Government obfuscation in the face of requests for public records can be irritating. At times, maddening.
Tag: FOIA
Are governments with stronger FOI laws also more corrupt? A new study challenges “good government” assumptions.
Does a well-enforced freedom-of-information law lead to more honest government?Intuition says "of course," but a newly released study by a University of Missouri researcher challenges that assumption.Doctoral student Edson C.
TRANSPARENCY TUESDAY: Federal appeals court puts a stop to the “FOIA death spiral”
For years, federal agencies have been freezing journalists in public-records purgatory with a maddening tactic: The "thanks for your request, we'll respond to it (someday)" letter.It's the bureaucratic equivalent of the spinning beach ball of death, and twice as frustrating.Getting the "non-response response" letter trapped the requester in a no-win predicament.
TRANSPARENCY TUESDAY: Journalists requesting public records from colleges are being treated like dogs. This Sunshine Week, it’s time to unleash some shame.
A federal privacy law meant to safeguard student grades, transcripts and disciplinary files continues being misapplied to obstruct public accountability, even where no legitimate privacy interests are at stake.Exhibit A is the University of Oklahoma's stubborn insistence that parking tickets are "confidential education records" under FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
South Carolina Supreme Court rules school district violated open-records statute
SOUTH CAROLINA -- The state supreme court ruled Monday that a school district violated the state Freedom of Information Act when it refused to release information about final candidates for a superintendent position.
If you can't beat 'em, sue 'em
In Kentucky and Florida, two universities seem to be exhausting all options to keep public records from their student papers – including suing their students.