This project is designed to update and reevaluate how well of a job the Committee On Open Government is doing for the citizens and taxpayers of New York State overall.
A 2008 study, BGA – Alper Integrity Index, conducted by the Better Government Association and sponsored by Alper Services, ranked New York #36 in the nation (tied with Utah) with an overall percentage of 47.30%.
A 2007 study, Graded state responsiveness to FOI requests, conducted by BGA and the NFOIC, gave New York 41 points out of a possible 100, a letter grade of “F” and a ranking of 37 out of the 50 states.
A 2002 study, Freedom of Information in the USA, conducted by IRE and BGA, ranked New York’s law as the 29th worst in the country, giving it a letter grade of D+
Changes in 2008
Several provisions that modernize and clarify FOIL went into effect on August 7, 2008.
The changes include limits on fees that can be charged individuals for electronic records, provisions regarding large requests, and for new records created from electronic information systems.
A new subparagraph clarifies that access to records to ascertain the fairness of real property tax assessments is not an invasion of others’ privacy.
When government agencies install new information management systems, they are now legally required to build systems that provide maximum public access.
The declared legal intention of the FOIL states:
“The legislature hereby finds that a free society is maintained when government is responsive and responsible to the public, and when the public is aware of governmental actions. The more open a government is with its citizenry, the greater the understanding and participation of the public in government.
As state and local government services increase and public problems become more sophisticated and complex and therefore harder to solve, and with the resultant increase in revenues and expenditures, it is incumbent upon the state and its localities to extend public accountability wherever and whenever feasible.
The people’s right to know the process of governmental decision-making and to review the documents and statistics leading to determinations is basic to our society. Access to such information should not be thwarted by shrouding it with the cloak of secrecy or confidentiality. The legislature therefore declares that government is the public’s business and that the public, individually and collectively and represented by a free press, should have access to the records of government in accordance with the provisions of this article.”
NYS Department Of State Committee On Open Government Website
http://www.dos.ny.gov/coog/foil2.html
Sources:
Better Government Association
The Better Government Association (BGA) is a nonprofit based in Illinois. It was founded in 1923 to fight the influence of the Al Capone mob. It describes itself as “an independent, nonpartisan government watchdog group committed to fighting waste, corruption and inefficiency in government.”
As of 2008, BGA was seeking federal subpoenas issued during the first six months of 2006 to Governor Blagojevich’s office. The organization’s right to the subpoenas has been upheld by both an Illinois trial court and a court of appeals.
Research
Studies and reports
The organization conducts investigations and publishes policy guidelines and research.
In 2008, the BGA released the Integrity Index, which “ranks all fifty states on the strength of their laws relating to transparency, ethics, and accountability in government.” In 2007, BGA collaborated with the National Freedom of Information Coalition on a 50-state study that graded responsiveness in each of the 50 states to FOI requests.
Also in 2008, BGA launched the “Clout Fairy Blog” where news analysis and some of the opinions of the BGA are posted.
In 2002, BGA collaborated with Investigative Reporters and Editors on a 50-state study called Freedom of Information in the USA that ranked theFOIA laws in each of the 50 states.
Contact information
Better Government Association
223 West Jackson, Suite 620
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 427-8330
Fax: (312) 386-9203
BGA Website:
http://www.bettergov.org/
National Freedom of Information Coalition
The National Freedom of Information Coalition (NFOIC) is a national nonprofit based in Missouri. It describes itself as protecting “the public’s right to oversee its government.” It was founded in 1989 in Dallas, Texas as the National Freedom of Information Assembly, and its first board was appointed in Washington at the organization’s founding congress in January, 1992.
NFOIC’s works toward its goal by:
Starting up and support citizen-driven state FOI and First Amendment organizations.
Foster the exchange of information through networking and its annual conference.
Providing a collective voice for state FOI groups at the national level.
Assisting fundraising efforts of state organizations, and
Exploring issues and making recommendations for individual state actions or collective national action.
In 2007, NFOIC collaborated with the Better Government Association on a 50-state study that graded responsiveness in each of the 50 states to FOI requests.
NFOIC’S Website:
http://www.nfoic.org/
Investigative Reporters and Editors
Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) is a national nonprofit founded in 1975 that came together out of a core group of seasoned investigative journalists who wanted a way to enable training, support and collaboration in the community of journalists who focus on investigative work. The group’s mission statement says that they “foster excellence in investigative journalism, which is essential to a free society.”
The first national IRE conference was held in 1976 in Indianapolis, and attended by 300 reporters.
Programs
Assessing FOI laws
In 2002, IRE collaborated with the Better Government Association on a 50-state study called Freedom of Information in the USA that ranked the FOIA laws in each of the fifty states.
Computer-assisted reporting
IRE offers several conferences and bootcamps every year on computer-assisted reporting (CAR). The bootcamps teach participants “how to analyze data using spreadsheets and databases, map data, or use statistical analysis in your work.”
Watchdog workshops
IRE offers three workshops on “acting as a watchdog on government and business”:
Unleashing the Watchdogs. These workshops are sponsored in a collaboration with the American Society of Newspaper Editors, are targeted at midlevel editors, and teach them how to “conceive of, manage and produce watchdog journalism on a daily, beat and long-term basis.”
Better Watchdogs. This series of workshops is designed for reporters at small-to medium-sized media outlets and teaches “the investigative skills to produce enterprising and informative stories that keep government and business accountable.”
Ethnic Media Watchdogs. In collaboration with New America Media, this workshop is for “journalists working for ethnic news organizations” and teaches “how to find documents, databases and sources for topics such as education, immigration, homeland security, criminal justice, labor, and local government.”
IRE Website
http://www.ire.org/about/
American Society of News Editors
The American Society of News Editors is a 501(c)(7) association of editors based in Columbia, Mo. The group aims to represent American news editors and encourage “fair, principled journalism,” according to its website, and it has several committees and programs, such as Sunshine Week, to support its work.
Mission
According to its website, American Society of News Editors’ mission consists of the following:
“ The American Society of News Editors is dedicated to the leadership of American journalism. It is committed to fostering the public discourse essential to democracy; helping editors maintain the highest standards of quality, improve their craft and better serve their communities; and preserving and promoting core journalistic values, while embracing and exploring change
Background
Renaissance Blackstone Hotel, formerly known as Blackstone Hotel, in Chicago, Ill.
American Society of News Editors, first known as the American Society of Newspaper Editors, was founded by Casper Yost, then-editor of the St. Louis Globe Democrat, in 1922.
According to ASNE’s website, Yost had started to develop the idea for an association of newspaper editors in 1912, and was inspired to create the organization after two articles criticizing the news media were published in theAtlantic Monthly in January 1922. A month later, ASNE’s first meeting was held at the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago.
In 1979, American Society of News Editors began to recognize journalistic achievement with its annual ASNE Awards, showcasing the best in print, online and mobile content for nine different categories: Batten Medal, Burl Osborne Award for Editorial Leadership, Deborah Howell Award for Nondeadline Writing, Dori J. Maynard Award for Diversity in Journalism, Frank A. Blethen Award for Local Accountability Reporting, Mike Royko Award for Commentary/Column Writing, Punch Sulzberger Award for Online Storytelling, Breaking News Writing and Community Service Photojournalism Award.
The name of the group was changed from American Society of Newspaper Editors to American Society of News Editors in 2009.Leadership
Below is a list of American Society of News Editors, as of January 2016:
Pam Fine, President (Knight Chair for News, Leadership and Community at The University of Kansas)
Mizell Stewart III, Vice President (Managing Director, Content at Journal Media Group)
Alfredo Carbajal, Secretary (Managing Editor at Al Dia (The Dallas Morning News))
Nancy Barnes, Treasurer (Editor at Houston Chronicle)
Debra Adams Simmons (Advance Local, Cleveland)
Lucy Dalglish (Philip Merril College of Journalism, University of Maryland)
Manny Garcia (Naples Daily News)
Anders Gyllenhaal (McClatchy Washington Bureau)
Mandy Jenkins (Storyful)
Brian McGrory (The Boston Globe)
Karen Magnuson (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)
Michael Oreskes (NPR)
Chris Peck (The Riverton Ranger)
Karen Peterson (The News Tribune)
Emily Ramshaw (The Texas Tribune)
Mark Russell (The Memphis Commercial Appeal)
Rene Sanchez (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
George Stanley (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Joyce Terhaar (The Sacramento Bee)
Robyn Tomlin (The Dallas Morning News)
Lauren Williams (Vox.com)
Anne Vasquez (Sun Sentinel)American Society of News Editors Website
http://asne.org/
Sunshine Week
Sunshine Week is an annual event sponsored by the American Society of News Editors. Its purpose is to educate the public about the importance of open government. “Though spearheaded by journalists, Sunshine Week is about the public’s right to know what its government is doing, and why. Sunshine Week seeks to enlighten and empower people to play an active role in their government at all levels, and to give them access to information that makes their lives better and their communities stronger.”
Origin
Sunshine Week started in Florida in 2002 when the press and the public mobilized to defeat state legislators’ attempts to create hundreds of exemptions from the state’s public records laws.
Sunshine Week Website:
http://www.sunshineweek.org/
More Information;
http://nyfoi.org/index.php/nys-transparency-report-card/
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