Update 2/23/05
Last spring, when Associated Press President Tom Curley announced that AP
would become more aggressive in reporting on government secrecy, he also cited a need for the media to speak with a stronger and more unified voice on open government issues in Washington. AP indicated it was willing to invest in this effort. That led a number of us who have been involved in open government advocacy to join with AP representatives in a series of discussions on how a governmental relations office might best be set up. Ultimately, AP’s board decided the organization should not be involved in any effort that involved direct lobbying.
Two weeks ago, the Newspaper Association of America, which had been part of those discussions, stepped into the void. NAA has long been involved in lobbying on a variety of newspaper issues, mostly on the business side, but it has provided help on some major FOI issues as well. For instance, it provided lobbying support last fall in an effort to get our objections to parts of the Intelligence Reform Bill heard. NAA has agreed to fund an ad hoc effort to support the pending FOIA reform bill and in the process help us develop a continuing, coordinated legislative relations effort. NAA said it would retain the firm of Podesta-Mattoon to do any lobbying that needs be done. It is also retaining a public relations firm, Aker Partners, to serve as a manager-coordinator of the group that will be developing strategy and educational efforts. We’re wrestling with a name, and a mission statement, and a set of goals that go beyond just the FOIA changes. And we’re beginning to talk about a longer term effort to build public and political support for open government.
The groups involved in these discussions are those that have been actively involved in fighting secrecy in Washington over the years. NAA, ASNE, the Reporters Committee, RTNDA, SPJ, NNA, plus AP and CJOG. NAA, ASNE, SPJ, RTNDA and NNA do some lobbying.
My hope is that out of this we can develop a coordinated effort on Capitol Hill and within the agencies that will help bring about greater transparency, starting with a strengthened Freedom of Information Act but moving on to the range of information access problems that we and the public face.
* * *
We anticipate there will be a hearing on the FOIA bill filed by Sens. John Cornyn, R-TX, and Patrick Leahy, D-VT, on March 15. In anticipation of that, we trying to collect best case examples of the use of FOIA – by journalists and the public in oversight of government. And if you have some real horror stories of trying to get information through FOIA, particularly troubles that will be corrected or mitigated by the bill, those would help, too. Let your members know and urge them to send any stories directly to me. And thanks to Joe Davis and SEJ for the delightful item in the latest Watchdog Report on one reporter’s efforts to get a look at some environmental records through FOIA.
* * *
Plans for Sunshine Week are moving along and many news organizations we’ve talked with have developed some very creative coverage plans. If you haven’t already done so – or haven’t done so lately – remind your members and urge them to participate in some way. They’ll find lots of information and ideas, and a growing collection of materials for general use, at www.sunshinesunday.org.
* * *
I also hope you’re regularly looking at the CJOG website, cjog.net, and finding it helpful in keeping up with what’s going on in DC and across the country. Suggestions welcomed. Please send along information on any FOI activities you have scheduled for the calendar section, and notes on anything you’d like us to link to on your websites. And urge your members to give us a look once in a while.
Pete Weitzel
