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Sunshine Week 2012

The Reporters Committee joins the American Society of News Editors as a national co-sponsor of Sunshine Week 2012, March 11-17, which will celebrate the importance of open government. Awards will be presented to the "Local Heroes" who have fought for access to information in their communities.

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Digital Journalist's Legal Guide

Everything online journalists need to protect their legal rights can be found in the Digital Journalist's Legal Guide. This free resource culls from all Reporters Committee resources and includes exclusive content on digital media law issues.

Open Government Guide

The OGG is a comprehensive overview of open records and open meetings laws in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Users can cross-reference and compare the laws in different states or simply get an in-depth analysis of one state.

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Gawker: Nassau County, NY police department appeals court order to release Bill O'Reilly communications http://t.co/Dm4D4YhJ
U-T San Diego reports pro golfer Phil Mickelson seeking identity of Canadian who defamed him online http://t.co/RlV7Flsq
Language in NY anti-#cyberbullying bill may be "too vague." http://t.co/CS6Ddn4j l via @1stAmendmentCtr #FirstAmendment

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The 2007 Moonlight forest fire
The Sacramento Bee has won access to documents in litigation related to a 2007 forest fire.
L.A. judge opens juvenile courts to news organizations
02/03/2012
Los Angeles County Juvenile Court proceedings will be open to regular media coverage, but not to the public, unless a compelling case is made to close it, the court’s presiding judge ruled this week. Prior to the ruling by Judge Michael Nash,...
Federal court rules to keep Calif. fire documents public
02/02/2012
A federal trial court in California granted a newspaper's request for documents in a civil lawsuit involving a 2007 forest fire that burned down tens of thousands of acres northeast of Sacramento, ruling that the writings became public records...
Promises of confidentiality require sealing of Prop. 8 video
02/02/2012
Video recordings of the contentious trial that struck down California’s ban on same-sex marriage will likely not be released to the public after all, following a federal appellate court’s reversal today of a lower court’s finding...
FBI FOIA response was official confirmation of informant's status
02/01/2012
The FBI cannot cite an exclusion provision related to confidential informants under the federal Freedom of Information Act regarding a request for records about civil rights era photographer Ernest Withers after the bureau was found to have...
Appeals court restricts records access for non-Virginians
02/01/2012
The U.S. Court of Appeals in Richmond (4th Cir.) today ruled that out-of-state records requesters have no right to receive public records from Virginia agencies. Out-of state news organizations may submit requests, but only if they have circulation...

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The Place to Start

The Digital Journalist's Legal Guide has the answers and links to Reporters Committee resources for all your questions about the legal issues involved in gathering and disseminating news.

FOIA Services

Find everything you need to file a public record request, including the Reporters Committtee Automatic FOIA Letter Generator and links to our federal and state Open Government Guides.

 

 

Our Mission

To protect the right to gather and distribute news; to keep government accountable by ensuring access to public records, meetings and courtrooms; and to preserve the principles of free speech and unfettered press, as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.