Freedom of Information

RTNDA Protests Veterans Affairs Seizure of Reporter’s Audio Recording

RTNDA is protesting the treatment by a Veterans Affairs public affairs employee of a reporter for WAMU-FM in Washington, DC. David Schultz was interviewing a veteran at a public meeting when a Veterans Affairs employee interrupted and demanded that Schultz surrender his recording equipment. After being surrounded by armed guards, Schultz surrendered his memory card, which has still not been returned. Read RTNDA President Barbara Cochran’s letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Eyes on Congress

Kathleen Kirby

Democratic majorities in both chambers have improved the outlook for long-awaited media initiatives. Kathleen Kirby discusses Freedom of Information Issues pending in the 111th Congress.

First Amendment Awards Dinner Videos--March 12, 20009

Cokie Roberts accepts the Leonard Zeidenberg First Amendment Award.

Sam Donaldson and Charlie Gibson present the Leonard Zeidenberg First Amendment Award to Cokie Roberts.

Chris Matthews, emcee of RTNDF's First Amendment Awards Dinner, gives his opening remarks.

CNN's Susan Grant accepts the First Amendment Service Award.

The Knight Foundation's Alberto Ibarguen accepts the First Amendment Award.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt accepts the First Amendment Leadership Award on behalf of Google.

RTNDA/F President Barbara Cochran presents the First Amendment Award to the Knight Foundation's Alberto Ibarguen.

First Amendment Awards Dinner Coverage—March 12, 2009

First Amendment Fete

RTNDF's annual awards recognize outstanding news talent and organizations for promoting-and protecting--freedom of speech.

Rene Ryan, Communicator staff

First Amendment Awards Dinner Photos—March 12, 2009

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Broadcast Design International, Inc

RTNDF First Amendment Dinner 2009 - Photo Credit Greg Gibson Photography

RTNDF First Amendment Dinner 2009 - Photo Credit Greg Gibson Photography

RTNDF First Amendment Dinner 2009 - Photo Credit Greg Gibson Photography

RTNDF First Amendment Dinner 2009 - Photo Credit Greg Gibson Photography

RTNDF First Amendment Dinner 2009 - Photo Credit Greg Gibson Photography

RTNDF First Amendment Dinner 2009 - Photo Credit Greg Gibson Photography

RTNDF First Amendment Dinner 2009 - Photo Credit Greg Gibson Photography

RTNDF First Amendment Dinner 2009 - Photo Credit Greg Gibson Photography

RTNDF First Amendment Dinner 2009 - Photo Credit Greg Gibson Photography

RTNDF First Amendment Dinner 2009 - Photo Credit Greg Gibson Photography

RTNDF First Amendment Dinner 2009 - Photo Credit Greg Gibson Photography

RTNDF First Amendment Dinner 2009 - Photo Credit Greg Gibson Photography

RTNDF First Amendment Dinner 2009 - Photo Credit Greg Gibson Photography

RTNDF First Amendment Dinner 2009 - Photo Credit Greg Gibson Photography

RTNDF First Amendment Dinner 2009 - Photo Credit Greg Gibson Photography

RTNDF First Amendment Dinner 2009 - Photo Credit Greg Gibson Photography

RTNDF First Amendment Dinner 2009 - Photo Credit Greg Gibson Photography

RTNDF First Amendment Dinner 2009 - Photo Credit Greg Gibson Photography

RTNDF First Amendment Dinner 2009 - Photo Credit Greg Gibson Photography

RTNDF First Amendment Dinner 2009 - Photo Credit Greg Gibson Photography

RTNDF First Amendment Dinner 2009 - Photo Credit Greg Gibson Photography

Sunshine Week Begins Sunday: Check Your Network Affiliate Service for the PSAs

Sunshine Week 2009 begins on Sunday! RTNDF has produced new public service announcements for your station to air the week of March 15-21, 2009, and throughout the year. The PSAs are :15 or :30 in English and Spanish. The video PSAs are available through the affiliate services of CNN, CBS, FOX and NBC.

Audio versions are available in English and Spanish at :30 and can be downloaded below. Scripts for the PSA's are available below as well.

RTNDF’s Sunshine Week PSAs were produced with the generous support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

The PSAs can be previewed below:

Listen to the 30 second Sunshine PSA in English (MP3)

Listen to the 30 second Sunshine PSA in Spanish (MP3)

The scripts to the 30 second and 15 second PSAs in English and Spanish are available here:

RTNDA Sunshine Week 2009
“Heroes” - English & Spanish :30 TV PSA
(ALL V.O.)

ENGLISH
WE CAN BE HEROES.
WE DON’T LEAP TALL BUILDINGS OR CLIMB WALLS. BUT WE HAVE, EACH OF US, A POWER.
THE POWER TO PAY ATTENTION AND GET INVOLVED.
THE POWER, THROUGH OUR SUNSHINE LAWS, TO FORCE OUR LEADERS TO KEEP THEIR MEETINGS AND RECORDS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC... AND MAKE OUR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE.
BRIGHTEN THE WORLD WITH YOUR VIGILANCE, AND OUR SUNSHINE LAWS WILL LIFT A NATION.
LEARN MORE AT SUNSHINE-WEEK-DOT-ORG. A MESSAGE FROM THESE SPONSORS.

SPANISH
Podemos ser héroes.
No saltamos edificios altos ni escalamos paredes. Pero, cada uno de nosotros, tiene un poder.
El poder de prestar atención y estar involucrados.
El poder, a través de las Leyes de Transparencia, para exigir a nuestros representantes que conserven sus reuniones y archivos abiertos al público...
Y hagan a nuestro gobierno responsable.
Ilumine el mundo con su vigilancia, y nuestras Leyes de Transparencia engrandecerán a nuestra Nación.
Aprenda más en sunshine-week-dot-org.
Un mensaje de nuestros patrocinadores.

RTNDA - Sunshine Week 2009
“Heroes” - English & Spanish :15 TV PSA
(ALL VO)

ENGLISH
EACH OF US CAN BE A HERO.
WITH THE POWER, THROUGH OUR SUNSHINE LAWS, TO FORCE OUR LEADERS TO MAKE OUR GOVERNMENT MORE OPEN AND ACCOUNTABLE.
BRIGHTEN THE WORLD WITH YOUR VIGILANCE.
LEARN MORE AT SUNSHINE-WEEK-DOT-ORG. A MESSAGE FROM THESE SPONSORS.
SPANISH
Cada uno de nosotros puede ser un héroe.
Con el poder de las leyes de transparencia, para exigir a nuestros representantes que nuestro gobierno sea más abierto y responsable.
Ilumine al mundo con su vigilancia.
Aprenda más en sunshine-week-dot-org.
Un mensaje de nuestros patrocinadores.

They are also downloadable in PDF format.

Contact Stacey Staniak at 202-467-5214 for more information about RTNDF's Sunshine Week Campaign.

Obama Lets Sunshine in on First Day in Office

by Barbara Cochran, RTNDA President

On his first working day in office, President Obama acted to let the sunshine in on government. The new president declared “a new era of openness” as he signed documents reversing the secrecy policies that had been the hallmark of the Bush administration. But there was a hiccup on letting the news media cover the second taking of the oath of office. RTNDA President Barbara Cochran writes about Obama’s early steps to bring more transparency to his administration.

RTNDA Reply Comments RE: Sponsorship Identification Rules and Embedded Advertising

Read RTNDA's comments to the FCC in reply to Sponsorship Identification Rules and Embedded Advertising.

RTNDA and Sunshine in Government Initiative Open Government Recommendations to the President-elect

RTNDA and the Sunshine in Government Coalition are urging the Obama Administration to take immediate steps to improve open government and insure transparency. Click READ MORE to see the SGI letter and recommendations to President-elect Obama.

How the Obama Administration Will Affect Electronic Journalists

Barbara Cochran, RTNDA President

FCC regulation, First Amendment, free press, and new technology are important issues to RTNDA members. Barbara Cochran looks at electronic journalism and the new Obama administration.