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September 2008 - Posts

Thursday, September 25, 2008 10:13 PM

Scalia camera shy in Big Sky Country

Following the secrecy trail of U.S. Justice Antonin Scalia, we see he moseyed Wednesday to the University of Montana to give a public speech, and forced out any media with cameras or video, according to the Montana Kaiman. Scalia also prohibited cameras
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Monday, September 22, 2008 4:31 PM

St. Paul won't prosecute journalists cited at RNC

The St. Paul, Minn., mayor announced today that the city won't prosecute journalists who were cited at the Republic National Convention for "presence at an unlawful assembly," according to a story by the Minnesota Independent. It is estimated that at
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Monday, September 22, 2008 11:56 AM

Financial bailout proposal avoids accountability, fosters secrecy

The proposal to bail out the financial industry with up to $700 billion in our money provides little accountability and fosters secrecy, including even from the courts. Section 8 of the Legislative Proposal for Treasury Authority to Purchase Mortgage-Related
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Thursday, September 18, 2008 12:58 AM

The day after Constitution Day: Remembering what we are all about

Wednesday, Sept. 17, was official federal Constitution Day, where Congress requires teachers (such as myself) to teach about the U.S. Constitution. Well, I taught two classes (public affairs reporting and computer-assisted reporting at the University
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 3:47 PM

What part of "freedom of the press" doesn't Scalia, Utah State understand?

As reported by SPJ member Penny Byrne, when Associate Justice Antonin Scalia spoke at Utah State University recently, the university acceded to his demand that no television cameras be allowed to film his speech, which was open to the public. This meant
posted by DonaldMeyers | 0 Comments
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 5:07 PM

Arizona S.C. makes judges justify decisions to ban cameras from courtrooms

Today the Arizona Supreme Court announced changes to rules governing cameras in the courtroom, making it more difficult for judges to ban cameras willy-nilly. The changes, effective Jan. 1, 2009, require a trial judge to make written findings if he or
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Monday, September 15, 2008 3:31 PM

Don't expect too much sunshine from a V.P. Palin

As The New York Times reported Sunday, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has taken keeping people in the dark to an all-time low, using personal e-mail accounts to avoid public scrutiny of their actions. As the Times recounted: Interviews show that Ms. Palin runs
posted by DonaldMeyers | 0 Comments
Friday, September 12, 2008 12:18 PM

Are media companies rolling over in FOI battles?

Denver investigative television reporter Brian Maass spoke out at a National Press Club forum Tuesday in Denver, pointing out that media companies appear to be less willing to push for access to public records, and government officials are figuring that
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Thursday, September 11, 2008 12:44 PM

Coming to a theater near you: "Secrecy"

Check out a new documentary about national security and secrecy that's gotten some good reviews, starting this month in selected cities. "Secrecy," by Peter Galison and Robb Moss, apparently covers how secrecy saves lives in some ways, but also corrupts
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Thursday, September 11, 2008 12:32 PM

Publicly funded Smithsonian wants to keep working in secret

The Smithsonian Institution is opposed to an effort by Congress to make it subject to federal FOIA, saying that transparency might inhibit private fund-raising. In an Associated Press story, chief executive G. Wayne Clough argues that the institution,
posted by DavidCuillier | 2 Comments
Wednesday, September 10, 2008 12:55 PM

Quinnipiac University punishes SPJ chapter for speaking out against censorship

According to a story in the Yale Daily News, Quinnipiac University administrators have threatened to ban the university's SPJ chapter from campus because of its support of an independent online student newspaper. Apparently, Student Center Director Daniel
posted by DavidCuillier | 1 Comments
Tuesday, September 09, 2008 11:28 AM

Secrecy Report Card 2008: Secrecy continues to increase

Today openthegovernment.org released its annual secrecy report card, revealing that federal agencies continue to be bogged down in huge backlogs in FOIA requests, increase classifications of documents, and hide more information in
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Sunday, September 07, 2008 5:49 PM

Feds dinking you around? Plunk down $350 and then get it back (along with your records)

I just back from the SPJ national conference in Atlanta, Ga., (great time had by all - check out the handouts and highlights at the convention page) and I have to pass along something I learned from a FOI panel that included SPJ attorney Laurie Babinski,
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 6:01 PM

Journalists arrested, bloodied at Republican National Convention

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press provided a tally today of the first media casualties from the Republican National Convention, where a radio host, two Democracy Now! producers and an AP photographer were hauled off to jail for doing their
posted by DavidCuillier | 1 Comments
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 5:09 PM

FOI essay contest winner: Federally funded research should be freely available

The latest winner of the Sunshine Week FOI essay contest is John McDevitt, a retired architect, who writes about the need to make federally funded research more readily available to the public. Too much research that we all pay for is hidden in expensive
posted by DavidCuillier | 0 Comments