Despite isolated incidents and the expected tensions between the incoming administration and the press, President Obama has ended
The Berkeley community is asking whether a closed meeting about the achievement gap for minority students violates the Brown Act. -DB The Berkeley Daily Planet By Riya Bhattacharjee Jan. 29, 2009 The Berkeley Board of Education, at a public meeting Wednesday, unanimously approved a $50,000 contract with the non-profit Berkeley Alliance to oversee the process of developing a city-wide plan to close the achievement gap for minority students, as outlined by the 2020 Vision, a
Eric Holder says if he is confirmed as Attorney General, he will review current court cases challenging the Bush administration’s use of the state secrets privilege to make sure the secrecy designations are appropriate. -DB Secrecy News Federation of American Scientists Feb. 2, 2009 Attorney General-nominee Eric H. Holder, Jr. said that, if confirmed, he will review current litigation in which the Bush Administration has asserted the state secrets privilege and that he will seek
A panel at the American University law school agreed that it would take Obama some time to establish transparency. The administration got high marks on granting access to the activities of the transition team, but many obstacles remain including an outmoded computer system. -DB The Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press Jan. 30, 2009 By Hannah Bergman The Obama administration is striving for a more transparent government but faces a number of practical
A Slate writer praises Obama’s efforts to resurrect the Freedom of Information Act, but the next step is to improve government record keeping so government workers can actually find the documents requested by reporters and others. -DB Slate Jan. 29, 2009, at 1:28 PM ET By Fred Kaplan President Barack Obama’s decision last week to revive the Freedom of Information Act was a good first step toward fulfilling his campaign pledge for a “new era