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2008 FOI Summit in Philadelphia

They're a less patient lot in the United States where last week the National Freedom of Information Coalition held the 2008 FOI Summit, with what sounds like a great program, and a call to arms to fight for First Amendment rights in a keynote speech by Toni Locy, who faces a $5000 fine for every day she refuses to reveal her sources for stories about the 2001 anthrax attacks in the US. (Thanks to Charles Davis for the lead).

A former investigative reporter Ted Gup told participants that "journalists need to do a better job of explaining to readers why they should be concerned about expanding ''secretocracy'' in government and how it directly affects their lives

Proceedings included an FOI Hero award for Bill Chamberlin of the Marion Brechner Citizen Access Project.

Those pushing for change here might have all benefited from this panel discussion:

Coalition Care and Feeding?How do you keep that fledgling FOI group going, or take the next step? Join veterans of the FOI game who have "been there, done that" for tips on sustainability.

Full post as published by Open and Shut on May 12, 2008 (boomark / email).