Push for Open Government During Sunshine Week

Sunshine Week was launched in 2005 by the American Society of Newspaper Editors. It is a national initiative to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. Participants include news media, civic groups, libraries, nonprofits, schools and others interested in the public's right to know.  

Sunshine Week, March 13-19, is funded primarily by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation of Miami, along with the ASNE Foundation. There are games, proclamations and more all brought to you by the Sunshine Week team, which we have shared with you.

Join us at Echo Park Patch in spreading a little sunshine around town. Here's an action plan to help you get started, which was developed by ASNE's Sunshine Week team.

Start with a Sunshine Week Open Government Proclamation
This Sunshine Week, we urge citizens to press their public officials to do more, seeking not just broad statements of support for greater transparency but specific pledges and plans of action to enhance the public’s right to know.

Sunshine Week 2011 can be a time when you as a citizen or civic organization make a difference by identifying local or state open government shortcomings and then asking your public officials to pledge and initiate specific improvements in local or state law and practice.

To assist your efforts, the Sunshine Week team presents a sample Open Government Proclamation that you, or your group, can take to your public officials to seek a commitment on open government with specific action that will lead to increased sunshine:

http://www.sunshineweek.org/proclamation.aspx

You'll also find a sample of provisions that brought greater transparency to local and state governments around the country.  We also hope these examples will inspire ideas for other openness measures that may be needed in your community or state.

Let the Sunshine Week team know if you are successful by contacting dmk@asne.org and writing "Sunshine Week Proclamation" in the subject line.

If your government’s action was reported by the media, send along the link(s). We plan an “Honor Roll” on the Sunshine Week  website.

Play the You’re A Ray of Sunshine Game
The Sunshine Week team designed this game to challenge you, help you have some fun and learn about why open government and freedom of information in the U.S. is to be cherished and held to high standards. Play it here. https://game.sunshineweek.org/

Get Smart about the Public’s Right to Know
Read up. There are resources for teachers, including lesson plans so young people can participate. http://www.hsj.org/Services/index.cfm?menu_id=9

There’s  also a host of resources on open government assembled by the Sunshine Week team. http://www.sunshineweek.org/ReadingRoom.aspx

Read more about Sunshine Week at www.sunshineweek.org