First Amendment News

An editorial in The Taft Independent in Kern County reminds the readers that open government laws protect the right of citizens to participate in governance. The editorial cited the instance in which the local water board took action on issues not on the agenda. –DB The Taft Independent Editorial April 24, 2009 A few weeks ago, the attorney for the West Kern Water Board made a very public apology for failing to keep the board

A current bill in the California legislature would exempt two types of reports from disclosure under open government laws, specifically those on broker-initiated activity and certain examinations or audits. -DB CalAware April 21, 2009 PUBLIC INFORMATION — Real estate reporters and other watchdogs take note: a bill moving through the Legislature on the regulation of mortgage loan originators calls for two kinds of report that would be exempt from disclosure under the California Public Records

The blogger “Minerva” was ruled not to have maliciously spread false information on economic matters. The South Korean government had tried to convict him of damaging the public’s faith in the government. –DB The New York Times April 21, 2009 By Choe Sang-Hun SEOUL, South Korea — A blogger who criticized and angered the South Korean government but commanded a huge following online was freed from jail on Monday, after a court acquitted him of

To help citizens understand the complex information on the bailout posted on the government website, a coalition of open government and economic policy groups has set up a website with information and expert commentary. -DB Project on Government Oversight April 20, 2009 By Michael Smallberg Even though the Treasury Department recently revamped its website for the Financial Stability Plan, it would probably take an advanced degree in finance to truly understand what the government is

After a federal judge in Detroit ruled that Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter David Ashenfelter does not have to reveal his sources for a story about a failed terrorism prosecution, The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press issued a press release asserting the urgent need for a shield law to protect reporters and their sources so that reporters can confidently investigate matters of vital public interest. -DB The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press April