Sunshine Week aims to illuminate government
The Reston, Va.-based American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE) wants the sun to shine in on governments’ inner workings from March 15-21. For the fourth year, ASNE is dedicating those seven days to Sunshine Week, a national initiative by the media and other groups to educate the public on their right to know what their federal, state and local governments are doing.
The inspiration for Sunshine Week came in 2002, when the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors launched Sunshine Sunday in that state. ASNE began its program in 2005 with a grant from the Miami-based John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. During the week, participating newspapers and magazines publish articles on government transparency and the Freedom of Information Act, but public officials, non-profit agencies and civic groups also participate. Specific ways to observe the week are listed in ASNE’s “Bright Ideas for Sunshine Week” 2007 and 2006 editions.
View more information on Sunshine Week, including links to the “Bright Ideas” publications.
