Sunshine Week sheds light on governmental secrets

Dear News Executive,

Many Americans were inspired by the recent spectacle of Iraqi citizens defiantly turning out in droves to vote in national elections.

It was a reminder of the battles fought and sacrifices made to secure our own democratic freedoms.

Now one of those freedoms, the right of access to government information, is under attack.

As journalists, we see efforts to cut off access to government information on a daily basis.  The rationales range from security concerns to privacy

That’s why the American Society of Newspaper Editors is spearheading an initiative to focus on the public’s right to access government information.  The project, Sunshine Sunday and Sunshine Week: Your Right to Know, kicks off March 13 and continues through the following week.

We’re asking news executives in Texas to participate by publishing or airing editorials, op-eds, editorial cartoons, and news and feature stories that drive public discussion about why open government is important to everyone, not just to journalists.

If your organization is short on resources, we can help.  Several news organizations have agreed to post articles, editorial cartoons and op-ed pieces on the Sunshine Week Web site, at www.sunshineweek.org.  Feel free to republish any article that fits your needs.  And, if you’re interested in material with Texas angles, just call us.

We ask you to please join us in participating in this event.  Together, we can raise awareness of the dangerous trends that are eroding the public’s right of access to government information.

Very truly yours,

Jeff Cohen, Editor

Steve Jetton,

Assistant Managing Editor

Houston Chronicle