SPJ Freedom of Information Act
What is FOIA?
This is the watchdog of press freedoms across the United States. FOI relies upon a network of volunteers in each state organized under Project Sunshine. The SPJ members are on the front lines for assaults to the First Amendment and when lawmakers attempt to restrict the public's access to documents and the government's business. The FOI committee is then called upon to intervene in instances where the media is restricted.
Learn more about FOI Audits and the national SPJ FOI Committee.
Shield Law
To help protect journalists and their sources, 49 of 50 states each have adopted state level Shield Laws to help keep the government from forcing a journalist to provide testimony or produce documents without first showing the need to do so by a "preponderance of evidence."
People covered by the shield are those "engaged in journalism." Journalism is defined as "the gathering, preparing, collecting, photographing, recording, writing, editing, reporting or publishing of news and information for dissemination to the public."
Journalists can be compelled to reveal the identity of confidential sources when the court finds it necessary to prevent "imminent and actual harm to national security" or "imminent death or significant bodily harm." Journalists also may be compelled to identify a person who has disclosed trade secrets, health information or nonpublic personal information of any consumer in violation of current law.
Learn more about the Shield Law Campaign for a Federal Shield Law.
Project Sunshine
Project Sunshine is most important for working reporters and editors, the people who need it most.
Project Sunshine focuses the attention of SPJ chapters and leaders on Freedom of Information problems, issues, needs and solutions at the local, chapter and state level. State sunshine chairs are leaders in access debates across the nation. Project Sunshine has the greatest impact when organization and collaboration are addressed at the chapter and state levels.
Goals of Project Sunshine
- Organize state and local Freedom of Information efforts.
- Turn that organization into a local, state and national network that can be mobilized for any access battle.
- Increase membership, renew the commitment to FOIA and promote SPJ.
- Raise money needed to support those effort.
Local Project Sunshine Information