A few items selected from many of interest recently.
Freedom of Information Bill tabled in Bahamas
NASSAU, Bahamas — The proposed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in The Bahamas has wide restrictions regarding what type of information is actually considered free.
The FOIA legislation, tabled in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, considers information to be anything contained in maps, plans, graphs, drawings, photographs, and on any other device on which data can be recorded.
Visit the Nassau Guardian for the rest.
2011 FOI awards recognize Fairfax parent, The Roanoke Times, and two state legislator
Virginia Coalition for Open Government announces this year's winners for their contributions towards open government in Virginia: Jill Hill, The Roanoke Times and Dels. Jim LeMunyon and Mark Keam.
Visit Virginia Coalition for Open Government for the rest.
Attorney to appeal Fort Smith FOI ruling
A Fort Smith lawyer said Wednesday he plans to appeal a Sebastian County circuit judge’s ruling that declared portions of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act unconstitutional.
Joey McCutchen said he wants Attorney General Dustin McDaniel to participate in the appeal. McDaniel said through a spokesman that he did not immediately know whether his office would get involved.
Visit The Times Record for the rest.
How Open Government is Changing New York City
New York City Chief Digital Officer Rachel Sterne’s recent presentation gives an overview of the city’s open government work and can be seen here.
Her first task in the role was the development of a “Road Map for the Digital City,” a comprehensive plan to realize New York City’s digital potential through enhanced Access, Open Government, Engagement, and Industry.
Visit govfresh and Strata Conference for the rest.
Panel says government obstructing access to science data
With anecdotes of bureaucratically tangled interview requests, scripted and chaperoned sources, stalled federal Freedom of Information Act responses and politicized press offices, a panel of health and science journalists speaking at the National Press Club Monday said that many of the government agencies they rely on have failed to live up to the Obama administration's sweeping transparency promises.
The health, environment and energy reporters laid much of the blame for the lack of progress on a “disturbing” trend toward top-down, politically-motivated control of what certain agencies make accessible to the media that has continued since President Obama took office.
Visit The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press for the rest.