Journalists push for government openness

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON -- The Associated Press and seven journalism organizations are joining forces to promote policies aimed at ensuring government is accessible, accountable and open.

The Sunshine in Government Initiative seeks to combat what the member organizations see as increased government secrecy since the 2001 terrorist attacks. The coalition will lobby for legislation and seek to educate the public about First Amendment issues.

"National security depends on public trust," AP President and CEO Tom Curley said. "The trend toward secrecy is the greatest threat to democracy. We must be vigilant at explaining and fighting for accountable government in every jurisdiction."
...
A bill sponsored by Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., proposes creation of a 16-member advisory commission that would conduct a study to determine ways to speed the release of records under the Freedom of Information Act. Cornyn and Leahy planned to introduce the measure Thursday.
...
Another bill sponsored by Cornyn and Leahy, called the OPEN Government Act of 2005, seeks to speed release of information sought in FOIA requests, which now can take months or years.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/03/09/journalists_push_for_government_openness/

[kimpossible]

1. Are you sure this wasn't supposed to come out on April 1st?

The AP, talking about accountability and public trust? What happened, did hell just freeze over?

Seriously, this is great news if they really mean it. But it will take more than just words to convince me that it's more than a PR campaign.

[Voltaire99]

7. LOL! A.P. stands for Asskissing Pusillanimity.

They no more want "accountability" than they wish to have to ask the types of hard and unpopular questions that would produce it.

Still, it's apparent that someone in marketing at AP realizes the varnish is peeling. Time for a wee bit of image makeover, eh?

Pfft--read the foreign press. With the Net, no one needs the American media for anything more than weather and sports (plus the all-important terrorism alert level).

[Pithy Cherub]

2. BREAKING NEWS: Journalism Irony alert...

Wee, baby steps to halt the slide into irreversible irrelevancy...:eyes:

[Catfight]

15. No kidding, what a joke the American Pornalism has become. They

shot themselves in the foot while propagating the Iraqi war and the evilness of the Tally-Ban. I'll never forget how ridiculous Bush's speech was regarding those evildoers who aren't even allowed to cut their beards, oh my, let's stop that evilness in this bad bad world. ...meanwhile, somewhere in Sudan....


Pornalist suck, they are the downfall of a great nation.

[Gloria]

3. Didn't Curley make a speech about this about 6 months ago? So

I gues these bills are in answer to that original plea??

[havocmom]

4. Does he actually want journalists to do their jobs or does he just want

more of them handed more government press releases? If the former, then good on him but I shall not hold my breath waiting for the next "Woodstein" to show up.

[cornermouse]

12. Hah. Even Woodstein isn't Woodstein anymore.

The most positive thing about this mess is watching everyone complain about the republican's actions not being what they voted for. It goes downhill from there.

[intheflow]

5. Physician, heal thyself!

If they want some bloody government transparency, they could start by making Mitofsky's raw data available! :grr:

[Mountainman]

6. These are some of the people who helped put the f..ker in office

It's getting real interesting to read the daily stories about one group or the other who feels Bush has gone too far on something. But each and every one of the helped put him in the position to screw them. Farmers want their subsidies, AP wants open government, fundies want a marriage amendment, and the beat goes on.

[Voltaire99]

8. Yes, nice point...

The poor dears seem to imagine he meant every word he mispronounced.

[WatchWhatISay]

9. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas wants more transparency from

This administration? I doubt that. Something is up here. Careful Patrick.

[Robeson]

10. My thoughts exactly.....

...anything they title in flowery words, usually means the opposite, as in, Patriot Act.

[liveoaktx]

21. Yup... My jaw dropped when I saw Cornyn involved with this

He's a stooge for Bush. And can anyone say Bush is a proponent of open records? Nah!

[0rganism]

11. Cry me a fuckin' river, Mr. AP President and CEO Tom Curley

After three decades of willfully spreading GOPropaganda, he has the nerve to complain? After five years of specifically carrying bush's water, he has the gall to whine about the flavor? Suck it down, media whores, it's what you've been asking for all along.

[DeepModem Mom]

13. kick

[earth mom]

14. So this is their excuse?! And we're supposed to believe them?!

yeah right! :eyes:

[LdyGuique]

16. Sunshine Week starts Sunday

Here are three different articles on the upcoming "Sunshine Week" which is sponsoring a Sunshine Initiative to open government to the press and public.

‘Sunshine Week’ In US For Government Transparency

US media organizations and journalists have come together to call for greater transparency in the Federal government’s functioning, which has been badly curtailed since the deadly September 11 attacks.

The coalition will lobby for legislation and seek to educate the public about First Amendment issues. The initiative was announced ahead of "Sunshine Week," a weeklong campaign for government openness spearheaded by the Associated Press and more than 50 news outlets, journalism groups, universities and the American Library Association. "One of the reasons that we initiated 'Sunshine Week' was to prompt a public discussion on the importance of Freedom of Information" said Andy Alexander, chairman of the American Society of Newspaper Editors' Freedom of Information Committee. Organizations involved in the sunshine initiative are Society of Professional Journalists, Coalition of Journalists for Open Government, the American Society of Newspaper Editors, National Newspaper Association, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Radio-Television News Directors Association and the Newspaper Association of America.

Journalists Push for Government Openness (AP)

WASHINGTON - Seven journalism organizations and The Associated Press are joining to promote accessible, accountable and open government.

The Sunshine in Government Initiative seeks to combat what the groups see as increased government secrecy since the 2001 terrorist attacks. The coalition will lobby for legislation and seek to educate the public about First Amendment issues.

"National security depends on public trust," AP President and CEO Tom Curley said. "The trend toward secrecy is the greatest threat to democracy. We must be vigilant at explaining and fighting for accountable government in every jurisdiction."

The initiative was announced ahead of "Sunshine Week," a weeklong campaign for government openness spearheaded by the AP and more than 50 news outlets, journalism groups, universities and the American Library Association.

Good Days, Sunshine: Events Planned for Sunshine Week
Editor & Publisher
By Brian Orloff

NEW YORK Sunshine Week, a campaign for government openness and transparency, will be observed March 13-19, with many newspapers weighing in with articles and editorials. While the national campaign was mounted by the Associated Press and more than 50 news organizations, local media and organizations are sponsoring events in their communities.

The blogosphere will also participate with 'Blogshine Sunday' on March 13. Coordinated by FreeCulture.org, the event will allow bloggers to spotlight their own experiences. More information can be found at blogshine.org.

The National FOI Day Conference will be held March 16 at the Freedom Forum's office in Virginia. Speakers include Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), Cox Washington bureau chief Andy Alexander, and First Amendment attorney Lee Levine. The event is free and open to the public. To register, call [phone].

A symposium titled "Confronting the Seduction of Secrecy: Toward Improved Government Access on the Record" will be held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on March 17. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast and conclude at 10:45 a.m. This is the 5th Annual Curtis Hurley Symposium and is co-sponsored by the Missouri School of Journalism. The event will be moderated by Geneva Overholser and will feature as panelists Bill Kovach, Tom Curley, Mike McCurry, Jack Shafer, and others.

Following is a list of some local Sunshine Week events
more

[rocktivity]

17. If the MSM they wants more openess, they should just BE more open.

The reporters who broke Watergate didn't worry about what was "secret." Black Americans got their voting rights because they went after them, not because they waited for the government to "reward" them. And "secrecy" doesn't seem to be holding the bloggers back.

I support the call for faster FIOAs, but if these journalists want to start doing REAL reporting, all they have to do go back to work. Stop taking orders from the Bush White House and forget about getting anyone's "permission."

:headbang:
rocknation

[lovuian]

18. Media groups push open government

http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/03/10/open.government.ap/index.html


Media groups push open government
Senate panel plans hearing on proposed legislation
Thursday, March 10, 2005 Posted: 12:03 PM EST (1703 GMT)



Sen. Patrick Leahy is co-sponsoring legislation promoting public access to government information.







WASHINGTON (AP) -- Seven journalism organizations and The Associated Press are joining to promote accessible, accountable and open government.

The Sunshine in Government Initiative seeks to combat what the groups see as increased government secrecy since the 2001 terrorist attacks. The coalition will lobby for legislation and seek to educate the public about First Amendment issues.

"National security depends on public trust," AP President and CEO Tom Curley said. "The trend toward secrecy is the greatest threat to democracy. We must be vigilant at explaining and fighting for accountable government in every jurisdiction."

The initiative was announced ahead of "Sunshine Week," a weeklong campaign for government openness spearheaded by the AP and more than 50 news outlets, journalism groups, universities and the American Library Association.

A bill sponsored by Sens. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, and Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, proposes creation of a 16-member advisory commission that would conduct a study to determine ways to speed the release of records under the Freedom of Information Act. Cornyn and Leahy planned to introduce the measure Thursday.

Under the act, government agencies must give the public access to government information unless the information falls under certain exemptions. However, the agencies can decide on their own to disclose the exempted information.

more...

We really need this!!!

Cornyn was responsible for enforcing open government laws as attorney general in Texas. There, government information is public, unless specifically exempted by law and must be delivered within specific deadlines.

[lyonn]

19. Ah, there is some wisdom in Congress

Will this also be swept under the rug or watered down until you can't recognize it? This is so against all Bush & Co. stand for.

[Jazzgirl]

20. Unfortunately, 9/11 has been used as an excuse for

everything this misadministration has done. They have horribly misused what happened that day and made everything a secret. At this point we don't have anything that even looks like a representative democracy. It is a kelptocratic, fascist, oligarchic, plutocracy....