How much has freedom of information legislation improved journalists' access to official public sources?

1. See No Evil Hear No Evil Speak No Evil Do No Evil ?

2. Speak Out

3. Freedom of Information Act

5. What is the Freedom of Information Act ? How it’s used by Journalists Case studies For and Against the FOI Act How Britain’s FOI Act compares to the World

6. Freedom of Information It came fully into effect in the UK in 2005 Enables us to request information about more than 100, 000 public authorities More than 50 countries have FoI legislation

7. Freedom of Information The first FoI law was passed in Sweden. The ruling party used it to access documents the previous government had kept secret

8. Freedom of Information Tim Hubbard News Editor at BBC Radio Cornwall

9. “ In circumstances when disclosure might be politically or administratively inconvenient, the balance struck by the government comes down, time and time again, against full disclosure.” The Right Honourable Richard Scott 1996

12. The Information Commissioner offers help to make Freedom of Information requests

13. An Open Book? It’s free to make a request Anyone can make a request, not just UK Citizens   You can e-mail or fax requests  New culture of openness? 

14. David Leigh Investigations Editor for The Guardian

15. Police reconsider Eddie Gilfoyle case

17. The Time uncover hidden notes that were not presented during his trial

18. A Closed Book? Politicians + Bureaucrats = Obstruction!

19. Takes at least a month to receive a reply Appeals can take YEARS Process is Politicised

20. David Leigh Investigations Editor for The Guardian

21. The Balen Report

23. Freedom of Information in the World

24. Freedom of Information in the World

26. Article 19 ‘… every person shall have the right to free expression and to seek and impart information’