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August 2008 - Posts

Friday, August 29, 2008 12:17 PM

Use public records to go beyond "ratemycop.com" to rate your cops

A Web site, ratemycop.com, started a year ago, allows anyone to anonymously rate individual police officers in their communities. You can find all sorts of interesting comments, such as, "Swaggers like John Wayne but has the muscle of Olive Oil. Causes
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Friday, August 29, 2008 11:55 AM

That time of year again: University student government meeting violations

Every fall when a new crop of student leaders start meeting at universities we run into violations of open meeting laws, usually out of ignorance not arrogance, and it's up to student journalists to help educate student leaders to the law. The Daily Campus
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Friday, August 29, 2008 11:49 AM

Kentucky college students win access to more complete police reports

Congratulations to journalism students at Eastern Kentucky University for getting access to more complete university police reports. The Kentucky attorney general issued an opinion siding with the student newspaper, the Progress, saying the university
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Friday, August 29, 2008 11:18 AM

Censored by school administration? Start your own Web site

Kudos to journalism students at Quinnipiac University for standing against a heavy-handed administration by leaving the school paper and starting their own independent news Web site, the Quad News, as reported through SPJ member news this week. Here's
posted by DavidCuillier | 3 Comments
Thursday, August 28, 2008 12:03 PM

Arkansas hides details about childrens' deaths

The Arkansas Times writes about the state's Department of Human Services keeping secret basic details about the death of four children kept in foster care under the agency's responsibility. The agency hides behind a state law that says information regarding
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 8:40 PM

Sheriff denies records request, then bills newspaper $10 for asking

Wow, this one rates in my top three wacky denials. According to an Argus-Press (Owosso, Mich.) story, the county sheriff denied the newspaper's public records request and then included a bill for $10 to mail the one-page denial letter. Zoinks! Like
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Monday, August 25, 2008 8:05 PM

Advisers suggest Bush veto shield law

Filed under the "No Surprises Here" drawer, top Bush officials are recommending that the president veto the federal shield law if passed by the Senate this fall. The Free Flow of Information Act may come up for a vote following the current recess, and
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Monday, August 25, 2008 1:32 PM

$20 for a police report? Mississippi city gouges public

The city of Richland, Miss., is gouging the public for public records copies and fortunately the Clarion Ledger called them on it in a recent story. The news story lists the outrageous charges for copies, including $20 for a copy of a police incident
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 4:47 PM

Senators demand information about torture

You know the government is too secretive when government oversight committees can't get information. Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Arlen Specter, R-Pa., want the president to be more forthcoming about interrogation techniques, calling today for the
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 3:03 PM

Russia-Georgia conflict: Reports to Congress can provide background on issues

Some of the best sources of background information on complicated subjects can be found in reports to Congress. While some reports may be directed toward a certain conclusion, most are informational and helpful in understanding the basics and identifying
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Monday, August 18, 2008 8:30 PM

North Carolina Sheriff's Deputy impersonates journalist, short-circuits shield law

This is probably not as low as a government official can go in making a mock of the First Amendment, but it's pretty close.As reported by the Reporter's Committee for Freedom of the Press, an Onslow County Sheriff's Deputy impersonated a journalist in
posted by DonaldMeyers | 0 Comments
Monday, August 18, 2008 7:08 PM

Jack Landau, first leader of RCFP, dies

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press' first director, Jack Landau, died Aug. 9 at the age of 74. Landau started a reporters hotline, a press censorship newsletter, and created a legal defense and advocacy organization that fights for journalists
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Friday, August 15, 2008 11:37 AM

Report outlines problems, suggestions for access to military courts

A new report out today outlines major problems in access to military courts and court records, and provides a list of suggestions for improving the system. The report, produced by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the Tully Center for
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Monday, August 11, 2008 4:21 PM

Ohio institute launches government transparency center

A new center in Ohio will gather and post online state and local government budgets, contracts, and other information. The Buckeye Institute will start the Center for Transparent and Accountable Government, headed by former statehouse reporter Mike Maurer.
posted by DavidCuillier | 1 Comments
Monday, August 11, 2008 4:00 PM

New York agencies must now pay legal fees for successful litigants

New York Gov. David Paterson signed into law improvements to the public records law. For example, if someone sues the government over a public records denial and prevails then the government must pay for the requester's attorney fees. That is important
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Monday, August 11, 2008 3:40 PM

Expose secret courts in your community

A great story by The Benton County Daily Record in Arkansas demonstrates how judges have far too much discretion for sealing entire cases and even making their existence secret. Other newspapers from around the country have exposed how this practice hurts
posted by DavidCuillier | 7 Comments
Monday, August 04, 2008 6:51 PM

Washington S.C. rules that unsubstantiated sex abuse allegations are secret

The Washington Supreme Court ruled that allegations of sex abuse by teachers are secret unless substantiated, according to a story by The Seattle Times. In a 6-3 ruling, the court agreed with teacher unions in saying that privacy interests of teachers
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments