A letter from government transparency organizations urges the Uniform Law Commission to prioritize the public’s right to know when it studies the redaction of personal information from public records. The June 17 letter was written by Sarah Brewerton-Palmer, legislative chair of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation, and was edited and endorsed by Todd Fettig, the […]
Tag: national freedom of information coalition
NFOIC begins transfer of admin duties to Virginia coalition, renews focus on members
The following note was sent March 24, 2022, to members of the National Freedom of Information Coalition. Dear coalition leaders and members: We write today with an update regarding the future operations of the National Freedom of Information Coalition, as it transitions from a university-supported organization funded by one or two large grants, to a […]
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Access to police-camera footage must improve, open-government advocates say
Government emails, metadata also top list of FOI-tech issues that leave us in the dark FOR RELEASE: March 14, 2022 Contact: Todd Fettig, NFOIC executive director Phone: 352-294-7082 Email: nfoic@nfoic.org March 14, 2022 — The public too often is being denied access to police body- and dash-cam footage. This ranks as the most critical […]
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After police shot and killed her son, mother uses open records laws to find answers, spark change
From “A mother’s quest for openness provides map for spurring change,” published March 1, 2022 in The Journal: A Civic Issues Magazine. “When Sheila Albers, of Kansas, couldn’t get answers to the questions she had after her 17-year-old son was shot and killed by an Overland Park police officer while the teen was in the […]
Tracking transparency across the nation: Monitoring bills of interest in state legislatures
Powered by Bill Track 50, the National Freedom of Information Coalition and its members monitor transparency-related legislation in state legislatures. […]
Helped by NFOIC and Knight FOI Fund, Colorado media entity sues for county records
With support from the National Freedom of Information Coalition’s Knight FOI Fund and members of the community, Delta County Citizen Report (DCCR), a nonprofit media organization, filed a lawsuit Feb. 8, 2022, against Delta County and Delta County Administration citing four violations of the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA). JoAnn Kalenak, President of DCCR, said […]
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Fourth annual NFOIC competition invites research proposals focused on FOI, technology
The fourth annual National Freedom of Information Coalition research competition welcomes one-page proposals for papers that shed light on freedom of information, particularly those focusing on technology and FOI. Top-three papers will earn cash prizes and will be guaranteed publication in the online Journal of Civic Information, published by the University of Florida’s Brechner Center […]
Journalists banned from Iowa Senate floor; transparency advocates raise concerns
Republican leaders in Iowa have banned journalists from the Senate floor, a break from a 140-year tradition that raises alarms among freedom of information advocates, The Washington Post reported Jan. 8, 2022. During the state’s 2022 legislative session, reporters will be barred from press benches near senators’ desks. Reporters told The Post that proximity to […]
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Audit of Maine police agencies produces inconsistent results; 1 in 5 didn’t respond
When law enforcement agencies across Maine were asked to turn over records of complaints and discipline, some departments provided a bundle of records, some provided basic information — and one in five did not respond at all. That’s according to an audit conducted by the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition, a member of the National […]
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NFOIC hires Virginia Coalition for Open Government to handle administrative duties
Three-year contract is intended to provide stability, continuous support to members FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 20, 2021Contact: Todd Fettig, NFOIC executive director Phone: 352-294-7082 Email: nfoic@nfoic.org The National Freedom of Information Coalition will hire the Virginia Coalition for Open Government to handle the NFOIC’s administrative duties, including collecting dues and donations, planning the annual FOI […]
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