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October 2006 - Posts

Tuesday, October 31, 2006 11:19 AM

Survey: Montana, Florida give best access to election information

A state-by-state ranking is available at www.citizenaccess.org by clicking on Election Records, Overall. GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Next week’s elections may change the country’s political landscape, but residents of some states will have a much
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Tuesday, October 24, 2006 6:01 PM

What's happening to free speech and FOI in the U.S.?

Dr. Kyu Ho Youm writes, "This year we are supposed to mark the 40th anniversary of our Freedom of Information Act. But our precipitously shrinking access to government information leaves us less to celebrate than in the past. In our country, more
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Tuesday, October 24, 2006 7:20 AM

Update on Wyoming Open Meetings case

Thanks to Wyoming Project Sunshine Chair Brian Martin for an update on the closed meeting situation in Wyoming mentioned earlier on this blog.Natrona Co. School District to open meetings to public CASPER, Wyo. (AP) – Two weeks after Natrona County School
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Thursday, October 19, 2006 12:59 AM

Watchdog Journalism Ideas

Dayton Daily News Assistant Manag­ing Editor John Erickson recently presented a session to The Atlanta Journal-Consti­tution staff that focused on watchdog journalism and how to write stories that get readers’ attention. Erickson distributed
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Wednesday, October 18, 2006 12:41 AM

Some California colleges won't reveal football budgets

The exact amount of public funding for community college football in California is unknown because the state doesn't specifically keep track of it. In March, The San Diego Union-Tribune sent California Public Records Act requests seeking basic football
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Wednesday, October 18, 2006 12:29 AM

Freedom of Information; It's personal

Bob Silbernagel, editorial page editor of the Daily Sentinel in Grand Junction, Colo., writes about how many in the public view FOI as a battle between government and the media. But, he argues, "everyone has a stake in it."Daily Sentinel
posted by JoelCampbell | 1 Comments
Wednesday, October 18, 2006 12:22 AM

Candidates for Deleware's A.G. debate FOIA

Republican Ferris Wharton and Democrat Beau Biden said they have differences in how they would approach Deleware's Freedom of Information Act, which guarantees public access to government meetings and records. The Attorney General's Office is
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Wednesday, October 18, 2006 12:17 AM

Pennsylvania considers beefing up lobbyist disclosure laws

Patriot-News columnist Dale Davenport writes about how the Pennsylvania Legislature is meeting to consider enacting a lobbyist disclosure law. Pennsylvania is the only state without some lobbyist reporting law."Legislators must report what they receive
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Saturday, October 14, 2006 11:46 PM

Tales from the (FOI) dark side

By Joel CampbellSPJ FOI Committee ChairmanWhile Halloween is just around the corner there are plenty of Freedom of Information horror stories from places across the country. Please excuse a little blogger’s license as I chronicle a few scary stories.A
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Wednesday, October 11, 2006 11:58 PM

10 Ways You Can Help Josh Wolf

Freelance videographer Josh Wolf  remains in federal prison. Friends have suggested ways people can help.10 Ways You Can Support Josh Wolf1) Send letters and maintain correspondence with Josh while he is incarcerated. We need to let Josh
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Friday, October 06, 2006 9:45 AM

Newspapers challege Wyo. school committee's closed meeting

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) – Casper Journal Publisher Dale Bohren and Casper Star-Tribune Editor Clark Walworth said they would challenge the local school district's decision to allow a school scheduling committee to meet in secret. The committee was
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Tuesday, October 03, 2006 7:14 PM

Schwarzenegger vetoes prison access bill (with a twist)

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has once again vetoed an SPJ-sponsored bill, SB 1521, to overturn restrictions on media access to prisoners, despite the overwhelming numbers by which the bill was approved in the Legislature (in one house
posted by JoelCampbell | 1 Comments
Tuesday, October 03, 2006 1:34 PM

Pennsylvania's weak FOI law, news from DE, CT,TN, AZ, TX and Canada

    Pennsylvania and its weak FOI law The very essence of open government is transparency. But the concept doesn't play well in Pennsylvania. In its government reform campaign, "Brighter Pennsylvania," the Pennsylvania Newspaper
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Monday, October 02, 2006 5:55 PM

Utah SPJers talk access

By Allison Barlow Hess Utah SPJ Sunshine Chairwoman Members of  the Utah Headliners Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists recently educated nearly 300 members of the Utah League of Cities and Towns about open meetings/open records.
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Monday, October 02, 2006 5:03 PM

Sunshine in Wyoming

By Joel Campbell FOI Committee Chairman SPJ had a great weekend in Cheyenne, Wyo., where a revived pro chapter is getting on its feet.  About 40 journalists, both students and pros,  partcipated in two sessions on Saturday about document-driven
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments