Welcome to SPJ Blogs Sign in | Join | Help

December 2007 - Posts

Friday, December 28, 2007 12:23 PM

Military newspaper challenges connection with PR program

WASHINGTON — Top editors at the military newspaper Stars and Stripes are asking for full disclosure of the paper’s relationship with a Department of Defense publicity program, called America Supports You, after disclosures that money for the program
posted by JoelCampbell | 1 Comments
Thursday, December 27, 2007 2:16 AM

E-democracy: Government meetings go live on Web

For the YouTube generation, accustomed to instant access to online entertainment, this news may seem a bit ho-hum. But the notion of live-streaming Snohomish County, Wash., Council meetings on the Internet, with user-friendly video archives of past
posted by JoelCampbell | 1 Comments
Thursday, December 27, 2007 2:09 AM

Strange twist: talking to the media doesn't violate sunshine law

Elected officials can and should speak freely to the media with no fear of breaking the Arizona's Open Meeting Law, the attorney general said in a legal opinion issued Dec. 24. In October, state Reps. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix, and David Lujan, D-Phoenix,
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Thursday, December 27, 2007 1:58 AM

N.J. newspaper does records law checkup

The following is a great example of how a newspaper checked up on changes made five years ago to New Jersey's Open Public Records Act.  See the full article in The Press of Atlantic City. Please note the section of the end of the article noting provisions
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Thursday, December 27, 2007 1:18 AM

Opinion roundup: FOIA reform a victory for public

Here are excerpts and links from editorials around the nation.See the Palm Beach Post"By signing the well-crafted legislation into law, President Bush can help the White House show good faith toward stemming the tide of unwarranted government secrecy.
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Friday, December 21, 2007 6:21 PM

The Man Without a File: Mel Gibson anti-semitic remarks hidden in "supplemental" file

Here is a story out today about how the L.A. police tried to keep secret some details about Mel Gibson's drunken arrest, including his anti-semitic remarks. According to an agency investigation, police snuck the remarks and other negative facts about Gibson
posted by DavidCuillier | 1 Comments
Friday, December 21, 2007 10:42 AM

Despite assertions of openness, Giuliani's record doesn't back it up, AP reports

Politicians might say they value openness (see below), but do they really? Rudy Giuliani said "I can't think of a public figure that's had a more transparent life than I've had." But an AP report asserts otherwise -- that he had a reputation of resistance
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Thursday, December 20, 2007 6:13 PM

Richardson pledges to roll back secrecy if elected president

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is the first presidential candidate to respond to the Sunshine Campaign surveys coordinated by ASNE's Sunshine Week effort. In his survey, Richardson pledges that as president he "would ensure that the obsessive secrecy
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Thursday, December 20, 2007 10:21 AM

Virginia sheriff faces fine for refusing to disclose advisory board members

The Madison County sheriff in Virginia is required to pay a $250 fine for refusing to provide a citizen a basic list of the department's advisory board members. The sheriff said the disgruntled former employee who requested it right before the election
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 10:21 AM

Report finds Eastern Michigan illegally withheld homicide information and lied to public

Eastern Michigan University could face stiff fines for violating the Clery Act for trying to cover up a homicide on campus, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Education. Following the murder of a student on campus, the university told
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:23 PM

U.S. House passes OPEN Government Act -- on to the president

The U.S. House passed the OPEN Government Act by a two-thirds vote today, sending it to the president's desk for a signature. If signed, the legislation would create an ombudsman to mediate disputes, make it easier for people to recoup legal fees if an
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Tuesday, December 18, 2007 11:06 AM

Judge says White House visitor logs are subject to FOIA

A federal district court judge ruled that White House visitor logs are subject to FOIA because they are held by the Secret Service, which is subject to FOIA. The Administration argued the logs are records of the president and vice president and therefore
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Tuesday, December 18, 2007 9:13 AM

Iowa Democrats keep caucus votes secret

Gilbert Cranberg, a former editor of the editorial page of The Des Moines Register;  Herb Strentz, a former executive secretary of Iowa’s Freedom of Information Council; and Glenn Roberts, a former director of research for The Register explain 
posted by JoelCampbell | 1 Comments
Monday, December 17, 2007 9:55 PM

Utah Judicial Council proposes to restrict photography in courtrooms

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that the Utah Judicial Council approved a draft rule barring photographers from taking pictures of documents that had not been entered into the official public record. The rule is a response to the April 5 photo taken by
posted by DonaldMeyers | 0 Comments
Monday, December 17, 2007 3:41 PM

Arkansas state trooper suspended after arresting news photographer

The Associated Press and the Freedom Forum report that criminal charges against Stephens Media's Bill Lawson have been dropped, and the trooper who placed Lawson under arrest at a house fire, Thomas Weindruch, has been relieved of police duty pending
posted by DonaldMeyers | 0 Comments
Monday, December 17, 2007 11:06 AM

Great holidy gift ideas: Give your loved one an FBI file or some (intact) CIA records

Still looking for something unique to give your loved ones for the holidays? How about your FBI file or a cheery FOIA log? Check out some great records Web sites that might be of interest to you and your colleagues or friends: Get Grandpa's
posted by DavidCuillier | 1 Comments
Monday, December 17, 2007 11:01 AM

SPJ applauds Senate passage of FOIA bill; urges House to take up

Kudos to the Senate for passing the OPEN Government Act last week. Now we hope the House takes it up soon and moves it along. The bill creates an independent ombudsman to mediate FOIA disputes, creates a tracking system for requests, and makes it easier
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Friday, December 14, 2007 3:08 PM

California paper removes public officials' names from online salary list

The California Supreme Court ruled this month that salaries of public employees are public information, but the San Bernadino County Sun decided to remove the names of public officials listed on its Web site with title and salary. Editor Steve Lambert
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Wednesday, December 12, 2007 11:19 PM

Police tap reporter's phone records to find out who gave him a public document

Here's one for the FOI history books. St. Paul police subpoenaed cell phone records of a KMSP-TV reporter and a sheriff's department employee to find out who gave the reporter a public record. While the document was supposed to be provided, the police
posted by DavidCuillier | 2 Comments
Wednesday, December 12, 2007 11:02 AM

Utah judge rules that overtime and bonus pay records should be public

The Salt Lake Tribune won access to overtime and bonus records for city employees. Sandy City officials had argued that a single total number of employee compensation, without a breakdown, met the disclosure requirements. A district court judge thought
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Wednesday, December 12, 2007 10:50 AM

Nebraska historical group sues for cemetery records of psychiatric patients

The Adams County Historical Society in Nebraska is requesting the names and dates of death for people buried 1888 to 1959 in a cemetery reserved for psychiatric patients. The state says it could violate privacy of family members, but the society argues
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Tuesday, December 11, 2007 11:59 PM

SPJ FOI Committee member Davis speaks out on prez records legislation

Charles Davis, an SPJ FOI Committee member and current executive director of the National Freedom of Information Coalition is putting something special on his holiday wish list: open presidential records. Today SPJ issued to 32,000 journalists an
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Tuesday, December 11, 2007 12:36 AM

Utah SPJ needs your help to pass new shield law

We need SPJ members to write comments in support of a new judicial rule that would create a "shield law" for the first time in Utah's history. The Utah Headliners SPJ Chapter and media lawyers have worked hard to create a rule that would protect journalists
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Saturday, December 08, 2007 12:24 AM

Senate panel votes to allow cameras in Supreme Court, but not lower federal courts

CNN.com reports that the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-7 to allow television coverage of Supreme  Court hearings, but after stripping the bill of its requirement to allow cameras into federal trial and appellate courts. Sen. Dianne Feinstein,
posted by DonaldMeyers | 3 Comments
Friday, December 07, 2007 3:58 PM

Phoenix reporter faces disorderly conduct in dispute over copying public records

The dispute between the Maricopa Sheriff's Office in Phoenix, and the New Times weekly paper keeps going, this time with an interesting records twist. Reporter Ray Stern wanted copies of some sheriff's records, but the office wanted to charge
posted by DavidCuillier | 1 Comments
Friday, December 07, 2007 10:43 AM

Webcast hearing Wednesday on restricting photography on federal lands

The House Committee on Natural Resources will hold a hearing on "New fees for Filming and Photography on Public lands" Wednesday, Dec. 12, and you can tune in to the live webcast, starting 10 a.m. at http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/. The Department
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Thursday, December 06, 2007 6:29 PM

Seattle withdraws subpoena for reporters' sources

As reported by the First Amendment Center, Seattle city attorney Thomas A. Carr withdrew subpoenas for sources Seattle Times reporters used in a story about police corruption. Carr said he was not initally aware of the subpoenas, which had been issued
posted by DonaldMeyers | 0 Comments
Thursday, December 06, 2007 10:24 AM

N.Y. Times praises new sunlightny.com Web site

The Times says a new web site that knits together campaign finance and lobbyist reports can only help. Only by providing transparency, will New Yorkers start believing that somebody is telling them the truth about how their state really works. Project
posted by JoelCampbell | 0 Comments
Wednesday, December 05, 2007 11:45 PM

New version of FOIA update bill submitted in U.S. Senate

This week the FOIA-duo Leahy & Cornyn presented a new version of S.849 to try to get movement in the U.S. Senate for improving the Freedom of Information Act. The new version brings it more in line with the House version, which passed that half of
posted by DavidCuillier | 1 Comments
Tuesday, December 04, 2007 1:34 PM

Utah Judge drops contempt charge, order to produce video, against reporter

Fifth District Judge James Shumate dismissed his contempt of court ruling against KUTV reporter Katie Baker. Shumate had found Baker in contempt for interviewing a potential juror in the trial of polygamist leader Warren Jeffs. The judge had ordered Baker
posted by DonaldMeyers | 0 Comments
Tuesday, December 04, 2007 10:57 AM

Proposal would close concealed weapons permits in Virginia

Another state's concealed weapons permits are going dark. A legislative proposal would make the records secret in reaction to the Roanoke Times putting the database on its Web site and encouraging people to look up people who have concealed weapons.
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Tuesday, December 04, 2007 10:54 AM

Police reports gradually drying up in Madison, Wis.

Journalists have noticed a gradual drying up of police reports this year to a trickle of parking tickets and bike thefts, despite growing interest by citizens in knowing what crime is occuring in their neighborhoods. Is that happening in your town? See
posted by DavidCuillier | 1 Comments