TY - JOUR
T1 - The people’s right to know
T2 - Comparing Harold L. Cross’ pre-FOIA world to post-FOIA today
AU - Cuillier, David
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2016/10/1
Y1 - 2016/10/1
N2 - Journalists and politicians often disagree over whether the state of freedom of information is better or worse since the passage of the Freedom of Information Act in 1966. This study attempts to provide some historical context by comparing the state of access in 1953 as outlined in detail in The People’s Right to Know by Harold L. Cross, the first comprehensive review of case law and statutes in the United States regarding access to public records at local, state and federal agencies. Analysis indicates that the legal right to information, particularly for police records and federal documents, is better today than it was in 1953, but challenges persist regarding compliance, enforcement and the prevalence of exemptions. Recommendations are provided for the next fifty years, including renewal of Cross’ urging for a First Amendment right to know.
AB - Journalists and politicians often disagree over whether the state of freedom of information is better or worse since the passage of the Freedom of Information Act in 1966. This study attempts to provide some historical context by comparing the state of access in 1953 as outlined in detail in The People’s Right to Know by Harold L. Cross, the first comprehensive review of case law and statutes in the United States regarding access to public records at local, state and federal agencies. Analysis indicates that the legal right to information, particularly for police records and federal documents, is better today than it was in 1953, but challenges persist regarding compliance, enforcement and the prevalence of exemptions. Recommendations are provided for the next fifty years, including renewal of Cross’ urging for a First Amendment right to know.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84988647275&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84988647275&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10811680.2016.1216678
DO - 10.1080/10811680.2016.1216678
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84988647275
SN - 1081-1680
VL - 21
SP - 433
EP - 463
JO - Communication Law and Policy
JF - Communication Law and Policy
IS - 4
ER -