Sunshine Week

Rep. Todd Hunter, FOIFT leaders talk open government with journalists at Sunshine Week briefing

2015-03-18T22:37:29-05:00

Journalists met with leaders of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, for a Sunshine Week briefing Wednesday on open government legislation pending at the state Capitol. "There's nothing wrong with providing public information," Hunter said, urging news reporters to educate their audience on "the positiveness and the common sense of these laws." Also speaking at the briefing at the Austin American-Statesman were FOI Foundation of Texas legislative co-chairs Laura Prather and Arif Panju. The foundation is tracking scores of bills this session that would improve public access to government information or, in some cases, [...]

Rep. Todd Hunter, FOIFT leaders talk open government with journalists at Sunshine Week briefing2015-03-18T22:37:29-05:00

Dallas Morning News: Transparency is hope for citizens, foil for officeholders

2014-03-19T14:49:48-05:00

The Dallas Morning News Editorial Originally published March 18, 2014 There is not a crime, there is not a dodge, there is not a trick, there is not a swindle, there is not a vice which does not live by secrecy.” Joseph Pulitzer This is Sunshine Week, a time to celebrate and advocate for truth and transparency. And although our iWorld of websites, smartphones and laptops might be unrecognizable to Pulitzer and other turn-of-the-20th-century purveyors of “new journalism,” they would no doubt recognize — and lament — one aspect: the seemingly never-ending quest to force greater transparency from government. That struggle [...]

Dallas Morning News: Transparency is hope for citizens, foil for officeholders2014-03-19T14:49:48-05:00

Sunshine Week: Public should demand online access to public information

2014-03-19T14:42:15-05:00

By Emily Shaw Sunlight Foundation Originally published March 12, 2014, on sunshineweek.org This week is Sunshine Week, a nationwide discussion about the importance of access to public information and what it means for you and your community. During this week we pay special attention to our collective obligation to bring some “sunshine” to the often shadowy processes of government decision-making. Different governments have different ways of inhibiting effective oversight of government decision-making, from intentional stonewalling and secrecy to budget-driven decisions to reduce hours and staffing. These problems, while diverse, may have a similar solution: Public records and the content of public [...]

Sunshine Week: Public should demand online access to public information2014-03-19T14:42:15-05:00

Sunshine Week: FOIA a powerful tool for journalists

2014-03-17T16:48:39-05:00

By Jason Leopold Investigative Reporter Originally published March 7, 2014, on sunshineweek.org A few years ago, I met a longtime source at a local coffee shop in Los Angeles. He said he needed to break some news to me. I thought it was going to be something juicy. Perhaps he was ready to share some inside information about drones or surveillance or Guantanamo, topics that I report on. Nope. My source called the meeting to tell me he would no longer spill any secrets to me. He was very worried that the Obama administration’s crackdown on leaks and leakers could result [...]

Sunshine Week: FOIA a powerful tool for journalists2014-03-17T16:48:39-05:00

Sunshine Week: Denton Record-Chronicle evaluates officeholders’ financial disclosures

2014-03-16T18:04:06-05:00

By Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe Denton Record-Chronicle Originally published March 15, 2014 Personal financial statements can offer clues to the financial interests of local officials and improve government transparency — that is, if more residents had a clue about how to find them. The little-known and rarely accessed statements contain potentially valuable disclosures from select public officials about their own property holdings, stocks and bonds, outside business interests or employment, even gifts granted to them during their public service. But an investigation by the Denton Record-Chronicle found that efforts to make the information public have fallen short, in part because the documents are [...]

Sunshine Week: Denton Record-Chronicle evaluates officeholders’ financial disclosures2014-03-16T18:04:06-05:00

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