THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 28, 1996 TAG: 9606280449
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 52 lines
The state's major media organizations, library association and two journalism schools joined forces Thursday to establish a foundation to protect and expand citizen access to the Commonwealth's public information.
The Virginia Coalition for Open Government, a tax-exempt, nonpartisan organization, was incorporated in Virginia Beach on Thursday after nine months of statewide organizing and fund raising.
The foundation is expected to sponsor seminars, produce a quarterly newsletter, assist in major anti-secrecy court fights and provide online information about access rights for Virginians.
A 15-member board will initially run the organization.
Forrest M. Landon, who retired Oct. 1 as executive editor of The Roanoke Times, was named the acting director of the coalition. Landon last year chaired the Freedom of Information Committee of the American Society of Newspaper Editors.
``We want to work closely with Virginia's lawmakers,'' Landon said, ``Republican and Democrat, conservative and liberal, who share with us a commitment to making certain, once and for all, that public information is easily available and the public's business is conducted in public - without needless government intrusion in the lives of private citizens.''
Landon said the organization will oppose suggestions to sell Virginia's public information at market rates. This is property the public already owns, he noted.
And the cost could affect who has access.
``If it's sold at a profit,'' Landon said, ``we'll either be information `haves' or `have-nots,' depending on how much money we've got.''
Other issues to be tackled by the coalition, Landon said, are inadequate government computers that make access difficult even when officials are cooperating; court records that are sealed without legitimate confidentiality concerns, and the Allen administration's decision to deny journalists access to prisons for face-to-face inmate interviews.
Startup funds for the coalition were provided by The Virginia Press Association and the Virginia Association of Broadcasters, which each donated $40,000.
Among the other sponsoring organizations were: The Virginian-Pilot, The Daily Press, WTKR-TV, WAVY-TV, WVEC-TV, The Norfolk State University Department of Journalism and Mass Communications, Media General, The Associated Press, Virginia AP Broadcasters, Virginia Press Women and the Virginia Newspaper Photographers Association.
Cole C. Campbell, editor of The Virginian-Pilot, and Dr. Shirley Carter, chairwoman of the Norfolk State journalism program, are members of the founding board.
To join the coalition, write Landon at Box 2491, Roanoke, Va., 24018 or send electronic mail to: flandon(AT)infi.net.
Annual dues have been tentatively set at $25, or $10 for students. by CNB