Sunshine Week

Why the Fight for Open Government Matters

It started in February, under the banner headline, "Backroom Deals." The Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel blew the lid off a plan to appoint 12 county commissioners behind closed doors.

These appointees, by the way, included current commissioners' family members, campaign staff, and even a convicted crack dealer. They're all gone now.

Spurred on by overwhelming reader support, the News Sentinel stuck with the story.

The newspaper's leadership knew that the commissioners had ignored the state's open meetings law — and that they had to stand up and do something about it.

So under the name of editor Jack McElroy, as required by the state law, the newspaper filed a lawsuit, to challenge the closure.

Months of reporting and a trial followed and, despite a complex charge to the jury, it took only four hours of deliberation to find in favor of open government. Three days later, the 12 appointees were ordered to be removed from office.

"Our hope is that this victory will be a source of support to reporters everywhere and a reminder to public officials that the desire of citizens for open government cannot be denied," said McElroy.

"The McElroy decision is important because you have a judge and a jury rejecting the latest argument elected officials have invented to keep voters and taxpayers from seeing how they conduct the public’s business," said Frank Gibson, executive director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government.

Read more from the News Sentinel.

National Freedom of Speech Week Starts

The third week of October, from the 15th to the 21st, signals the start of National Freedom of Speech Week, a time when individuals and organizations mark the importance of this significant right.

The celebration was first launched in 2005 by The Media Institute and the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation. Many others — both within and outside the media — now participate.

During National Freedom of Speech Week, The Media Institute will present E.W. Scripps Co. President and CEO Kenneth W. Lowe with its Horizon Award. At the same awards dinner, former broadcast journalist and White House spokesman Tony Snow will be presented with the Freedom of Speech Award.

For more information, visit The Media Institute's National Freedom of Speech Web page.

Web Site Launched on Openness in Mexico

The National Security Archive's Mexico Project has published a collection of work produced during the first México Abierto. The publication was launched on the Mexico Project's Transparency and Freedom of Information Program's new Web page.

México Abierto is an open government initiative held during the same week in March as Sunshine Week in the U.S., and the two programs work closely together. The Consejo Ciudadano del Premio Nacional de Periodismo is a México Abierto partner.

In addition to the México Abierto book, the new transparency Web site includes photos, video clips and other news of open government forums and delegations in Mexico, and additional resources and reports.

The Archive's Mexico Project has been actively involved in the movement for freedom of information rights in Mexico since 2001. Its first success came with the enactment of a landmark freedom of information law in June 2002.