Here’s an excerpt from a Canadian Press article:

The mayors issued an open letter Tuesday to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government saying the facility saves lives, reduces the transmission of deadly diseases and increases the use of addiction treatment.

“Insite has proven beyond a doubt its value for our community,” said [Vancouver Mayor Gregor] Robertson in a news release.

“We are calling on the federal government to reconsider its position opposing Insite.”

Listen to my half-hour radio documentary about Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, which features interviews about Insite. This documentary has won third place in the ‘Documentary or Public Affairs’ category of the 2011 National Headliner Awards. The documentary has also recently been selected as a finalist for the Livingston Awards. Details on the Livingston Awards:

“The Livingston Awards for excellence by professionals under the age of 35 are the largest all-media, general reporting prizes in American journalism. They are also unusual in judging print, broadcast and online entries against one another, a practice of increasing interest as technology blurs traditional distinctions between rival branches of the profession.”

More info on the court fight to keep Insite’s doors open.

Paradise on Earth is a 11-minute documentary by prefacto productions about journalist Zack Baddorf’s visit to India-controlled Kashmir to participate in election monitoring. The film details the problems the Kashmiris face everyday, how they are caught in the middle between the Indian military and the militants vying for independence. It also briefly provides an overview of the history behind the conflict.

Warning: This film does include some mild graphic images.

“Many journalists have capped long and distinguished careers with a National Headliner Award, and each year the judges have recognized exceptional talents that might otherwise have gone unnoticed,” according to the contest’s website.

I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to report that story in depth. Thanks to the FSRN team for  their excellent work in helping me on the documentary: Shannon Young for her excellent editing and guidance through the production process of the documentary; Danny Wood for voicing the intro, break and conclusion to the program; and, Scott Pham for technical help in mixing the anchor, the music, and my documentary.

The Associated Press, Washington Post and Huffington Post have both published articles with the full list of winners.

If you get a chance, check out my blog post about the documentary. There are photos, extra full-length interviews, and, of course, the full half-hour documentary.

Listen to the story (MP3)

photo by Zack Baddorf

Wednesday was National Freedom of Information Day, a day designed to bring attention to the public’s right to oversee its government through open communication. About 50 people came together on the University of Florida campus yesterday evening to hear citizens, journalists and attorneys talk about the struggle to access public records and attend public meetings.

National Freedom of Information Day coincides with the birthday of former President James Madison, who’s considered by some to be the father of freedom of information.

That founding father said people must “arm themselves with the power knowledge gives.”

Lucy Morgan has been doing just. She’s worked for the St. Petersburg Times for more than four decades, relying heavily on public records.

But she’s had problems getting access to public documents and attending public meetings ever since Florida Governor Rick Scott was inaugurated at the start of the year.

“We have encountered a wall that is different that is different than what we have seen under past governors where we are having extreme difficulty getting records with all kinds of delays and roadblocks being thrown up.”

Morgan gave an example of how the governor picked a particular reporter to cover a meeting that should have been open to the public.

“That editor admitted to the mansion that night in place of the rest of the reporters wrote a column that described the governor as a hero and said he was utterly charming.”

Morgan says this meant the other reporters had no independent report of what actually happened during the meeting.

The senior correspondent with the St. Pete Times is uncertain why this is happening. She’s not sure whether the governor is deliberately trying to restrict access or whether the problem is just that Scott is new to politics.

Regardless, she says there will “likely” be a number of lawsuits between news organization and the governor’s office over access to records and meetings. For her, that’s troubling.

“I don’t think you want to go through the expense and turmoil of trying to sue a governor you’re trying to cover, except in rare circumstances.”

This is not just happening in Florida.

An Associated Press analysis released earlier this week found that more people are asking for federal records but federal agencies took action on fewer requests last year. In Washington on Tuesday, experts told the Senate that the Freedom of Information Act is an unwieldy and inefficient tool for obtaining government records.

Barbara Petersen, the president of the non-partisan First Amendment Foundation, says getting access to information can be even tougher for citizens.

“Because you go as John Smith and make a public records request or you go as John Smith, reporter for the Tampa Tribune or the St. Petersburg Times, you have a different impact.”

Petersen’s non-profit organization based in Tallahassee has been advocating for the public’s right to oversee its government since 1984.

“We have to remember that our government is our government. We are the government. It’s we the people.”

She points out that public servants work for the public.

“And as any employer we have a right to know what they’re doing, how they’re doing it and why they’re doing it. It’s our money after all.”

The freedom of information advocate said without access to government info, there’s no accountability or oversight. Petersen said people should ask questions about local issues.

“Why are they building the school there and not here? Why are they not doing this in my park/ why are there not more police on the streets? These are questions of concerns to most citizens and they can find out those answers by accessing government records and attending government meetings.”

Theo Karantsalis is one citizen who regularly requests public records. He’s a librarian in Miami and came to Tampa to celebrate Freedom of Information Day

“We’re celebrating disclosure, not secrecy. And it’s especially important for the citizenry to step up to the plate to make sure we have access.”

Karantsalis said people can step up by requesting information from their government about issues that concern them and then share it.

“They have a right to access these records and they need to roll up their sleeves and get busy.”

Listen to Report (MP3)

Public advocates are marking National Freedom of Information Day this week, which raises awareness about the public’s right to oversee its government through open communication. About 50 people came together on the University of South Florida campus yesterday evening to hear members of the public, journalists and attorneys discuss the struggle to access public records and attend public meetings. Zack Baddorf reports.

A group of U.S. Peace Corps volunteers, working with Romanian students, teachers and journalists, will publish a school journalism book this month and provide a free copy to 50 school or local libraries throughout Romania.

A resource containing all you need to start a school newspaper, “First Steps in Journalism: How to Run a School Newspaper” is written by U.S. Peace Corps volunteers and was translated into Romanian by students and teachers who attended the Journalists of Tomorrow Summer Camp held July 18-25 in Barlad, Romania.

“This book contains all the basics about journalism that students and teachers need to know to create their own high school newspaper,” said Zack Baddorf, one of the book’s two editors and a former journalist who now is a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Barlad. “We want to give Romanian students the skills necessary to produce a newspaper and also introduce them to journalism as a potential career. Journalists, young and old, serve the public and need to have a foundation of skills necessary to complete their responsibilities.”

The book, which is about 130 pages in length, teaches the basic skills, concepts and terminology necessary to write hard news, features and opinion columns as well as how to take photos. The text also instructs how to conduct interviews, edit articles and layout a newspaper. Additionally, a chapter discusses basic public relations techniques. The guide includes practical activities that help students think about how to apply the necessary skills in their school newspaper team.

The Cuza Association, based in Barlad, has provided sponsorship for 50 school or local libraries to receive a copy of the book. Students of all ages or teachers may visit http://primiipasi.shorturl.com to request one free copy for their school or local library.

People interested in purchasing a copy of their own can visit http://primiipasi.alturl.com .The price is 20 RON, including shipping.

The book was produced as part of the Barlad Journalism Camp in partnership with the Romanian Ministry of Education, Alexandru Ioan Cuza Technical High School, the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, U.S. Peace Corps Romania, the inspectorate for Judetul Vaslui and the Barlad town hall.

For media interviews, contact the editors:

Anca Sandu, A.I. Cuza High School Teacher, 0763601175, 0726342359
Zack Baddorf, U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer, 0758540028, 0746465138

Email: BarladJournalismCamp@gmail.com

Interview may also be available with the following students and teachers who helped with the bok from the following cities:
Barlad, Botosani, Bucuresti, Constanta, Hateg, Iasi, Pascani, Roman, Slatina, and Targu Neamt.

Download the book (in PDF format):
English – Original / Double Page Layout
Romanian – Original / Double Page Layout