Welcome to SPJ Blogs Sign in | Join | Help

May 2007 - Posts

Friday, May 25, 2007 5:22 PM

Urgent: any available SPJ members should contact their U.S. Senator

Dear Sunshine Chairs and FOI Committee An unknown senator has stalled the vote on the FOIA reform bill in the U.S. Senate. The Senator has put a secret hold on the bill. SPJ wants to out whoever has done this.   Call your home state senators
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Wednesday, May 23, 2007 4:26 PM

Reporters kept out of briefing on Virignia Tech shooting

Citing rules that protect the privacy of student records,  the panel investigating the deadly shooting at Virginia Tech barred reporters from accompanying it on a tour of the buildings where Seung-*** Cho killed more than 30 people.  W. Gerald
posted by DonaldMeyers | 0 Comments
Thursday, May 17, 2007 5:13 PM

101 open government groups push FOIA overhaul

Unlike years past, efforts to overhaul the much beleaguered Freedom of Information Act are gaining real traction on Capitol Hill. More than 100 organizations, including SPJ, sent a letter Thursday to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Thursday, May 17, 2007 11:33 AM

Group sues for terror watch list

var requestedWidth = 0; if(requestedWidth > 0){ document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.width = requestedWidth + "px"; document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.margin
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Thursday, May 17, 2007 11:21 AM

Private e-mail end run around FOI?

var requestedWidth = 0; if(requestedWidth > 0){ document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.width = requestedWidth + "px"; document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.margin
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Wednesday, May 16, 2007 7:17 PM

FOI gone to the dogs in Pa.

Last weekend at the National FOI Coalition Summit in Seattle, a journalist lamented the poor state of Pennsylvania's records law. There a record is presumed off limits unless the requester can show otherwise. So here's an interesting juxtaposition of
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Wednesday, May 16, 2007 6:59 PM

Opinion: Maine should adopt FOI ombudsman

You have a right to know what your government's up to, what it knows, when it knows it. Think of it like a poker game where the government has to play with all of its cards showing. To make sure you know what it knows, Maine has a Freedom of Access
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Wednesday, May 16, 2007 6:56 PM

Maine lawmakers kill sex offender mapping bill

AUGUSTA -- A bill to require a map on the sex offender registry died in committee May 15, but it could come back as part of federal law. The Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee killed several sex offender registry bills with the intention
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Wednesday, May 16, 2007 6:15 PM

Oregon student press bill clears House

The Student Press Law Center reports  that House BIll 32799 passed the Oregon House of Representatives on a 39-16 vote.The bill protects college and high school student journalists ' rights to free expression. The bill is modeled after a bill that
posted by DonaldMeyers | 0 Comments
Tuesday, May 15, 2007 2:19 PM

Streaming video of National FOI Coalition Conference

Catch the first of nine streaming videos from the National Freedom of Information Coalition meetings in Seattle May11-12. Most of those will be available later this week, but the panel discussion, ""Sports Secrecy: Stadium Deals in the Luxury Suites?"
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Monday, May 14, 2007 12:24 PM

Nominations sought for First Amendment/Sunshine Awards

SPJ has extended the nomination deadline for First Amendment/Sunshine Awards to May 25. Please let me know if you have any questions. Joel Campbell, FOI Committee Chairman, joelcampbell@byu.edu Each year, the SPJ Board of Directors and the SPJ Freedom
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Monday, May 07, 2007 11:59 AM

Weaking FOI laws by 1,000 cuts

In a news analysis, Christy Hoppe of the Dallas Morning News, shows how little-by-little Texas lawmakers weaken sunshine laws."This year we have at least 400 bills that would affect the public information or open meetings act," Joel White, an attorney
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Monday, May 07, 2007 11:17 AM

Conn. SPJ honors network with FOI award

From SPJ's  Conn. Project Sunshine Chair Stephanie Reitz          HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Connecticut Network, the statewide government and public affairs channel, has been named the 2007 winner of the
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Friday, May 04, 2007 9:20 AM

WikiFoia. What a great idea!

Please take a look at this new online FOI enterprise. -- Joel CampbellBy Sara KeyLucy Burns InstituteI've been working to create a collaborative online guide to the open records process at the state and local level.It's called the WikiFoia at www.wikifoia.org
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Friday, May 04, 2007 8:53 AM

D.C. police lose track of 1,500 records requests

The District of Columbia police department allowed more than 1,500 open records requests to “slip through the cracks” — an unacceptable record that flies in the face of D.C.’s open government laws, a leading D.C. Council member said. Phil Mendelson,
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Friday, May 04, 2007 8:39 AM

East Tennessee Chapter sponsors ethics, sunshine discussion

Citizen apathy, outrage over the conduct of elected officials and low voter turnout were discussed at a Tuesday night "Town Hall Meeting" about ethics in Knox County government sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists East Tennessee
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Friday, May 04, 2007 8:21 AM

Wisconsin advocates note FOI victories

Tim Kelley and Scott Milfred with the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council write:Wisconsin "sunshine" laws are brightening the halls of government in Wisconsin this spring, and a string of recent victories for the public's right to know deserves
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Friday, May 04, 2007 8:13 AM

FOIA update from Washington

Update from Coalition of Journalists for Open Government, from Pete WeitzelThe good news:  A reporter-source shield bill was introduced May 2.  See more complete information on the SPJ Federal Shield Law page.   The Senate Judiciary
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Thursday, May 03, 2007 4:24 PM

Washington state gets journalists shield law and FOI reform

OLYMPIA -- Taxpayers may see more government records, and news reporters can protect their sources without being jailed under two bills Gov. Christine Gregoire signed into law. The measures were among some two dozen that Gregoire signed recently.Read
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Thursday, May 03, 2007 4:10 PM

N.C. assembly tackles records laws

North Carolina Assembly members are considering bills to give penalties for withholding public information, tightening up medical record, and allow universities and community colleges withhold information about people who apply for admission but don’t
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Thursday, May 03, 2007 4:04 PM

Using FOI gives 'em rhythm

NEW YORK -- There are only 69 venues where you can dance legally in Manhattan That’s what organizers of the upcoming “Dance Parade” — a rhythmic, gyrating response to the city’s cabaret law that forbids dancing at unlicensed venues — recently discovered
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Thursday, May 03, 2007 3:35 PM

Celebrate World Press Freedom Day, May 3

Here's dispatches and information from around the world about Freedom of Information and Press Freedom:World Press Freedom Day at the United Nations Web siteSee archived video from a panel discussion from the U.N. as well as other resources. The site
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Thursday, May 03, 2007 3:30 PM

Houston Chronicle: Pass FOIA updates

The OPEN Government Act, cosponsored by Sens. John Corny, R-Texas, and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., shores up key FOIA foundations that have either been stressed by the enormous weight of new information sources, or eroded by policies such as former Attorney
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Thursday, May 03, 2007 3:20 PM

SPJ signs on to letter urging passage of OPEN Government Act of 2007

SPJ FOI Vice Chair Robert Leger reports SPJ has signed on to the following letter.The Honorable Harry Reid528 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510  The Honorable Mitch McConnell361-A Russell Senate Office Building
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Thursday, May 03, 2007 3:10 PM

Pennsylvania Newspaper Association launches blog to improve records law

Pennsylvania Newspaper Association News Release HARRISBURG – Saying there has never been a better time to push for more openness in the state, the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association today launched a new campaign to increase the public’s access
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Tuesday, May 01, 2007 7:29 PM

Student press freedom bill clears Oregon committee

As reported by the Student Press Law Center, the Oregon House of Representatives''s Judiciary Committee gave a favorable recommendation to HB 3279, which grants  student journalists freedom from prior review by school authorities.The bill's sponsor,
posted by DonaldMeyers | 0 Comments