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Happy holidays from NFOIC!Dear Friend of FOI,
The season's spirit of sharing, renewal and reflection is an ideal time to recall that our health and happiness are inextricably linked to transparent and accountable governments that operate in sunlight and derive their just powers from a free, self-governing people. Save the date for the 2013 FOI Summit!The annual FOI Summit, a national conference held in collaboration with the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), will be held in 2013 on Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, at the Renaissance Arts Hotel, 700 Tchoupitoulas Street, in beautiful New Orleans, Louisiana. On their site you'll find images and information about this "exceptional New Orleans boutique hotel … situated in the heart of the Arts District near the French Quarter .. serving quality French bistro-style cuisine prepared by celebrated Master Chef Rene Bajeux." Mark your calendars, and watch NFOIC.org in the coming weeks for more general conference and program information. |
As you celebrate the joys and spirit of the holiday season, we at NFOIC want to wish the best to you and your loved ones.|
Members in the News
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Maine Freedom of Information Coalition president to head new TV channel covering state Legislature
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Mal Leary, president of the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition and a member of the board of directors of NFOIC, will become the managing editor and director of a new digital television channel that the Maine Public Broadcasting Network will devote to coverage of the State House.
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Virginia Coalition for Open Government, officials talk about freedom of information
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Lynchburg still is working to get copies of the Freedom of Information Act to its volunteer boards and commissions after concluding its past education efforts had been hit or miss. The Virginia Coalition for Open Government organized a panel discussion on government’s role in freedom of information.
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California First Amendment Coalition provides citizen with legal help to fight against the $60,000 penalty that puts access at risk
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The California First Amendment Coalition is helping Tim Crews, publisher of a small-town newspaper north of Sacramento, to fight nearly $60,000 in penalties after a Glenn County Superior Court judge ruled that the lawsuit Crews filed over a public records request was frivolous.
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Freedom Foundation releases best practices for Open Public Meetings Act
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The Freedom Foundation today released Best Practices for Public Agency Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act, a go-to source of information on a number of issues related to Washington State’s Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA).
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NFOIC and other open government organizations sign onto letter to Senate leadership
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The National Freedom of Information Coalition, OpenTheGovernment.org and a host of other groups signed onto the letter to Senate leadership about the delayed 2013 Intelligence Authorization bill.
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Kenneth Bunting: "E" in "email" should not stand for "evasion"
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To avoid possible disclosure, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s top advisors used personal email accounts while devising a communications strategy regarding hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicaid cuts. Issues surrounding government transparency don't always lend themselves to clear, black-and-white analysis. But this one was comprehensible.
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Eric Newton: Why journalists need to get behind the #opendata movement
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Many journalists aren’t paying attention to how governments are opening up data. Part of that is cultural. Governments do keep secrets. As the amount of information grows, so do the secrets.
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Barbara Petersen, Dan Krassner: Launch Transparency 2.0 to benefit all Floridians in reviewing state budget expenses
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Florida Senate president contracted with Spider Data Services to develop an unprecedented budget- tracking system at a cost of nearly $5 million. That system, Transparency 2.0, is now fully developed and ready for use, but recent reports suggest Florida lawmakers may well walk away, shelving the program.
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Peter Scheer: Consumers blindsided by secret settlements in hi-tech patent lawsuits
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Apple recently announced that it had reached a global settlement of its patent disputes with HTC. Although this settlement will have a direct impact on millions of American consumers, you can’t find out the settlement’s terms. Why not?
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Steve Lovejoy: Burlington leads way on openness
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Recently the city of Burlington made some changes to its website, adding a feature it calls a "performance dashboard. The dashboard stands in stark contrast to those efforts to keep the public in the dark.
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Government-wide Freedom of Information Act audit finds outdated regs
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