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Coalition News

Bert Robinson, veteran reporter, editor and open government advocate joins FAC Board

FAC January 4, 2013

We are pleased to welcome Bert Robinson to the FAC Board of Directors. Robinson is managing editor of content for the Bay Ara News Group overseeing the San Jose Mercury News, Contra Costa Times and Oakland Tribune. “Bert is a life-long newspaper man having worked for the Mercury News since graduating from the Columbia University journalism program,” FAC Board Member James Chadwick said in nominating Robinson to the board. “More importantly for FAC, I’ve not

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FAC lawsuit leads to model CPRA policy for dot-gov email

FAC December 23, 2012

Auburn and San Jose are the first cities in California to adopt policies acknowledging the public’s right of access to city officials’ emails about government business–regardless of the kind of email accounts used to send or receive those emails. Emails have long been covered by California’s Public Records Act (PRA), which treats paper records the same as digital records. But public officials wishing to avoid the PRA–often the same officials who most loudly proclaim their

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FAC & Reporters Committee file briefs in Apple v. Samsung secrecy appeal

Peter Scheer October 16, 2012

The First Amendment Coalition on Monday filed an amicus brief in an appeal of a secrecy ruling in the Apple v. Samsung patent infringement litigation. FAC is participating to defend the trial judge’s ruling directing the unsealing of certain confidential financial records filed under seal by both Apple and Samsung. Also filed Monday: a media amicus brief prepared by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and submitted on behalf of the New York

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Brown signs “Richard McKee bill” to tighten Brown Act enforcement

FAC October 14, 2012

The measure strengthening the public’s ability to enforce the Brown Act was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown last week. Known as the “Richard McKee Act,” the legislation allows members of the public to send local government bodies a cease-and-desist letter if they believe government agencies have violated the Brown Act. The government agency can avoid a court case if it makes a clear commitment to stop the challenged behavior. If it refuses, it

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Governor Brown decides fate of open-government bills

FAC October 12, 2012

The Richard McKee Brown Act enforcement bill wasn’t the only open-government legislation to come before Governor Brown at the end of this legislative session.  Here’s what happened with the bills that FAC has been tracking this year: AB 1270: Governor Brown vetoed this bill that would have allowed journalists greater ability to request interviews  with prison inmates and allow journalists to use materials such as pens, papers, pencils and recording devices to conduct the interviews.

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