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Freedom of Information & The Honolulu Community Media Council
The U.S. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a law ensuring public access to U.S. government records. FOIA carries a presumption of disclosure; the burden is on the government- not the public- to substantiate why information may not be released. Upon written request, agencies of the United States government are required to disclose those records, unless they can be lawfully withheld from disclosure under one of nine specific exemptions in the FOIA. This right of access is ultimately enforceable in federal court. Journalists and citizens depend upon federal and state laws to access the truth and the right to know. Freedom of Information Day is celebrated nationally on the anniversary of President James Madison’s birth, March 16. Madison was the chief author of the Bill of Rights. It also spotlights America’s Freedom of Information Act of 1966, which established the right of citizens to obtain information from federal agencies. In Hawaii, the Honolulu Community Media Council annually celebrates the Freedom of Information Day. In 2005, the Honolulu Community Media Council was proud to be a leading sponsor of the Hawaii Freedom of Information Project which coordinated a series of events from March 13 to April 1, 2005, which were organized and conducted with great success:
At the same time, in May 2004, the Honolulu Community Media Council was granted $25,000 from The Strong Foundation to establish and support the Youth Speakers Bureau Community Outreach Project of the Honolulu Community Media Council with the goal to educate Hawaii's youth on our Freedom of Information rights. To find out more, please click here.
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For a complete list of the events and
for more information