With Sunshine Week only about two weeks away, it looks like we're going to have unprecedented participation by newspapers, television, radio and online.
In just the past few days we've heard from literally scores of news organizations that are planning ambitious and innovative coverage. If your organization has yet to gear up, the time is NOW. As you know, many ideas are contained in our 72-page booklet titled "Bright Ideas for Sunshine Week 2006." It's available online at: http://www.sunshineweek.org/sunshineweek/brightideas06.
We're also expanding our range of participants this year, particularly among civic groups such as the League of Women Voters, and libraries and schools.
Here's some of what's new this week:
New print ads: New print ads can be downloaded from at www.sunshineweek.org/sunshineweek/ads06. There are two versions of the ad, one with space for your logo/name and the other with just the Sunshine Week logo. Both ads are available in color and black and white. We've also posted an evergreen "Your Right to Know" ad which can be used all year, and small filler ads. (http://www.sunshineweek.org/sunshineweek/ads06)
Opinion columns: Opinion columns, which you can use free of charge, are being posted as they come in. To date, we have submissions from Hodding Carter, Robert Freeman, Lee H. Hamilton, Sen. Richard Lugar, Rep. Mike Pence. This year, we've added headshots of the contributors, which you can download and use with the column. (http://www.sunshineweek.org/sunshineweek/toolkits#Opinion%20Columns)
Other resources: Under library resources, we've created some Sunshine Week and Your Right to Know bookmarks, which can be printed on card stock or heavy paper. There's also a new library flier available. (http://www.sunshineweek.org/sunshineweek/toolkits#Library%20Resources)
On the horizon are:
Broadcast PSAs: Television and radio public service ads produced in conjunction with the RTNDA and distributed by a special NAB satellite feed. Radio ads also will be available on the Sunshine Week Web site.
Graphics: Informational graphics from Knight Ridder/Tribune Graphics will be available at no cost to all Sunshine Week participants.
Cartoons: Editorial cartoons from members of the American Society of Editorial Cartoonists
Public opinion survey: The results of a public opinion survey by the Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University will be released during Sunshine Week.
Podcasts: The team and J-Ideas has produced several podcasts about open government issues in general and with specific focus on young people. They will be available for download from the Sunshine Week Web site.
More opinion columns: More submissions are coming in from several U.S. senators and congressmen on FOIA reform and overclassification; and others with topics including from the environment to FOI training for public officials, access to government databases, FOI history, and more
Sunshine Week events: Sunshine Week events in Washington include National FOI Day at the First Amendment Center, a national teleforum on secrecy broadcast to sites nationwide, separate programs at the Brookings Institution and Heritage Foundation. There also are myriad regional forums planned around the country. Please let us know if you have anything planned.
Thanks for all your continued good work to motivate and excite your colleagues and others interested in open government issues.
Andy Alexander
Chairman, ASNE FOI Committee
Washington Bureau Chief, Cox Newspapers
aalexander@coxnews.com
Debra Gersh Hernandez
Coordinator, Sunshine Week
dghernandez@asne.org
