Sunshine Week

Shining Examples: Gallery Seven

The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio: The Plain Dealer launched a week's worth of open government coverage in print and on its Web site with articles and editorials that carried readers through the week. On Monday, the paper produced a special feature that explained what a public record is and helped readers understand how they can access government information. To promote Sunshine Week, The Plain Dealer incorporated the Sunshine Week poster created by The Buffalo News into a house ad.

Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal: Governor Freudenthal proclaimed March 11-17, 2006 as Sunshine Week in Wyoming. Noting that among the nation's founding liberties were the rights encompassed by the First Amendment, Freudenthal declared that, "the democratic process is built upon the rights of citizens to question and hold their elected officials accountable on their actions and motives while they are representing them."

The First Amendment Center: The First Amendment Center hosted its eighth annual National Freedom of Information Day at The Freedom Forum World Headquarters in Arlington, Va. Panels looked at the impact of a recent executive order regarding FOIA; the difficulties facing whistleblowers; and a legislative review of access issues. In addition, 21 "champions of open government" were inducted into the National FOIA Hall of Fame.

The Journal News, White Plains, N.Y.: "It's time for another push," read The Journal News' Sunshine Week kickoff editorial. In a follow up to its 2005 FOI audit of local government offices, the paper found little change in police departments, which had been the worst offenders. Along with Sunshine Week reports, reporters' audit notebooks and a link to its special coverage last year, The Journal News posted online its interactive "Ten Steps to Getting Government Information."

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Sunshine Week Shining ExamplesGallery Six

The Sun, Lowell, Mass.: Each morning during Sunshine Week, readers of The Sun found the banner reading, "Today's news is brought to you by the First Amendment," across the front pages of their newspapers. "The response from readers was exceptional," said Editor Jim Campanini, adding that the paper is considering whether to include the message as a permanent feature of its editorial page.

The San Diego (Calif.) Union-Tribune: The San Diego Union-Tribune integrated its print and online coverage, providing Sunshine Week articles in the newspaper, while linking to other resources for research and information via its Web site. "Throughout these pages this week, we will bring focus to your right—an individual's right—to access government," explained Editor Karin Winner in a front-page letter to readers.

Gannett Co. Inc., McLean, Va.: Gannett's NewsWatch newsletter profiled the efforts of some of the company's newspapers and its news service during Sunshine Week. "The work ranged from surveys of government agencies to see how accessible public records are, to a forum in Shreveport on the Patriot Act," wrote news executive Ann Clark in the roundup. "There were primers on how to access records and dozens of editorials and columns."

The League of Women Voters, Washington: The League of Women Voters announced its Sunshine Week plans the previous November, with the launch of its "Openness in Government: Looking for the Sunshine" project. With funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the League selected 14 chapters to host community forums in conjunction with a national teleconference. LWV also produced a resource guide for local chapters.

View previous gallery postings here.