Update 8/5/05
August 5, 2005
The Reporters Committee, ASNE, IRE, NAA, RTNDA and SPJ, and eight other media organizations or companies filed a brief in the New York federal district court arguing that FOIA exemptions should not be used “to hide incendiary evidence of government misconduct.” The friend of court brief supported an earlier court decision directing the Defense Department to release photos related to Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse to the ACLU. The Defense Department refused and filed a partially sealed brief arguing that release of the materials could result in harm to U.S. citizens and military personnel overseas. A copy of the brief is available at www.rcfp.org/news/documents/20050804-amicusbrie.html.
CJOG and six members -- California First Amendment Coalition, National Press Club, National Freedom of Information Coalition, Society of Environmental Journalists
SPJ and RTNDA signed the letter prepared by the Reporters Committee to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales urging his review of the FOIA guidance memo sent out by his predecessor John Ashcroft, which encouraged federal agencies to carefully consider all FOIA exemptions before releasing government information.
There’s a short window if you have a question you’d like to see asked of Supreme Court nominee John Roberts on open government/First Amendment issues. ASNE counsel Kevin Goldberg, Kevin.Goldberg@cohnmarks.com is collecting suggested questions and will send them along to Senate staffers preparing for the Judiciary Committee hearing.
With members of Congress in its August recess, this may be a good time for journalists “back home” to ask congress members about their support for both a shield law (S 1419 and HR 3323) and the OPEN Government Act (S 394 and HR 867), which is designed to make the Freedom of Information Act work better. Senate Judiciary Committee support is critical on both the shield and FOIA reform bills. In the House, the Judiciary Committee holds the initial reins on the shield law; the Government Reform Committee will decide the fate of the OPEN Government Act. Background information on both bills is available on the CJOG website, www.cjog.net, in the Pending Legislation and Backgrounders sections.
Pete Weitzel
