotes openness in government
Mountain Mail Newspaper
Salidan John Graham has been working to promote open dialogue between citizens and government since about a year ago, when he became board president of Chaffee Citizens for Sustainability. ...
Let the Sunshine In | Peer to Peer Review
Library Journal
It's Sunshine Week, the annual reminder that open government is good for democracy, that information is important, that freedom is protected when people are vigilant about their right to know what our government is up to. Started in 2002 by a Florida ...
Transparency in government: Is it a reality?
Legal Talk Network
Attorneys and co-hosts Bob Ambrogi and J. Craig Williams welcome Mark Rumold, the Open Government Legal Fellow at the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Kenneth Bunting, Executive Director of the National Freedom of Information Coalition at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, to take a look inside Sunshine Week. Mark and Ken discuss which states have made the most strides for transparency, if technological advances are helping governments be more transparent and why it is important for government to stay transparent.
MP3 Link: http://websrvr82il.audiovideoweb.com/ny60web16519/LTN/C2C/C2C_031611_SunshineWeek.mp3
Let the Sun Shine in Berkeley Too
The Berkeley Daily Planet
This week is Sunshine Week all over the United States. What, you may ask, is Sunshine Week? It’s sponsored by American Society of Newspaper Editors, joined by the National Freedom of Information Coalition, California’s First Amendment Coalition and many other groups.
Why government's doors must be open
By Ken Paulson, President, First Amendment Center
This is Sunshine Week, a national effort organized by the American Society of News Editors, the news media and open-government advocates. It's an annual reminder of the importance of the free flow of information in a democracy. Taxpayers hire public employees to serve and protect, not to keep secrets from them.
N.C. open records requests can drag on
BY FRED CLASEN-KELLY, Charlotte Observer
Under North Carolina's open records laws, anyone who wants government documents is supposed to get them as soon as possible. But agencies can take weeks, months or even longer to produce public information. The delays often force citizens to rely on persistence or simply luck. Joann Hager, a Lincoln County animal rights activist, has tested the statutes--and two times, she says, they failed her.
Sunshine Week highlights threats to open government
by Frank Gibson, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government
Sunshine Week, which kicked off Sunday, started almost a decade ago when 150 proposals in the Florida legislature threatened to turn the Sunshine State's model "government in the sunshine" law into Swiss cheese. Newspapers mounted "Sunshine Sunday" -- a campaign reminding Floridians of the high level of openness they enjoyed, highlighting the benefits of government transparency and detailing potential consequences of the proposals. Only a few passed.
Sunshine Week: Optimism through the Clouds
by The Sunlight Foundation
After launching Sunshine Week with yesterday's successful Advisory Committee on Transparency event, it's a good time to reflect on positive transparency developments around the country (as opposed to yesterday's disheartening news).
Storm clouds are gathering over Sunshine Week
by Penny Lee, in The Hill
It is hard to disagree with the administration's philosophy of promoting open government and freedom of information. However, actions speak louder than words, and it is clear that there are a number of dark and stormy clouds hovering over Sunshine Week.
Mo. State Auditor Schweich recognizes Sunshine Week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JEFFERSON CITY – State Auditor Tom Schweich today promoted increased transparency in government in recognition of March 13-19, 2011 as Sunshine Week. Sunshine Week is a national initiative to promote freedom of information in local, state and federal government. The initiative was launched by the American Society of News Editors in 2005.
State auditor will monitor responses to public record requests
By Marc Kovac, news@vindy.com
Ohio Auditor Dave Yost said he will begin monitoring state and local agencies’ responses to public records’ requests as part of his office’s annual check of financial books.
Washington State Woman Wins Sunshine Week Contest
Editor & Publisher
The announcement of the Local Heroes kicks off Sunshine Week, which began yesterday. Howell will accept her award at the ASNE Convention, April 6-9, at the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina. Howell, a former Stevenson school board member, got involved ...
Sunshine Week: Do Open Government Laws Still Matter in the Era of WikiLeaks?
Electronic Frontier Foundation
March 14-18, 2011 is “Sunshine Week”—a week to focus on the importance of open government and how we can ensure accountability for our leaders at the federal, state and local levels.
Editorial: How to fix a hole in Michigan's Freedom of Information Act
MLive.com, By The Grand Rapids Press Editorial Board
Following is one of a series of Press editorials during Sunshine Week, established by the American Society of News Editors to celebrate and safeguard open and transparent government. A Michigan Court of Appeals ...
Susy Schultz: It's a week to think about doing government business in the sunshine
Kankakee Daily Journal
Sunshine Week is to remind people what it should look like when government is open, transparent and respects the freedom of information that really equates to the public's right to know what the government it funds is doing with that money. ...
Records become public for sunshine week
A & T Register
These records not only include official reports and minutes of meetings, but also items like hand-written notes, phone messages, e-mails, databases, spreadsheets – nearly anything created or received by a government agency while conducting the public's ...
Editorial: Sunshine Week Governor less than open with last-minute release
Naples Daily News
Amid this Sunshine Week, which observes the importance of Florida's open records and open meetings laws, the leadership style of Gov. Rick Scott invites attention. Only a short time before a meeting with the Cabinet the other day, Scott passed out ...
Sunshine Week: Optimism through the Clouds - Sunlight Foundation
By Ellen Miller
After launching Sunshine Week with yesterday's successful Advisory Committee on Transparency event, it's a good time to reflect on positive transparency developments around the country (as opposed to yesterday's disheartening news).
Sunshine Week; Spelman STEM; LBGTQ Wedding Service : The Michael Eric Dyson Show
Podcast
This week in March marks Sunshine Week, an initiative that emphasizes the need for government openness and transparency. Andy Alexander, spokesperson for the American Society of News Editors, which sponsors Sunshine Week, discusses the ...
Sunshine Week Arrives at GSA
from the U.S. General Services Administration
Learn about all of GSA's Open Government initiatives. GSA invites the public to play an active role in our government. ...
Glass half full
from the National Security Archive
Washington, D.C., March 14, 2011 - The Obama administration is only about halfway toward its promise of improving Freedom of Information responsiveness among federal agencies, according to the new Knight Open Government Survey by the National Security Archive, released Monday for Sunshine Week at http://www.nsarchive.org/.
SPJ 'honoring' Utah governor for closing records
from Cache Valley Daily
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The national Society of Professional Journalists plans to present Gov. Gary Herbert with a first-ever Black Hole award Wednesday to highlight the law, which increases fees for records request and makes text messages private.
U.S. alone among Western democracies in protecting hate speech
Commentary by Peter Scheer, Executive Director, FIRST AMENDMENT COALITION
An inebriated John Galliano, sitting in a Paris bar, unleashes an anti-Semitic rant (“I love Hitler”) that is captured on a cellphone camera and posted on the internet. Within days the Dior designer is not only fired from his job, but is given a trial date to face criminal charges for his offensive remarks.
Shining A Light On Open Government
Patch.com
Spread a little sunshine and celebrate freedom of information in our democracy during Sunshine Week, March 13-19. Sunshine Week, March 13-19, is a national initiative to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of ...
Sunshine mixed with clouds, rain
Laconia Citizen
@Editorial body:Although the forecast for later this week tells us to expect rain, we still celebrate these few days as Sunshine Week, a time for us to remember our very special form of government, which calls upon elected officials to do the public's ...
Some Feds keep the shades drawn on Sunshine Week
OhMyGov! (blog)
That's right kids, we're talkin' Sunshine Week! For those not in the know (ie anyone who doesn't consider Jay Carney an A-List celebrity), Sunshine Week is an annual event founded by the American Society of News Editors and funded largely by the John ...
FdL, NFdL Schools provide open records for Sunshine Week
Fond du Lac Reporter
Sunshine Week, which started Sunday, is an annual initiative to promote freedom of information. Participants include news gathering organizations, civic groups, libraries, nonprofit groups, schools and others. Five Gannett Wisconsin newspapers, ...
Sunshine Week Feature: Politicians embrace social media & technology
MassLive.com
By Robert Rizzuto, The Republican Among the millions of people tweeting, blogging or posting their thoughts to Facebook each day are an increasing numbers of politicians. While office holders use these platforms to promote their efforts or to draw ...
Open government doesn't just happen
Visalia Times-Delta
Here during Sunshine Week, it is another indication that the objective of completely open government is an ideal that is rarely realized. CalAware sampled 197 school districts in California at random to assess their compliance with public records ...
GRAY MATTER: Let's bring the sunshine back to Spring Grove government
Spring Grove Herald
By Heather M. Gray This week is what is known as "Sunshine Week," which is a national initiative to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information spearheaded by the American Society of News Editors. ...
Here are ways to learn about your lawmakers
Fond du Lac Reporter
Sunshine Week is a national initiative to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. Participants include news media, civic groups, libraries, non-profits, schools and citizens interested in the public's ...
Openness laws play critical role in bringing investigations of crime and government to light in Oklahoma
NewsOK.com
March 13-19 is Sunshine Week, a national effort to promote open government. BY BRYAN DEAN bdean@opubco.com Leave a comment Political candidates with criminal backgrounds and financial problems; accusations of incompetence, laziness and fraud at the ...
Obama wants it both ways on Sunshine Week | Examiner Editorial ...
By Examiner Editorial
James Madison's birthday will be celebrated Wednesday at the Newseum with the induction of a new class of members into the National Freedom of Information Act Hall of Fame, to be hosted by the First Amendment Center.
Lawmakers attack public access during Sunshine Week | theCLog
By Rhiannon Fionn-Bowman
Sunshine Week is a national initiative to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. Participants include news media, civic groups, libraries, nonprofits, schools and others interested in the ...
Happy Sunshine Week | Capital Blog
By mkovac
Happy Sunshine Week. Posted on March 15, 2011 by mkovac. Former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann talks about the state's open meetings and public records laws in this state-produced clip that was distributed with the 2008 Ohio Sunshine ...
Welcome to Sunshine Week « VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local
By Mark Brooks
This is the 7th Annual Sunshine Week and is being celebrated by lovers of open government all over the country. Started by the American Society of Newspaper Editors and supported through a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight ...
Track headlines about Sunshine Week and government transparency ...
By Robertson Adams
Each year, the media and civic groups celebrate Sunshine Week - a national initiative to promote open government and freedom of information. So far, the effort has spurred articles calling for transparency in Michigan's campaign finance ...
Sunshine Week | Richmond Times-Dispatch
"There's no law that says how you keep a record. That's why you have a lack of uniformity," - Maria J.K. Everett of the Virginia Freedom of Information ...
Sunshine Week is reminder to protect Right-to-Know law
Pennsylvanians have reason to celebrate during Sunshine Week; we're entering the third year of the new Right-To-Know Law, which finally allowed us to look ...
Let's follow Florida and shine light on public's right to know access
Written by IAN MARQUAND
It isn't often that Montanans can say, "Thank you, Florida." This time of year, however, the Big Sky owes the Sunshine State a tip of the cap.
Support public’s right to know: On week celebrating freedom of information, back legislation preventing pre-emptive lawsuits
Missoulian editorial
At about this same time each year, we long for sunshine to welcome the days of spring. Meanwhile, newspapers across the country join forces in calling for sunshine - for a transparent, open government - to highlight the importance of free-flowing public information every day of the year.
Agencies struggling to meet Obama's order on FOIA
Associated Press
Dozens of federal agencies are struggling to meet President Barack Obama's 2-year-old order that requires the government to respond more quickly and thoroughly to request for records under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act, a study finds.
See the Ohio Newspaper Association Bulletin for more headlines this week.
See the Sunshine Week Round up from the Sunlight Foundation
Knight Survey: Nearly Half of Federal Agencies Lag in Responding to FOIA Information Requests
from WisOpinion.com — Opee Awards toast open government, by Bill Leuders, president, Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council 03.10.2011
from Wired.com
As Sunshine Week sets, it's a good time to take a quick inventory of the federal government's ongoing failures of transparency. ...
District spends more than $30,000 on out-of-district travel this year
from The Kansan.com
NEWTON — Editor’s note: This story is part of the Kansan’s coverage for Sunshine Week, which is an event that encourages open government.
Creve Coeur council member wins Sunshine Hero award
from stltoday.com
The Missouri Sunshine Coalition has honored Jeanne Rhoades, a Creve Coeur City Council member, for efforts that promote open records and transparency in government.
POGO at Sunshine Week Hearing: Bring FOIA Out of the Dark Ages
By Bryan Rahija
In case you missed it amid all the other open gov hullabaloo, late last week POGO Director of Public Policy Angela Canterbury shared POGO's views on the state of government openness as a panelist on a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing. You can view footage of her testimony below (starts at the 35:59 mark).
Jonathan Turley, Submitted By Lawrence Rafferty, (rafflaw), Guest Blogger
It wasn’t discussed much in the Corporate Mass Media, but this past week was dubbed, Sunshine Week. Sunshine Week was supposed to celebrate “open Government practices”. I for one, wasn’t convinced that our government had any “open” practices.
Sunshine Week
seMissourian.com
There have been times in recent years when the Sunshine Law, the name for the open records law in Missouri, has been used purely for political purposes. At both the state and local levels, the Sunshine Law has been used irresponsibly by a few politicians and some media to make life difficult for political foes, usually by skewing context. That's unfortunate.
SUNSHINE WEEK: Digital records outpace state law
Clarksville Leaf Chronicle
The information age has made more government documents available to the public than ever before, but experts say open records laws themselves are behind the times.
Sunshine Week ends – but principle doesn’t
Nashua Telegraph
Sunshine Week is now over – at least officially.
No more stories with the logo depicting the sun peeking out from behind the capitol dome that proclaims: “Sunshine Week: Your Right to Know.”
Sunshine Week celebrates openness in government
Joplin Globe
News organizations and watchdog groups across the country are wrapping up Sunshine Week, an initiative designed to highlight the importance of open government. The laws, commonly called sunshine laws, vary among states, but each generally requires that ...
Battles Over Open Government Cast Shadow on 'Sunshine Week'
AOL News
In the middle of Sunshine Week promoting transparency in government, open-government advocates say the apparent demotion of a high-level Department of Homeland Security employee for whistle-blowing is particularly dark. "Our government is sending the ...
Sunshine week coinciding with related court cases
Wisconsin Radio Network
It's been an action packed time for open government during Sunshine Week. Governor Walker's office this week settled a lawsuit brought forth by the Wisconsin Associated Press and Madison weekly newspaper, the Isthmus. ...
Sunshine Week promotes openness in government
Mountain Mail Newspaper
Salidan John Graham has been working to promote open dialogue between citizens and government since about a year ago, when he became board president of Chaffee Citizens for Sustainability. ...
Let the Sunshine In | Peer to Peer Review
Library Journal
It's Sunshine Week, the annual reminder that open government is good for democracy, that information is important, that freedom is protected when people are vigilant about their right to know what our government is up to. Started in 2002 by a Florida ...
Transparency in government: Is it a reality?
Legal Talk Network
Attorneys and co-hosts Bob Ambrogi and J. Craig Williams welcome Mark Rumold, the Open Government Legal Fellow at the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Kenneth Bunting, Executive Director of the National Freedom of Information Coalition at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, to take a look inside Sunshine Week. Mark and Ken discuss which states have made the most strides for transparency, if technological advances are helping governments be more transparent and why it is important for government to stay transparent.
MP3 Link: http://websrvr82il.audiovideoweb.com/ny60web16519/LTN/C2C/C2C_031611_SunshineWeek.mp3
Let the Sun Shine in Berkeley Too
The Berkeley Daily Planet
This week is Sunshine Week all over the United States. What, you may ask, is Sunshine Week? It’s sponsored by American Society of Newspaper Editors, joined by the National Freedom of Information Coalition, California’s First Amendment Coalition and many other groups.
Why government's doors must be open
By Ken Paulson, President, First Amendment Center
This is Sunshine Week, a national effort organized by the American Society of News Editors, the news media and open-government advocates. It's an annual reminder of the importance of the free flow of information in a democracy. Taxpayers hire public employees to serve and protect, not to keep secrets from them.
N.C. open records requests can drag on
BY FRED CLASEN-KELLY, Charlotte Observer
Under North Carolina's open records laws, anyone who wants government documents is supposed to get them as soon as possible. But agencies can take weeks, months or even longer to produce public information. The delays often force citizens to rely on persistence or simply luck. Joann Hager, a Lincoln County animal rights activist, has tested the statutes--and two times, she says, they failed her.
Sunshine Week highlights threats to open government
by Frank Gibson, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government
Sunshine Week, which kicked off Sunday, started almost a decade ago when 150 proposals in the Florida legislature threatened to turn the Sunshine State's model "government in the sunshine" law into Swiss cheese. Newspapers mounted "Sunshine Sunday" -- a campaign reminding Floridians of the high level of openness they enjoyed, highlighting the benefits of government transparency and detailing potential consequences of the proposals. Only a few passed.
Sunshine Week: Optimism through the Clouds
by The Sunlight Foundation
After launching Sunshine Week with yesterday's successful Advisory Committee on Transparency event, it's a good time to reflect on positive transparency developments around the country (as opposed to yesterday's disheartening news).
Storm clouds are gathering over Sunshine Week
by Penny Lee, in The Hill
It is hard to disagree with the administration's philosophy of promoting open government and freedom of information. However, actions speak louder than words, and it is clear that there are a number of dark and stormy clouds hovering over Sunshine Week.
Mo. State Auditor Schweich recognizes Sunshine Week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JEFFERSON CITY – State Auditor Tom Schweich today promoted increased transparency in government in recognition of March 13-19, 2011 as Sunshine Week. Sunshine Week is a national initiative to promote freedom of information in local, state and federal government. The initiative was launched by the American Society of News Editors in 2005.
State auditor will monitor responses to public record requests
By Marc Kovac, news@vindy.com
Ohio Auditor Dave Yost said he will begin monitoring state and local agencies’ responses to public records’ requests as part of his office’s annual check of financial books.
Washington State Woman Wins Sunshine Week Contest
Editor & Publisher
The announcement of the Local Heroes kicks off Sunshine Week, which began yesterday. Howell will accept her award at the ASNE Convention, April 6-9, at the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina. Howell, a former Stevenson school board member, got involved ...
Sunshine Week: Do Open Government Laws Still Matter in the Era of WikiLeaks?
Electronic Frontier Foundation
March 14-18, 2011 is “Sunshine Week”—a week to focus on the importance of open government and how we can ensure accountability for our leaders at the federal, state and local levels.
Editorial: How to fix a hole in Michigan's Freedom of Information Act
MLive.com, By The Grand Rapids Press Editorial Board
Following is one of a series of Press editorials during Sunshine Week, established by the American Society of News Editors to celebrate and safeguard open and transparent government. A Michigan Court of Appeals ...
Susy Schultz: It's a week to think about doing government business in the sunshine
Kankakee Daily Journal
Sunshine Week is to remind people what it should look like when government is open, transparent and respects the freedom of information that really equates to the public's right to know what the government it funds is doing with that money. ...
Records become public for sunshine week
A & T Register
These records not only include official reports and minutes of meetings, but also items like hand-written notes, phone messages, e-mails, databases, spreadsheets – nearly anything created or received by a government agency while conducting the public's ...
Editorial: Sunshine Week Governor less than open with last-minute release
Naples Daily News
Amid this Sunshine Week, which observes the importance of Florida's open records and open meetings laws, the leadership style of Gov. Rick Scott invites attention. Only a short time before a meeting with the Cabinet the other day, Scott passed out ...
Sunshine Week: Optimism through the Clouds - Sunlight Foundation
By Ellen Miller
After launching Sunshine Week with yesterday's successful Advisory Committee on Transparency event, it's a good time to reflect on positive transparency developments around the country (as opposed to yesterday's disheartening news).
Sunshine Week; Spelman STEM; LBGTQ Wedding Service : The Michael Eric Dyson Show
Podcast
This week in March marks Sunshine Week, an initiative that emphasizes the need for government openness and transparency. Andy Alexander, spokesperson for the American Society of News Editors, which sponsors Sunshine Week, discusses the ...
Sunshine Week Arrives at GSA
from the U.S. General Services Administration
Learn about all of GSA's Open Government initiatives. GSA invites the public to play an active role in our government. ...
March 15
Glass half full
from the National Security Archive
Washington, D.C., March 14, 2011 - The Obama administration is only about halfway toward its promise of improving Freedom of Information responsiveness among federal agencies, according to the new Knight Open Government Survey by the National Security Archive, released Monday for Sunshine Week at http://www.nsarchive.org/.
SPJ 'honoring' Utah governor for closing records
from Cache Valley Daily
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The national Society of Professional Journalists plans to present Gov. Gary Herbert with a first-ever Black Hole award Wednesday to highlight the law, which increases fees for records request and makes text messages private.
U.S. alone among Western democracies in protecting hate speech
Commentary by Peter Scheer, Executive Director, FIRST AMENDMENT COALITION
An inebriated John Galliano, sitting in a Paris bar, unleashes an anti-Semitic rant (“I love Hitler”) that is captured on a cellphone camera and posted on the internet. Within days the Dior designer is not only fired from his job, but is given a trial date to face criminal charges for his offensive remarks.
Shining A Light On Open Government
Patch.com
Spread a little sunshine and celebrate freedom of information in our democracy during Sunshine Week, March 13-19. Sunshine Week, March 13-19, is a national initiative to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of ...
Sunshine mixed with clouds, rain
Laconia Citizen
@Editorial body:Although the forecast for later this week tells us to expect rain, we still celebrate these few days as Sunshine Week, a time for us to remember our very special form of government, which calls upon elected officials to do the public's ...
Some Feds keep the shades drawn on Sunshine Week
OhMyGov! (blog)
That's right kids, we're talkin' Sunshine Week! For those not in the know (ie anyone who doesn't consider Jay Carney an A-List celebrity), Sunshine Week is an annual event founded by the American Society of News Editors and funded largely by the John ...
FdL, NFdL Schools provide open records for Sunshine Week
Fond du Lac Reporter
Sunshine Week, which started Sunday, is an annual initiative to promote freedom of information. Participants include news gathering organizations, civic groups, libraries, nonprofit groups, schools and others. Five Gannett Wisconsin newspapers, ...
Sunshine Week Feature: Politicians embrace social media & technology
MassLive.com
By Robert Rizzuto, The Republican Among the millions of people tweeting, blogging or posting their thoughts to Facebook each day are an increasing numbers of politicians. While office holders use these platforms to promote their efforts or to draw ...
Open government doesn't just happen
Visalia Times-Delta
Here during Sunshine Week, it is another indication that the objective of completely open government is an ideal that is rarely realized. CalAware sampled 197 school districts in California at random to assess their compliance with public records ...
GRAY MATTER: Let's bring the sunshine back to Spring Grove government
Spring Grove Herald
By Heather M. Gray This week is what is known as "Sunshine Week," which is a national initiative to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information spearheaded by the American Society of News Editors. ...
Here are ways to learn about your lawmakers
Fond du Lac Reporter
Sunshine Week is a national initiative to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. Participants include news media, civic groups, libraries, non-profits, schools and citizens interested in the public's ...
Openness laws play critical role in bringing investigations of crime and government to light in Oklahoma
NewsOK.com
March 13-19 is Sunshine Week, a national effort to promote open government. BY BRYAN DEAN bdean@opubco.com Leave a comment Political candidates with criminal backgrounds and financial problems; accusations of incompetence, laziness and fraud at the ...
Obama wants it both ways on Sunshine Week | Examiner Editorial ...
By Examiner Editorial
James Madison's birthday will be celebrated Wednesday at the Newseum with the induction of a new class of members into the National Freedom of Information Act Hall of Fame, to be hosted by the First Amendment Center.
Lawmakers attack public access during Sunshine Week | theCLog
By Rhiannon Fionn-Bowman
Sunshine Week is a national initiative to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. Participants include news media, civic groups, libraries, nonprofits, schools and others interested in the ...
Happy Sunshine Week | Capital Blog
By mkovac
Happy Sunshine Week. Posted on March 15, 2011 by mkovac. Former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann talks about the state's open meetings and public records laws in this state-produced clip that was distributed with the 2008 Ohio Sunshine ...
Welcome to Sunshine Week « VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local
By Mark Brooks
This is the 7th Annual Sunshine Week and is being celebrated by lovers of open government all over the country. Started by the American Society of Newspaper Editors and supported through a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight ...
Track headlines about Sunshine Week and government transparency ...
By Robertson Adams
Each year, the media and civic groups celebrate Sunshine Week - a national initiative to promote open government and freedom of information. So far, the effort has spurred articles calling for transparency in Michigan's campaign finance ...
Sunshine Week | Richmond Times-Dispatch
"There's no law that says how you keep a record. That's why you have a lack of uniformity," - Maria J.K. Everett of the Virginia Freedom of Information ...
Sunshine Week is reminder to protect Right-to-Know law
Pennsylvanians have reason to celebrate during Sunshine Week; we're entering the third year of the new Right-To-Know Law, which finally allowed us to look ...
Let's follow Florida and shine light on public's right to know access
Written by IAN MARQUAND
It isn't often that Montanans can say, "Thank you, Florida." This time of year, however, the Big Sky owes the Sunshine State a tip of the cap.
Support public’s right to know: On week celebrating freedom of information, back legislation preventing pre-emptive lawsuits
Missoulian editorial
At about this same time each year, we long for sunshine to welcome the days of spring. Meanwhile, newspapers across the country join forces in calling for sunshine - for a transparent, open government - to highlight the importance of free-flowing public information every day of the year.
Agencies struggling to meet Obama's order on FOIA
Associated Press
Dozens of federal agencies are struggling to meet President Barack Obama's 2-year-old order that requires the government to respond more quickly and thoroughly to request for records under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act, a study finds.
See the Ohio Newspaper Association Bulletin for more headlines this week.
See the Sunshine Week Round up from the Sunlight Foundation
Knight Survey: Nearly Half of Federal Agencies Lag in Responding to FOIA Information Requests
from WisOpinion.com — Opee Awards toast open government, by Bill Leuders, president, Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council 03.10.2011
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