News Releases

RTDNA Welcomes FOIA Improvements in DHS Appropriations Bill

Contact:  Stacey Staniak, 202-467-5214, staceys@rtdna.org

For Immediate Release:  October 21, 2009

WASHINGTON --The Radio Television Digital News Association applauds improvements in the Federal Freedom of Information Act included in legislation passed by the U.S. Senate yesterday. The 2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill included language that will require future legislation to indicate when information in a bill would be exempt from FOIA. The legislation was authored by Senator Patrick Leahy, D-VT, and co-sponsored by Senator John Cornyn, R-TX. The bill has been approved by the House and the Senate and will be sent to the President, who is expected to sign it into law.
 
The DHS appropriations bill includes a measure allowing the government to withhold photographs of detainees held by U.S. forces. Opponents of that measure claim the detainee photos could indicate treatment of those being held. The Sunshine in Government Initiative, of which RTDNA is a member, opposed the photo ban and said it “drilled one more hole in FOIA and added to the more than 240 exemptions written into law.”
 
“The protection of the public’s right to know and access government information may be RTDNA’s most important mission,” said Stacey Woelfel, RTDNA chairman and news director at KOMU-TV. “This legislation is a small step toward more open government and will send a signal to lawmakers that government secrecy should be a rare occurrence.”
 
About RTDNA
 
RTDNA is the world’s largest professional organization devoted exclusively to electronic journalism. RTDNA represents local and network journalists in broadcasting, cable and other electronic media in more than 30 countries. Along with the Radio Television Digital News Foundation, RTDNA sponsors scholarships, fellowships, training seminars, mentoring programs and more as part of its diversity efforts.