Kansas Freedom of
Information
Center
"A
popular Government without popular information or the means of
acquiring
it, is but a Prologue to A Farce or a Tragedy or perhaps both.
Knowledge
will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their
own Governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge
gives."- James Madison,
framer of the First Amendment, 1822
INTRODUCTION
Ever since the
Declaration of Independence listed access to government meetings and
records as key issues, open government has lived at the heart of our
democracy. The Kansas Professional Chapter of the Society of
Professional Journalists wants to maintain a tradition of helping
people "arm themselves with the power knowledge gives." Still,
all these years later, people sometimes find their government unwilling
to share the information it is required by law to provide. Here
you'll find useful tools in helping navigate the search for
public records.
KEYS FOR UNLOCKING OPEN
GOVERNMENT IN KANSAS
Requesting records:
Many agencies require written requests for records. We take the
guesswork out of what to write.
Know your rights: Believe it or
not, some government agencies don't obey the law when it comes to open
records. You should know your rights. Guides prepared by
Kansas Assistant Attorney General Theresa Marcel Nuckolls, is helpful
in understanding your rights.
- Click
here for to download .PDF files that explaing the Kansas Open
Records Act and Kansas Open Meetings Act.
Get help: The
Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government has a free
hotline for those who feel they are being denied their rights.
Making the case:
As
journalists and members of the public, it's important to remember the
importance of keeping records open. It's a freedom that, if not
exercised, we will lose. Recent administrations have tried to limit
access to important information. Here are
some reminders why openess is crucial to our democracy.
Non-deadline
questions: Email us with
questions and concerns.
Winner of the 2001
Sunshine Awards by the Society of Professional Journalists
[top]
NATIONAL SPJ RESOURCES
 Open
Doors:
Accessing Government Records: What would our
profession do without the ability to access information held by
government agencies? What would we do without state and federal Freedom
of Information laws? SPJ's Open Doors project is a comprehensive guide
not only to the Freedom of Information Act, but also to freedom of
information in general and how it applies to your work and even your
life.
|
 FOI
Toolkit: FOI Audits are a great way to monitor
FOI
compliance, build a group of journalists who have come up close and
personal with FOI laws and demonstrate, once and for all, the
weaknesses in state FOI laws. We've compiled everything you need to get
started: training, do's and don'ts, document ideas for your requests
and lots more. |
 Project
Sunshine: Project Sunshine is most important
and
visible to the people who need it the most: working reporters and
editors. 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 also are
leaders in national access debates. |
 FOI Centers: See a
state-by-state list of FOI Groups & academic centers. Presented by
the National Freedom of Information Coalition. |
|
MORE
HELP
JAMES MADISON
PROJECT: updates on FOI issues
REPORTERS COMMITTEE ON FREEDOM OF THE PRESS: Legal
updates and state-by-state laws
FREEDOM FORUM: the state of the First
Amendment.
NATIONAL FOI CENTER: A
valuable source, sponsored by the University of Missouri School of
Journalism.
THE
THOMAS JEFFERSON CENTER: First
Amendment watches, updates and the Jefferson Muzzles - annual awards
censuring
the censors (and yes, Kansans make the lists).
FOI
ADVOCATES: A project of the First Amendment lawyers at Bahr &
Stotter
Law Offices, P.C. in aiding the public
CITIZEN ACCESS PROJECT: From
the University of Florida's College of Journalism and Communication.
Its
goal is to compare and rate various open records laws from
state-to-state.
Anti-SLAPP: Protect Free Speech
Official Secrets Act
bill
FOI Groups
Annual FOI Reports
Links/Resources
Message Board
KANSAS SUNSHINE CHAIR
Ron Sylvester
Wichita Eagle
825 E. Douglas
P.O. Box 820
Wichita, KS 67201
Work: 316/268-6514
Fax: 316/268-6627
E-mail
NATIONAL
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CHAIRS
Joel Campbell, co-chair
360 BRMB
Dept. of Communications
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT 84602
Work:801/422-2125
Fax: 801/422-0160
E-mail
David Cuillier,
co-chair
Assistant Professor
Department of Journalism
University of Arizona
Marshall Building, Room 323
Tucson, AZ 85721-0158
Work: 520/626-9694
Fax: 520/621-7557
E-mail
Robert Leger, co-chair
Assistant Editorial
Page Editor
Scottsdale Republic
16277 Greenway-Hayden Loop
Suite 200
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
E-mail
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