Journalism groups, AP, news organizations,
push for openness in government
March 10, 2005
Journalists-Open
Government
By SIOBHAN McDONOUGH
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Seven groups interested in journalism are
joining with The Associated Press and other news organizations
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, 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.
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.
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. "In Washington there
is almost an opposite attitude. You are not entitled to it,"
he told members of the National Newspaper Association Thursday.
Cornyn also said Washington lacks an independent observer
to ensure that government isn't inflating fees, purposely
delaying or using other excuses to withhold information. He
said he is mindful of concerns about security following the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but said those concerns can be
addressed.
"Right now, it's all in favor of secrecy and hunkering
down," Cornyn said. "I believe the default position
should be: it's open."
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.
It's been endorsed by the Sunshine Initiative and dozens of
interest groups in journalism and across the political spectrum,
from the liberal American Civil Liberties Union to the conservative
Heritage Foundation.
The Senate Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on terrorism,
technology and homeland security plans a hearing on the bill
Tuesday.
Witnesses include: Walter Mears, former AP executive editor
and Washington bureau chief and Pulitzer prize-winning political
writer; Katherine M. "Missy" Cary, assistant attorney
general of Texas; Mark Tapscott, director of the Center for
Media and Public Policy at the Heritage Foundation; Meredith
Fuchs, general counsel of the National Security Archive at
George Washington University; and Thomas Susman of the law
firm Ropes & Gray.
Andy Alexander, chairman of the American Society of Newspaper
Editors' Freedom of Information Committee, said he was pleased
the Senate is taking up the issue.
" One of the
reasons that we initiated 'Sunshine Week' was to prompt a
public discussion on the importance of Freedom of Information,"
said Alexander. "The fact that there's actually a hearing
on the subject after decades of congressional silence is a
heartening step."
The seven media organizations involved in the Sunshine Initiative
are the American Society of Newspaper Editors, Society of
Professional Journalists, Coalition of Journalists for Open
Government, National Newspaper Association, Reporters Committee
for Freedom of the Press, Radio-Television News Directors
Association and the Newspaper Association of America.
___
On the Net:
Sunshine in Government Initiative: http://www.sunshineingovernment.com
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