03:03 PM EST on Monday, March 14, 2005

The Associated Press

Tom Curley, The Associated Press' president and chief executive officer, discusses the Sunshine Week initiative involving media groups, universities and the American Library Association.

Q: Opening a dialogue about the public's right of access to government information is the focus of the March 13-19 "Sunshine Sunday and Sunshine Week: Your Right to Know." Why is the public, rather than the media, the primary focus of this first national Sunshine Week, and what does it mean to the average American?

A: The majority of Freedom of Information requests are filed by veterans or retirees seeking information about Social Security or benefits. We need to make a case with the public why it's better to have information accessible. Really, it's the American ideal of self-government: Of the people, by the people, for the people. We have to connect everyday events to how they affect people's lives. Self-government is hard work. We can help offer understanding about how everyone can contribute.

Q: The media's responsibility is to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of government. How does AP turn that concept into day-to-day reality?

A: The scope of AP's efforts worldwide is extraordinary. Whether reporting on Iraqi prisoner abuse or the difficulty in getting aid to tsunami victims, AP captures the consequences of government action or inaction.

Q: Why are most open-government initiatives, including Sunshine Week, local rather than national?

A: People understand how their schools work. They know where city hall is. They know police and fire people. They make sense of people and situations they can see. They may be interested in a $540-billion prescription drug program, but they're unlikely to go to Washington to file an FOI request.

Q: What are the biggest obstacles to the public's right to access government meetings and records?

A: As we have reported, government at all levels is restricting access to information. We in the media, of course, have a stake in what's happening. We also have a duty to spotlight why this is a dangerous trend, especially when court or constitutional issues are at stake. The ongoing battle against terrorism has followed the pattern of all eras when concern for security has moved to the forefront. There are real issues of public safety, which we all expect government to address. But historically government goes too far. As we can see in recent court rulings, the pattern has played out again in the aftermath of 9/11.

Q: Does the enactment of privacy laws in the U.S. hinder FOI access by news organizations?

A: Absolutely. HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) and related efforts have affected far more than media. Clergy, the medical community and families have suffered from foolish policy.

Q: Each generation of citizens helps redefine what freedom means in American society. What appears to be the prevailing sentiment of this generation?

A: The United States was attacked, in large part, because of the freedoms it cherishes. The strongest statement we could make to an enemy is to uphold these values.

Q: Do you consider this point in time to be particularly perilous with regard to the public right to know? If so, why?

A: Yes. We are at a very critical point. Too many reporters are facing jail time for doing exactly what they should. Too many government operatives are classifying records. Power often shifts in subtle ways over decades. The Pentagon, for instance, has more power than ever. Presidents from Washington to Eisenhower have warned against that.

Q: Do media have any special obligation to fight to preserve the public's First Amendment rights if it appears the public supports government efforts toward less openness?

A: We sleep at our peril. We must reach out and work with officials from all branches of government on an ongoing basis. We must question candidates about their attitudes toward open government in editorial boards and public forums. We must report the efforts of those who want to hide information and their motives, and we should celebrate the champions of openness.