March 14, 2006

 

Honolulu Community-Media Council Presents -

Annual Freedom of Information luncheon and keynote address:

“Digital Democracy and Freedom of Information”

Are Technology and Civil Rights Colliding or Converging?

Featuring Mark Cooper,

Director of Research at the

Consumer Federation of America

and a Fellow at the Stanford Law

School Center for Internet and

Society, and the Columbia

Institute for Tele-Information.

While Congress and the U.S. Administration are deciding

the future of media, Dr. Cooper will reflect on future

implications for broadband media.

- Internet Freedom

- Media Ownership

- Free expression without censorship

- Access without discrimination

- Protecting privacy rights

Mark Cooper is the author of several books, including

“Media Ownership and Democracy in the Digital

Information Age” published in 2003, and has written

numerous articles for journals and law reviews on issues

facing our digital society. He holds a Ph.D. from Yale

University and is a former Yale University and Fulbright

Fellow. He has provided expert testimony to courts,

legislatures, and regulatory agencies over 250 times in four

dozen jurisdictions in the United States and Canada.

March 14, 2006

Tuesday

Where:

Hawaii Imin International

Conference Center – EWC

Garden Level

1777 East-West Road

Honolulu, Hawaii 96848

Time:

Registration – 11:30

Luncheon – 12:00 Noon

RSVP by Friday, March 10

Call: 944-7111

Cost:

$20 - members of sponsoring

organizations.

$25 - general public

(No-shows will be billed)

Parking:

$3.00 – Please pay at Guard Kiosk

on East-West Road or Maile Way.

Limited parking available on lawn

area between Lincoln Hall and the

Hawaii Imin International

Conference Center.

Please display

flyer on dashboard.

 

Download the flier here

 

Co-sponsored by:

East-West Center, University of Hawaii - Manoa School of Communications’

Miller Learning Center, Hawaii Newspaper Guild, Honolulu Weekly,

Hawaii Media Action Group, ‘Olelo: Community TV, League of Women

Voters of Honolulu, Loomis-ISC, and many concerned citizens.

Name(s): ___________________________________________________________________________ Phone: ________________________

Address: ______________________________________________________________________________ Vegetarian: _________________

Please make checks payable to: East-West Center and mail to: EWC Office of External Affairs, 1601 East-West Road, Honolulu,

Hawai‘i 96848-1601. You may also fax in your reservation form to 944-7376. No-shows will be billed. For information, please

call 944-7111 or email info@mediacouncil.org Web: www.mediacouncil.org Registration Form: Digital Freedom of Information 3/14/06

 

Hawaii events posted at: http:/www.sunshineweek.org/sunshineweek/toolkits#State-specific%20Resources

 

Sunshine Week Events Across Hawaii

During March 12-18, 2006, the League of Women Voters chapters around the state and other groups will offer public discussion about why open government is important to everyone and why it is under challenge today. This project made possible with the support of the League of Women Voters Education Fund.

Honolulu:

March 14 – The topic: "Digital Democracy and Freedom of Information: Are Technology and Civil Rights Colliding or Converging?" by Mark Cooper, Ph.D., will be presented at the Imin Center Dining Room, Honolulu. The author of Media Ownership and Democracy in the Digital Information Age, Cooper is also tentatively scheduled for various events on March 9 and March 10 - times vary and are subject to change. Honolulu Community-Media Council director, Sean McLaughlin is coordinating Mr. Cooper's visit. Call (808)748-0880 or sean@mediacouncil.org or contact Jacqueline Parnell <jparnell1@verizon.net>

Hawaii County:

March 15 - Les Kondo, attorney and executive director of the state Office of Information Practices, will participate in a panel discussion on the purpose and impact of sunshine and open records laws on local government. Other panel participants will be Lincoln Ashida, county attorney for the County of Hawaii, and Pat Tummons, President of the Big Island Press Club. Moderator for the forum will be journalist Hunter Bishop. This event will be held 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the County Council Chambers in the Hawaii County Building. Participation via teleconference will also be available in Waimea and Kona. The location of the video facility in Waimea is 64-1067 Mamalahoa, Kamuela, off Kamaamalu Road across from the police station. In Kona, the facility is in the Kailua Trade Center, 75-5706 Hanama Place Suite 109. For more information contact Marianna Scheffer mscheffe@hilo.net

Kauai County:

March 18 - The director of the Office of Information Practices, Les Kondo, will participate in a panel discussion on the purpose and impact of sunshine and open records laws on local government. Other panel participants include the editor of the Garden Island newspaper, Adam Harju. The event will be held Saturday, March 18, 10 a.m. to noon at the Aloha Beach Resort, Alii Room. Coffee will be served. The forum is open to the public. For more information contact Carol Bain, 246-2111 or email KLWV@kauai.net

Maui County:

March 13 - "The Role of Alternative Media in Reporting the News" will be presented by Anthony Pignataro, Editor, Maui Times Weekly at Maui Community College, noon, Hale 216

March 15 - "The Role of the Fourth Branch in Informing the Citizens"will be presented by Don Gronning, Editor, Haleakala Times at Maui Community College, noon Hale 216

March 20 - "Reflections on Media and Democracy" presented by Chris Conybeare at Maui Community College, moon, Hale 216

These events listed above held at Maui Community College are part of the 3rd Annual First Amendment Freedom Forum. The forum features editors of alternative papers on Maui speaking directly to students and community about the importance of the first amendment and sunshine laws in order to have a healthy and vibrant democracy. The forum is a joint effort by Hawai'i Institute for Human Rights along with League of Women Voters and Society of Professional Journalists Maui Community College. For more information contact Joshua Cooper joshua@hawaii.edu

Note:

The LWV Hawaii is just one of fourteen Leagues chosen to host forums during "Sunshine Week 2006" (March 12-18). "Sunshine Week" aims to stimulate public discussion about why open government is important to everyone and why it is under challenge today. Hawaii League received a grant of $1,000 for support of events coordinated by each county chapter. The League of Women Voters Education Fund received funding for this project from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The Knight Foundation promotes excellence in journalism worldwide and invests in the vitality of 26 U.S. communities.

OIP Workshop

Thu, 23 Feb 2006 16:12:50 -1000


To: Members of the Media

Re: Media UIPA and Sunshine Law Workshop

Dear Sir/Madam:

As part of the upcoming Freedom of Information week, the Office of Information Practices would like to offer a "brown bag" workshop for the media on the Uniform Information Practices Act (Modified) (the "UIPA") and the Sunshine Law, Hawaii's open records and open meetings laws, respectively. The workshop will be on Monday, March 6, noon to 1:30 p.m. in senate conference room 212, State Capitol. We intend the format to encourage participation and questions as well as to provide the participants with a very basic understanding of the UIPA and the Sunshine Law.

If you are interested and would like to attend, please RSVP no later than Thursday, March 3 by telephone at 586-1400 or via e-mail at OIP@Hawaii.gov. If, based upon the number of RSVPs, there is very little interest, we will likely reschedule the workshop.

Sincerely,

Leslie H. Kondo, Esq.
Director

Office of Information Practices
State of Hawaii
No. 1 Capitol District Building
250 S. Hotel St., Suite 107
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Tel.: 808-586-1400
Fax: 808-586-1412
E-mail: oip@hawaii.gov
Web site: www.hawaii.gov/oip

 

Media Contact:

Debra Gersh Hernandez

Sunshine Week Coordinator

Web: www.sunshineweek.org

Office: (703) 807-2100

Cell: (571) 238-1499

E-mail: dghernandez@asne.org

For Release Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2006

RENOWNED EDITOR, BROADCASTER HODDING CARTER III

SIGNS ON AS SUNSHINE WEEK 2006 HONORARY CHAIRMAN

Second Annual National Open Government Initiative Slated For March 12-18;

"Bright Ideas" From Sunshine Week 2005 Coverage Now Available Online

Washington—Hodding Carter III—an award-winning print and broadcast journalist, former State Department spokesman, and past president of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation—has joined the Sunshine Week national open government initiative as honorary chairman for 2006.

During Sunshine Week 2006, March 12-18, media organizations, civic groups, libraries, schools, non-profit organizations and others nationwide will participate in coverage of and discussions about the importance of protecting public access to government.

"Sunshine Week aims to empower the American people by demanding that government open its doors and allow a free flow of news and information—and I'm proud to be part of it," said Carter, now professor of leadership and public policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "With the totalitarian model of all-powerful Big Brother in retreat around the world, this is no time to tolerate it here at home."

In his role as honorary chairman, Carter will serve as a national spokesman for the Sunshine Week initiative, which highlights the importance of preserving open government. In addition, Carter will serve as an adviser the national Sunshine Week Executive Committee and coordination staff.

"We're very excited that Hodding has come aboard as honorary chairman. His unparalleled experience at the highest levels of journalism and government bring to Sunshine Week a powerful resource that will help us build an even stronger presence in 2006," said Andy Alexander, Cox Newspapers Washington bureau chief and chairman of the American Society of Newspaper Editors Freedom of Information Committee.

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HODDING CARTER IS SUNSHINE WEEK 2006 HONORARY CHAIRMAN

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"After the phenomenal success of the first national Sunshine Week in 2005, some of us were concerned about how we could equal that showing," Alexander added. "But the escalating pace of government secrecy at all levels has really sparked incredible creativity and enthusiasm in former and new participants in their efforts to preserve open government during Sunshine Week and year-round."

Several new programs already are underway for Sunshine Week 2006. They include:

In addition, the Sunshine Week Web site will be a resource for participants to download a variety of free Toolkit materials. Regional and State Coordinators will again serve as point people in their geographic areas.

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HODDING CARTER IS SUNSHINE WEEK 2006 HONORARY CHAIRMAN

PAGE 3

The son of a newspaper publisher, Carter started his journalism career as a reporter at the Delta Democrat-Times in Greenville, Miss., later becoming editor. Carter spent a year as a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University. In January 1977, Carter became State Department spokesman and assistant secretary of state for public affairs, serving during the Iran hostage crisis.

After returning to journalism, Carter won four national Emmys and the Edward R. Murrow Award for his television documentaries for the Inside Story media criticism series. Carter was a frequent chief correspondent for the PBS series Frontline, was a regular panelist on This Week with David Brinkley, and hosted, anchored, reported for and served as a panelist on several public affairs programs on PBS, ABC, CBS, the BBC and CNN.

For 10 years, Carter was a Washington-based columnist for The Wall Street Journal, he has contributed to other leading newspapers, and was syndicated by United Media/NEA in the early 1990s. Carter also was president and chairman of a television production company specializing in public affairs programming. He is the author of two books and has contributed to nine others.

Prior to joining the faculty at UNC in 2004, Carter had been president and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in Miami since 1998.

To read more about Carter's career achievements and accolades, log on to his biography on the UNC Web site, www.unc.edu/depts/pubpol/cater_bio.html.

Sunshine Week is a national initiative to open a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. Participants include print, broadcast and online news media, civic groups, libraries, non-profits, schools and others interested in the public's right to know. Sunshine Week is led by the American Society of Newspaper Editors and is funded by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

 

 

 

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March 16, 2005

Bill Dedman of the Boston Globe

 

Dedman speaks at annual FOI Day Luncheon

 

Bill Dedman loves government records.

Reporters should use them to give context and depth to their stories, find patterns to make them unique and find angles no one else has, he said.

Most of all, reporters ought to keep asking for them.

"Part of the reason we don’t use records as much is that they are hard to obtain. It’s not somebody else’s fault if we are not actively asking for them (records)," Dedman told the annual Freedom of Information Day luncheon on March 16 at the East-West Center’s Imin Center.

The luncheon was sponsored by the Honolulu Community-Media Council, East-West Center, Hawaii chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, SPJ-UH, UH School of Communications and Ka Leo O Hawaii.

During FOI week, Dedman, a Boston Globe reporter, taught computer-assisted reporting classes at the University of Hawaii. Journalism Professor Beverly Keever opened the classes to some professional reporters.

In 1989, Dedman won the Pulitzer Prize in Investigative Reporting for reporting on racial discrimination in by lenders in Atlanta.

Yesterday, he urged the news media to encourage and train journalists to look for records for articles. The lack of training is a problem, he said.

Open records advocates often use lofty arguments such as promoting democracy. "Who are we kidding?" Dedman said. "How much evidence do you see day to day that journalists are looking at documents at all?"

Most reporters combing through records are the ones doing long-range projects.

The key, Dedman said, is to get more reporters using records routinely.

Things are not going to come in over the transom, he said. Don’t expect Hal Holbrook (or Deep Throat) to meet you in a parking garage like in the movie "All the President’s Men," he said.

Why reporters need records, he said:

On breaking news, try to think of Internet sites that can yield data. While covering a fatal crash at a railroad crossing, he didn’t check the National Transportation Safety Board site. That would have told him that there had been two other fatal accidents at the same location, Dedman said.

 

Hawaii Freedom of Information Project Activities – March 13 to April 1, 2005

Download the activities in FOI Herald.pdf

[Contact event sponsors for more information, or call 748-0880]

Sunday, March 13 through March 19

Sunshine Sunday / Sunshine Week

Media coverage is planned for this day and throughout the week to report on freedom of information issues and promote the public’s right to know. This national project is coordinated in Hawaii by the Society of Professional Journalists.

Monday, March 14

The Art of Truth: A Dialogue on the Future of Media and Politics

6:00 pm Reception, 7:00 pm Dialogue at UH Manoa School of Architecture Auditorium; Free

Featuring Danny Schechter, Merita Mita, Maile Shimabukuro, Keali'i S. Lopez; moderator Ruth Hsu. Join these visionaries in conversing on the future of media and politics. Co-sponsored by the UH Dept. of English, University Peace Initiative, and UH Office of Sustainability. For more information, contact Ruth Hsu at rhsu@hawaii.edu or 956-3049.

Monday, March 14 through March 18

KHON-TV2 Freedom of Information ActionLine

Freedom of information experts will answer questions from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm daily in the KHON-TV2 FOI ActionLine project – call 808-521-0222. Co-sponsored by Honolulu Community Media Council; contact 748-0880.

Tuesday, March 15 through April 2nd

Right To Know Multi-Media Installation on the World of Information

The ARTS at Marks Garage (Nuuanu & Pauahi); Tuesday-Saturday, 11:00 am to 6:00 pm

Artistic Coordinator: Daniela Minerbi; Artists: Meleanna Aluli Meyer, Holger Schramm, Daniela Minerbi and Solomon Enos. Contact Daniela at 955-5406, freetoknow@yahoo.com, or ARTS at Marks Garage at 521-2903

Tuesday, March 15

Film: Hawaii Premiere of Weapons of Mass Deception, by Danny Schechter

The ARTS at Marks Garage (Nuuanu & Pauahi); Admission: $10.00

6:00 pm Reception with DJ Spychedelic; Film at 7:00 pm, followed by discussion and Q&A with Danny Schechter, award winning filmmaker and journalist. Co-sponsored by the Osher Institute. Contact 282-8407 or freetoknowhawaii@yahoo.com.

Wednesday, March 16

Freedom of Information Day Luncheon – East-West Center, Imin Conference Center Garden Level

11:30 am registration, 12:00 lunch; Cost: $17 sponsor group members, $22 general public. $3 campus parking. RSVP required no later than Monday, March 14, at 748-0880 or hc-mc@verizon.net

Keynote speaker Bill Dedman, Pulitzer-awarded Boston Globe journalist, national recognized trainer in computer-assisted investigative research. Sponsored by Honolulu Community Media Council, East-West Center, Society of Professional Journalists, SPJ UH Chapter, and UH Journalism Program.

Wednesday, March 16

Film: Fear and Favor in the Newsroom, narrated by Studs Terkel. St. John Auditorium, UH Manoa. 7:00 pm. Free admission; $3 UH parking fee. Sponsored by UH Political Film Series; contact Mark Burch at burch@hawaii.edu

Wednesday, March 16

Ceremony: Lava Tube Award, The Big Island Press Club awards its Lava Tube Award to the person or group that cast a shadow over Sunshine in the 50th State. It also will give out the Torch of Light Award.

Thursday, March 17

Film: Orwell Rolls in His Grave – UH School of Architecture Auditorium, 7:00 pm

$5.00 Admission; $3 UH parking fee

The film is a critical examination of the fourth estate and its role in democracy. Special Presentation in the Bank of Hawaii University of Hawaii Film Series curated by Don Brown; 223-0130. Introductory discussion by Beth-Ann Kozlovich.

Friday, March 18

Film: Propaganda Under Stress: WWII Treatment of Japanese Americans.

UH School of Architecture Auditorium, 6:30 pm Reception; Film at 7:00. Donation; $3 UH parking fee.

Filmmakers Tom Coffman and Bob Bates present a pre-world War II National Archives film by director John Ford and cinematographer Gregg Toland. Sponsored by the Honolulu Community Media Council SPJ UH Chapter, and Asian American Journalists Association; contact HCMC at 748-0880.

Saturday, March 19

Film: Harriet Bouslog – UH School of Architecture Auditorium. 6:30 pm Reception; Film at 7:00. Donation, $3 UH parking fee. Showing of PBS documentary "Harriet Bouslog" one of the Territory of Hawaii’s first female attorneys, known as a ‘Robin Hood’ attorney who fought for unpopular causes. Scripted by Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl, produced & directed by Joy Chong-Stannard and Craig Howes; panel discussion will follow with the filmmakers. Sponsored by Honolulu Community Media Council and SPJ UH Chapter; contact HCMC at 748-0880.

Sunday, March 20

Film: Weapons of Mass Deception. UH School of Architecture Auditorium, 3:00 pm.

Admission: $5, students $3; UH parking free.

There were two wars going on in Iraq – one was fought with armies of soldiers, bombs and a fearsome military force. The other was fought alongside it with cameras, satellites, armies of journalists and propaganda techniques. Special presentation in Bank of Hawaii University of Hawaii Film Series curated by Don Brown.

Tuesday, March 22

Free Speech Slam – ARTS at Marks Garage. Doors open at 6:30 pm, Food at 7:00 pm, Slam at 8:00 pm. Admission: $5 before 7:30 pm, $7 after 7:30. Contest prizes: $150 1st Place and $50 2nd Place.

Slam poetry contest will feature talented Hawai'i slam poets. Hosted by Travis T; eclectic music by dj Mr. Nick; special judges include Augie T and Nalani Fujimori. Sponsored by re:VERSES Poetry Collective, Youth Speaks Hawaii, and Hawaii Institute for Human Rights; contact Travis T at 753-4661 or poetryhawaii@hotmail.com.

Wednesday, March 30

Film: Tell the Truth and Run. St. John Auditorium, UH Manoa. 7:00 pm. Free admission. $3 UH parking fee.

A film about legendary journalist George Seldes. Sponsored by UH Political Film Series; contact Mark Burch at burch@hawaii.edu.

Friday, April 1

First Friday Event – Arts at marks garage, 6:00 pm.

Besides the First Friday gallery walk, visit the special ARTS at Marks Garage activities, featuring Right to Know artist reception with DJ Spychedelic, and a reading by UH Manoa Professor and Aloha Betrayed author Noenoe Silva

.

Hawaii FOI law gets D+

The law ranks 28th in the nation for access

 

Hawaii ranked 28th of 50 states with a D+ grade from the latest survey and review by Investigative Reporters and Editors and 
the Better Government Association. The results are at http://www.ire.org/foi/bga/

 

 

More ideas for Sunshine Week

Greetings, all.

Thanks to everyone for your continued support and enthusiasm for Sunshine Week. The reports we're hearing from everyone are beyond super. We're really impressed by the creativity and depth of all that's being planned.

Several new items have been added to the Web site ( www.sunshineweek.org ), including:

* A comprehensive FOI-First Amendment bibliography prepared for Sunshine Week by David Shedden of the Poynter Institute
* Four informational graphics from Knight Ridder/Tribune Graphics for use by clients and non-clients during Sunshine Week
* An article and sidebars by Cox Newspapers about the state of FOI around the world
* The names of radio and television executives who have joined the Steering Committee, and the names and contact information for broadcasters who have signed on to help coordinate efforts in their regions.

We've also revamped the Reading Room section. In addition to a link to the new bibliography, materials are broken out into three groups--general news and commentary, reports and backgrounders, and news specific to Sunshine Week. Several new articles have been posted, including a link to The American Editor's new cover story on Sunshine Week. (And please be sure to e-mail links to anything we may have missed.)

One of our regional coordinators recently asked whether we could post material on the Sunshine Week site that is intended for use by media in a specific state. If participants are interested, we can do this in the Toolkit section under a new category of state-specific materials.

Please be advised, however, that we cannot "hide" this material, so while it may be intended only for a particular state, it will be accessible to others. The flip side, is that your ideas might inspire someone else. If it would be helpful to your efforts, please send materials to me at dghernandez@asne.org. Please send Word documents and be sure to be clear that this is for the state-specific Toolkit section.

Please feel free to send this message around to your state/regional media, association members, colleagues, listservs and other interested parties. And, as always, thanks for all you're doing to make the first national Sunshine Week a terrific success.

Debra Gersh Hernandez
Coordinator
Sunshine Week
dghernandez@asne.org
(703) 807-2100

SUNSHINE WEEK WEB SITE GOES LIVE

Resources, information, tools for participants now available online

Contact:

Debra Gersh Hernandez

Sunshine Week Coordinator

Phone: (703) 807-2100

E-mail: DGHernandez@asne.org

Web: www.sunshineweek.org

For Release February 1, 2005

Washington, D.C.—The Web site supporting the first national Sunshine Week, www.sunshineweek.org, is now live. The site will serve as a central clearinghouse for participants, and will later feature many of the open-government editorials, articles, cartoons and other features developed for Sunshine Week, March 13-19.

Included on the Sunshine Week site are links to background reports, resources and open-government organizations; testimonials from Florida editors about the impact of the original Sunshine Sunday; contact information on regional and state coordinators; and materials available for publication, including op-ed columns. Also included are story ideas and a listing of stories involving open records that have appeared around the country. And more will be posted to the site as it's developed

"We've had great response on Sunshine Week from colleagues around the country. The enthusiasm and excitement for the project is really encouraging," said Andy Alexander, chairman of the American Society of Newspaper Editors' Freedom of Information Committee and chief of Cox Newspapers' Washington bureau. "The Web site will serve as a distribution hub for news and information and idea sharing."

National Sunshine Week is spearheaded by ASNE with a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in Miami. The Radio-Television News Directors Association also has received a Knight grant to help broadcasters to participate. The more than 50-member Steering Committee includes leaders from media companies, newspapers, magazines, academia and major journalism organizations.

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Advertiser, Pacific Business News and Star-Bulletin to participate in Sunshine Week

The Honolulu Advertiser, Pacific Business News and Star-Bulletin have said they will participate in telling the public about the importance of access to government information during Sunshine Week.

 

Media Contact:

Debra Gersh Hernandez

Washington Coordinator

Phone: (703) 807-2100; Mobile: (571) 238-1499

E-mail: DGHernandez@asne.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: TUESDAY, DEC. 14, 2004

‘SUNSHINE SUNDAY’ KICKS OFF WEEKLONG, MULTI-MEDIA EFFORT

TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT INFORMATION

News media joined by librarians, educators in a nationwide initiative

focusing on the importance of the public’s right to know.

Washington, D.C.—Opening a dialogue about the public’s right of access to government information is the focus of Sunshine Sunday and Sunshine Week: Your Right to Know, which kick off March 13, 2005 and continue through the following week.

Participating daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, online sites, and radio and television broadcasters will feature editorials, op-eds, editorial cartoons, and news and feature stories that drive public discussion about why open government is important to everyone, not just to journalists.

"A better climate for keeping government as open as possible has to begin with improving public understanding and support for freedom of information," said Associated Press President and CEO Tom Curley, a member of the Sunshine Week steering committee. "This project marks a great new start in promoting public awareness of these issues."

The current initiative, spearheaded by the American Society of Newspaper Editors with a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in Miami, expands the Sunshine Sunday efforts nationally and across media. The Radio Television News Directors Association also has received a Knight grant to help broadcasters to participate.

Other journalism groups and media companies also support the project, and several state press associations are coordinating existing Sunshine Sunday programs with the national effort. The 54-member Steering Committee includes leaders from media companies, newspapers, magazines, academia and major journalism organizations.

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‘SUNSHINE SUNDAY’ KICKS OFF WEEKLONG, MULTI-MEDIA EFFORT

PAGE 2

 

"This is not just an issue for the press. It’s an issue for the public," said Andy Alexander, ASNE Freedom Of Information chair, who is chief of the Cox Newspapers’ Washington bureau. "An alarming amount of public information is being kept secret from citizens and the problem is increasing by the month. Not only do citizens have a right to know, they have a need to know.

"Our goal is the raise public awareness of this horrible trend that is hurting democracy," he said of the Sunshine Week project. "We hope that it sparks a public dialogue about the value of open government and the damage to citizens from excessive government secrecy."

In addition to media efforts, a partnership with the American Library Association will provide the opportunity for education and community discussion of Freedom of Information issues on the local level. Sunshine Week also ties in with the Freedom Forum First Amendment Center’s 2005 FOI Day on March 16, 2005 in Arlington, Va.

The Sunshine Week Web site (www.sunshineweek.org), to be launched in early 2005, will be the clearing house for most of the materials, which are expected to include:

Sunshine Sunday began in Florida in 2002. Led by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors, the event generated editorials, op-eds, editorial cartoons and news stories about the importance of open government. FSNE estimates that some 300 exemptions to open government laws were defeated in the legislative sessions that followed the three Sunshine Sundays, many because of the increased public awareness that resulted. Since then, several other states, including Alabama and South Carolina have launched similar initiatives.

The Sunshine Sunday staff are: National Coordinator Ray Ollwerther, former vice president of news and executive editor of The Asbury Park (N.J.) Press; and Washington Coordinator Debra Gersh Hernandez, former vice president of communications for the Newspaper Association of America and Washington editor of Editor & Publisher magazine. Working very closely with Ollwerther and Hernandez are the staffs of ASNE and the Coalition of Journalists for Open Government.

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