 Virginia Professional Chapter The Society of Professional Journalists |
Mission Statement: The mission of the Virginia Pro Chapter is to represent and bring together Virginia journalists on issues of importance to the profession to achieve fellowship, education, and support, and to improve our credibility with the public. |
May 25, 2007 Using FOIA promotes open-government reporting By M.K. Luther RICHMOND - The most powerful tool of the free press, the Freedom of Information Act, was the subject of “How I learned to live with FOIA” hosted by the Society of Professional Journalists at Virginia Commonwealth University on March 31. Virginia Coalition on Open Government executive director Frosty Landon described the Freedom of Information Act as a citizen's guarantee to government oversight. Landon stressed the importance of informing the public about the FOIA process and enforcing government compliance to maintain access. FOIA protects the public's right to open access to meetings and government records unless a specific exemption is applied. Government agencies must reply to requests within five days or face the penalty of fines. “A lot of government custodians plead ignorance and get away with it.” Landon said. Dick Hammerstrom, local news editor of Fredericksburg's Free Lance-Star offered advice on how to best utilize FOIA requests. “Be consistent in the way that you use it (FOIA.) Don't let one person get away with something and not another person.” Hammerstrom said. While there is a federal Freedom of Information Act statute, each state has individual laws with variations. Hammerstrom suggested using a state FOIA advisory committee, if one is available, to guide a person through filing a request. “The most important thing is to know the law in the state,” Hammerstrom said. “Nothing is worse than asking the wrong question and losing your credibility.” Virginia created a full time ombudsman to aid in requests. Many state agencies now require FOIA Web Sites. “They (governments) don't want to be embarrassed by further violations of the act.” Landon said. Bryan Sears, political editor for the Towson Times said the seminar provided him with ideas he would try to use in Baltimore County. “I took on FOIA issues as a general interest,” said Sears, “But it is the most important issue to all reporters.”
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