State freedom of information laws are, for the most part, failing to offer any meaningful recourse when citizens are denied access, according to a report by the Better Government Association and the National Freedom of Information Coalition (NFOIC). Thirty-eight states received a grade of "F" in the survey, which looked at five factors: response time, appeals, expedited review, attorney's fees and costs, and sanctions. I can't say I was shocked by what we found," writes Charles Davis, executive director of the NFOIC. "but I am saddened that despite more attention being paid to FOI issues than ever before, most citizens remain in the dark."
John Conroy, Harold Henderson, Tori Marlan and Steve Bogira were laid off this week by editor Alison True, Michael Miner writes on his News Bites blog. True tells the Chicago Tribune that, given the mandate to cut costs by her new bosses at Creative Loafing in August, it became difficult to afford their work. "The numbers are part of a deal that was structured a long time ago," she says. "Even if [CEO Ben Eason] were the most passionate journalist in the world, he wouldn't have the option of saying, 'I'll give you a little extra this year so this doesn't have to happen.' He's bound to his deal." Meanwhile, Fishbowl DC is reporting that five editorial staffers were laid off at the Reader's sister paper today: Washington City Paper writers Joe Eaton, Amanda S. Miller, Tim Carman and Jessica Gould, and editorial assistant Joe Dempsey, are all no longer with the paper.
This Friday is the deadline for early registration for this year's AAN West conference, to be held in San Francisco Feb. 1-2. For AAN members, early registration is $75 per person (non-members pay $150). After Friday, both of those rates go up $25 per person. You can register online here. In addition to the four streams of programming (Business, Design & Production, Editorial, and Sales), the AAN West Planning Committee has some parties planned that are sure to please. On Friday night, the North Coast Journal will host a cocktail reception featuring the best in Northern California wine, cheese, and beer. On Saturday night, the San Francisco Bay Guardian will throw down at Element Lounge. Be sure to check the AAN West website for full details on events and programming, as well as updates as we get closer to February. The registration deadline for the Web Publishing Conference is Jan. 4.
After talks to reconcile House and Senate versions of FOIA reform bills went nowhere, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, (D-Vt.), and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) yesterday presented a new version of their bill that would bring its financial issues in line with the House version, the AP reports. Talks between the House and Senate stalled over House rules preventing lawmakers from piling on debt to finance tax cuts or new spending programs. "We have a strong chance of Senate action on the bill this week, and I hope the House also will swiftly pass this legislation so the president can sign this important act before year's end," Leahy said in a statement.
Taking a page from New York Mayor Fiorella LaGuardia, who famously read comics on the radio during the city's 1945 newspaper strike, Olbermann last week read a two-page Tom Tomorrow cartoon from The Village Voice out loud on Countdown. The comic, "Bill O'Reilly's Very Useful Advice for Young People, as Channeled by Vile Left-Wing Smear Merchant Tom Tomorrow," features 16 helpful hints for the "young generation." As far as we know, this is the only time the first-ever recipient of AAN's Molly Ivins Award has had the opportunity to reference his own penis size on air.
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