Posts Tagged ‘government secrecy’
Behind the Story: The Boston Globe’s 4-year battle for secret settlement records
Boston Globe reporter Todd Wallack thought it would be a simple, short-term project to look into settlements made between the state of Massachusetts and some of its employees. After all, he’d done the same thing in California, uncovering an agreement between UC Davis and one of its administrators to avert a nasty lawsuit. But the…
Read MoreFOIA Machine sees early success on Kickstarter
On July 16, a team of journalists and developers launched a Kickstarter campaign for a project called FOIA Machine. They asked for $17,500 to build a tool to help journalists and citizens request public information — a “TurboTax for government records,” the team called it. Two days later, they passed that goal. A week later,…
Read MoreThe Obama administration’s war on leaks
// Leonard Downie Jr, far right, moderates the showcase panel entitled “The government’s war on leaks” with (l-r) Michael Oreskes of the Associated Press, Lucy Dalglish of the Phillip Merrill College of Journalism, author James Bamford and independent journalist Quinn Norton. Photo: Travis Hartman. The Obama administration’s war on leaks didn’t start with Edward Snowden.…
Read MoreHow journalists can work with whistleblowers and protect sources
Leonard Downie Jr, far right, moderates the 2013 IRE Conference’s showcase panel with, Michael Oreskes of the Associated Press, Lucy Dalglish of the Phillip Merrill College of Journalism, author James Bamford and journalist Quinn Norton. The panel was one of several at the conference focused on leaks and whistleblowers. Photo by Travis Hartman. By Perla…
Read MoreDay two of the IRE Conference, in pictures
Day two of the IRE Conference in San Antonio featured the event’s showcase panel, “The Government’s War on Leaks”. IRE board member Leonard Downie Jr. moderated a panel featuring Michael Oreskes of the Associated Press, Lucy Dalglish of the Phillip Merrill College of Journalism, author James Bamford, and independent journalist Quinn Norton. The panelists discussed NSA…
Read MoreGetting Past “No” when government pushes back
By Kathryn Sharkey “How many people in here have filed federal information requests … and how many of you have been told no?” The room, during the panel “Getting past ‘No’ when government pushes back” on Friday of the IRE Conference, was filled with raised hands and chuckles as Jack Gillum from the Associated Press…
Read MoreJustice Department seizure of AP phone records has dangerous implications
The Justice Department’s seizure of telephone records from editors and reporters of The Associated Press was an attack against a free press with dangerous implications for the ability of journalists to gather information, the president of Investigative Reporters and Editors said Tuesday. “This is what police states do, not governments of the people,” IRE Board President…
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