RTNDA and RTNDF are once again participating in Sunshine Week, an industry-wide effort by the news media to alert the public to the importance of open government and the right of access to public information.

Sunshine Week begins on Sunday, March 12. In addition to engaging the public through news coverage, editorials, political cartoons and other reporting, Sunshine Week is designed to shine a light on the public's right to access government information. It is meant to refocus attention on the Freedom of Information Act, and raise awareness of the dangers of increasing government secrecy.

Through a grant from the Knight Foundation and in partnership with the American Society of Newspaper Editors, we have produced television and radio PSAs on the importance of preserving open government. A 30-second radio spot is available on http://www.sunshineweek.org/sunshineweek/radioads06.

Instructions for downloading the 10-, 20- and 30-second television spots are available on http://www.rtnda.org/foi/psa_instructions.shtml. The PSAs contain appropriate disclosures as to their source, and the TV PSAs contain closed captioning.

Judy Woodruff anchors a 10-minute video on the history of the Freedom of Information Act to commemorate the 40th anniversary of FOIA on July 4. The video will be available during Sunshine Week on www.sunshineweek.org.

If your organization has yet to gear up, the time is now. Many good ideas are contained in the 72-page booklet "Bright Ideas for Sunshine Week 2006". It's available online at http://www.sunshineweek.org/sunshineweek/brightideas06. You can also link to the Sunshine Week website through the RTNDA web site http://www.rtnda.org/foi/sunshineweek.shtml.

For additional resources, events and opportunities to blog, visit Sunshine Week’s official site at www.sunshineweek.org or www.rtnda.org/foi/sunshineweek.shtml.

In addition to resources for working broadcasters, RTNDF offers material specifically designed for journalism educators and students.