FOI and Open Government News
White House pushes media shield law
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration sought on Wednesday to revive legislation that would provide greater protections to reporters from penalties for refusing to identify confidential sources, and that would enable journalists to ask a federal judge to quash subpoenas for their phone records, a White House official said. Continue > >
Gene Policinski: Seizure of AP phone records: An affront to a free press
If the seizure of telephone records from offices and personal lines is as broad and unfocused as AP CEO Gary Pruitt describes, the DOJ move to seize records of calls made from offices and personal phones of AP journalists marks a new and threatening move by an administration already facing reports that the IRS has targeted groups simply for educating others about the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and a record of the most prosecutions ever of government employees over leaks to the press, under the nearly-100 year old Espionage Act. Continue > >
Media attorney wants judge to find LSU in contempt of court
An attorney for The Advocate and The Times-Picayune asked a judge Friday to find LSU’s Board of Supervisors in contempt of court for refusing to turn over materials related to the university’s recent search for a new president. On April 30, state District Judge ordered LSU to turn over records reviewed by members of the Board of Supervisors or its search committee. Continue > >
NFOIC's State FOIA Friday for May 10, 2013
Attorney General issues informal opinion on Iowa Public Radio questions ... Yarmouth Housing Authority violated Open Meeting Law ... ACLU of New Jersey seeks records tied to $11 million in state grants to religious schools ... New Jersey bill would make mug shots public records ... Vermont house approves opening police investigation files ... Continue > >
FOI Summit
2013 FOI Summit from New Orleans, LA
A brief synopsis of planned panels and discussions is now available. Expect the Summit to include stimulating presentations and panels featuring experts, advocates and champions of transparency and open government. Saturday's luncheon will feature the induction of a worthy individual into the Open Government Hall of Fame. Continue > >
Knight FOI Fund
About the Knight FOI Fund
The Knight FOI Fund offers financial support in open government lawsuits, fueling and assisting the pursuit of important FOI cases. The need arose from the realization that the economic crisis and the evolution of the news media has resulted in declining levels of FOI advocacy. Continue > >
Who We Are & What We Do
About NFOIC
We are a nonpartisan alliance of state open government groups and freedom of information supporters. We award grants, publish FOI and FOIA news, provide transparency education and support to state and local governments, supply state sample FOIA request letters and Federal FOIA request letters. Continue >>
NFOIC Members & Friends
2013 FOI Summit Sponsors
The National Freedom of Information Coalition and the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana would like to thank the sponsors for their generous support for this year's FOI Summit in New Orleans, Louisiana. Without their support, it would be impossible to bring together FOI advocates from across the nation to further our work. Please show them your support by visiting their sites and learning more about the good work they do. Continue > >
NFOIC supports newspaper in legal action over email distribution lists
A small daily newspaper has been awarded a $12,500 litigation grant from the Knight FOI Fund after being rebuffed and stonewalled for months in its efforts to get email distribution lists from the board of commissioners in a rural Maryland county. NFOIC, which administers the Knight FOI Fund, awarded the grant to The Carroll County Times of Westminster, Md. Continue > >
Gwyneth Doland leaves New Mexico Foundation for Open Government
Gwyneth Doland announced today that she's stepping down from the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government—a nonprofit that advocates for government transparency. She says she's departing FOG because, "I would like to reconnect with writing and working in television—and do a little bit more of the journalism I love." Continue > >
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