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FREEDOM OF INFORMATION


These websites offer a variety of "Freedom-of-Information" (FOI) issues with different emphases and perspectives. Some sites are solely concerned with access to government records/information on federal and state levels. Most are non-partisan and/or nonprofit.  Some sites, in addition to FOI issues, address the related topics of censorship, the First Amendment and press-freedom.  See also JWU Library's PRIVACY RIGHTS and PUBLIC INTEREST ORGANIZATIONS.


Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

•  "A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to the global defense of press freedom," the CPJ works "... worldwide by defending the right of journalists to report the news without fear of reprisal"
•  Issues alerts/news about press-freedom issues around the world
•  "Funded by contributions from individual corporations, and foundations; ... does not accept government funding"
•  "Board of Directors" includes prominent broadcast and print journalists
•  "Related Links" to press-freedom/human rights organizations
•  Searchable
•  Includes information on CPJ membership, initiatives/projects, publications
•  Parts of the site are available in Spanish
•  One of the foremost sites currently online for advocacy of global press-freedom


Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)

•  "The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) was created to defend our rights to think, speak and share our ideas, thoughts and needs using new technologies, such as the Internet and the World Wide Web"
•  One of the first organizations to advocate for online civil liberties, EFF is involved in a variety of initiatives/programs relating to freedom-of-information and censorship issues
•  "Hot Topics" provides annotated links to sites for the following: online activism/government, censorship/free speech, intellectual property/fair use, privacy/security, infrastructure, online community
•  "Active EFF Legal Cases and Efforts" highlights EFF's legal initiatives
•  Includes membership information, newsletter sign-up, "What's New," calendar of events
•  Dedicated to "... Defending Freedom in the Digital Age," EFF is one of the foremost and informative sites for analysis/news for "... digital civil liberties information"


First Amendment Center (FAC)

•  This center, located at Vanderbilt University, is also affiliated with the "Freedom Forum" (please see below) and "... aspires to become the preeminent clearinghouse for information concerning the five First Amendment freedoms" and "... works to preserve and protect First Amendment freedoms through information and education"
•  "Topics" links to over 80 essays/resources for First Amendment issues; essays are written by FAC columnists and contributing legal experts
•  Annotated "Related Links" to numerous civil-liberties, religious freedom and press-freedom sites
•  Weekly commentary ("Inside the First Amendment) by FAC columnists
•  Includes information of FAC programs, initiatives
•  Frequently updated; searchable
•  Excellent source for current news, analysis and commentary


FOIAdvocates

•  Sponsored by Bahr & Stotter Law Offices, P.C.
•  "Designed to assist the public in gaining access to records from federal, state and local governments using the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as well as state and local public records laws"
•  Offers an in-depth analysis of FOIA, including procedures for making information requests, exemptions from the Act, appeals/litigation guidelines; includes sample request and appeals forms
•  Links to state public records laws
•  "Links and Resources" link to public interest sites and government sites (including FOI homepages for specific federal agencies)
•  One of the best sites for understanding the FOIA


Free Expression Network Clearinghouse (FENC)

•  Sponsored by Free Expression Network (FEN), "an alliance of organizations dedicated to protecting the First Amendment right of free expression and the values it represents, and to opposing governmental efforts to suppress constitutionally protected speech"
•  Links to news for the following topics: censorship, free speech, civil liberties-related legislation, courts cases; archived
•  "Resources" links to membership information, other sites with common interests, government sites, publications, newsgroups, discussion forums, mailing lists, events
•  Probably the foremost site for news and certainly one of the best for interaction for those interested in topics covered by this site


Freedom Forum (FF)

•  "The Freedom Forum is a nonpartisan foundation dedicated to free press, free speech and free spirit for all people"
•  Links to over 60 associations/centers/organizations concerned with First Amendment issues, religious liberty, freedom of the press, and "newsroom diversity"
•  Most of FF's publications are free, including the 2002 Annual Report
•  Includes information on FF's programs, events, news, webcasts
•  Excellent; best features of this site are its news coverage and links (which include excellent annotations)


Freedom of Information Center (FIC)

•  Sponsored by the University of Missouri School of Journalism
•  The FIC's goal is "... to serve the general public and the media on questions regarding access to government documents and information"
•  Presently houses "... a collection of more than 1 million articles and documents about access to information at the state, federal and local levels, in addition to a wide collection of online documents accessible through its webpage"
•  "Historical Files Index" links to specific cases dealing with press freedom (includes Supreme Court decisions)
•  Links to numerous organizations dealing with FOI, civil liberties, press freedom, and related issues
•  Links to international and state FOI laws
•  Online newsletter available
•  Probably the most comprehensive site dealing with FOI issues, and certainly one of the best; easy-to-navigate


Freedominfo.org

•  Freedominfo.org "... is the online institutional memory of freedom of information campaigns throughout the world"
•  Serves as a clearinghouse for analysis/news of FOI laws and related activities worldwide
•  "Country Pages," authored by David Banisar (Privacy International) examines these laws and their implementation in 65 countries
•  Links to FOI organizations, media and human rights sites; excellent annotations
•  Also links to information policies of "IFTIS (International Finance and Trade Institutions)"
•  Excellent; one of the best sites for determining government FOI policies (or lack of them)


National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC)

•  "An alliance of 50 national non-profit organizations including literary, artistic, religious, educational, professional, labor, and civil liberties groups," which "... work to educate our own members and the public at large about the dangers of censorship and how to oppose them"
•  Reports on current censorship-related news via "Censorship News" (archived from 1995) and "Action Alerts"
•  "NCAC on the Issues" links to online resources for 19 censorship-related topics in government, artistic, academic and other issues; links for each topic may include "NCAC Views and Articles" (which include letters, press releases), books, legal briefs, additional information
•  Also links to government resources, organizations, listservs/electronic mailing lists, usenet groups
•  Includes information on membership, special projects, publications, including "Free Expression After September 11: An Online Index"
•  One of the best sites for bringing censorship-issues news together in one place and for reporting on specific topics which are not readily available elsewhere


National Freedom of Information Coalition (NFOIC)

•  NFOIC is a national coalition of FOI/First Amendment organizations which "... seeks to protect the public's right to know through the education of media professionals, attorneys, academics, students and the general public"
•  This "loose affiliation of [the] member state organizations ... assists its own members through joint fundraising, project planning, and the interchange of ideas and information"
•  Links to individual state's FOI information (open meetings/records laws, contact information for state bar association/attorney general's office, state publications, when available)
•  Includes information on NFOIC's annual conference, membership, news/press releases, project funding
•  One of the best — if not the best — sites for bringing state FOI information together in one place; great as a clearinghouse and incubator for FOI organizations nationwide


Project on Government Secrecy (PGS)

•  Sponsored by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS); maintained by Steven Aftergood
•  "Through research, advocacy, and public education, the FAS Project on Government Secrecy works to challenge excessive government secrecy and to promote public oversight"
•  "Documents" links to the following federal agencies/departments concerned with secrecy/security issues: Congress, the "Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)," Information Security Oversight Office
•  Links to government secrecy documents/policies of the Clinton and Bush administrations
•  "Security News" e-mail subscription available (it's free); archived from 2000 to the present
•  "Other Government Secrecy Related Websites" link to related federal sites and non-governmental sites
•  Provides information on membership, FAS initiatives/projects, publications, press releases
•  Excellent; one of the best — if not the best — current sites for government secrecy issues


Public Knowledge (PK)

•  "Public Knowledge is a new public-interest advocacy organization dedicated to fortifying and defending a vibrant information commons"; works with a variety of business, educational, consumer and public-interest groups
•  Encourages the "free flow" of ideas, information and opinions, regarding intellectual property issues," "an Internet that is built on open standards and protocols," and "protecting consumers of digital technology"
•  "Issues" include copyright, DMCRA, P2P networks, public domain
•  Each "Issue" includes an introduction, news/commentary, articles/papers/speeches, press releases; some also link to "Tools/Resources," organizations, legislation
•  One of the most comprehensive and best sites dealing with FOI issues in the digital age


Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP)

•  "A nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free legal assistance to journalists since 1970," the RCFP is also involved with educating the public on FOI issues
•  Its "Steering Committee" includes prominent broadcast and print journalists
•  "The Latest News," updated regularly, links to relevant news stories on FOI, libel, newsgathering, prior restraints, privacy
•  "Publications" include guides/reports on access to electronic records (and other access issues), state laws pertaining to taping phone conversations, privacy issues, using the FOIA Act; most of these can be downloaded and are also available for purchase for a small cost
•  "Operates solely on donations and the sale of publications"
•  Includes "First Amendment Handbook," a guide to 10 topics of interest to free-press issues
•  While the primary emphasis on this excellent site is for the advisement and assistance of journalists, much of the FOI information is of great value to anyone interested in this area


Websites discussed on this page are for informational purposes only. Johnson & Wales University Library is not responsible for the accuracy, content, or stability of any websites linked to this page.

Compiled by Rick Keogh 7/03; updated 10/03; links last checked 12/07

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