By Mark Brooks
This is the 7th Annual Sunshine Week and is being celebrated by lovers of open government all over the country. Started by the American Society of Newspaper Editors and supported through a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, it has become a popular event each year for those citizens who want to know more about open government, or are already open government activists.
I thought I would put some directions to more information here so you can go exploring the subject matter.
The Virginia Coalition for Open Government is in charge of festivities in Virginia. Their blog is also very useful.
This page from the Sunlight Foundation has some of the local activities in a few states, Virginia included.
Sunshine Week’s home on the web is a great place to find out who to ask about issues in open government.
The Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press (RCFP) is also participating in Sunshine week. Again, this is not all-US inclusive, just some locations featured. Information about open government and First Amendment rights can be found at this website.
I’ll finish up for Monday with a quote from an editorial from the Roanoke Times.
Roanoke Times: “If you really want to celebrate open government during Sunshine Week or any week, there’s no better way than exercising your right to ask your government for information.”
(As it turns out, barely Monday. Look for Sunshine Week articles all this week.)
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 