Steve Zansberg succeeds Tom Kelley as CFOIC president
Steven D. Zansberg was elected CFOIC president on Wednesday. He succeeds Thomas B. Kelley, who has presided over the coalition’s board and membership since 1997.
Articles by jroberts
Opinion: A stronger shield is a welcome idea
Give state Sen. Bernie Herpin of Colorado Springs credit for understanding not just the Second Amendment on guns, but also a critical component of our system of government: A free press, protected from undue influence from prosecutors and others in government, is necessary to act as a watchdog for our government.
Senator outlines need for a stronger reporter’s shield law in Colorado
State Sen. Bernie Herpin quoted 18th-century English judge William Blackstone in explaining his reasons for introducing a bill to strengthen the Colorado law that protects a journalist’s confidential sources.
Track freedom-of-information bills on CFOIC’s new legislature page
A new page on the website of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition lets you track bills in the state legislature that could affect the flow or availability of information in Colorado.
Bill targeting mug-shot websites is introduced
HB 14-1047 would require that commercial websites remove a booking photo free of charge if the arrested person makes a request in writing and that person was not charged with a crime, charges were dropped or the person was acquitted.
CORA fees proposal among legislation to watch in 2014
A plan to regulate fees for public records statewide is expected to be one of at least three bills introduced during the 2014 legislative session that would affect the flow or availability of information in Colorado.
State senator plans bill to strengthen journalist shield law in Colorado
Motivated by the ordeal of a Fox News reporter, who could have been jailed for refusing to reveal sources for a story on the Aurora movie theater gunman, Sen. Bernie Herpin says he wants to model Colorado’s press shield law after New York’s law.
A big helping of open-government resources
Check out the CFOIC’s new Resource pages, which include guides to accessing public information and a categorized directory of public data available online.
Jeffco PTA president: School board violates state transparency law
The president of the Jefferson County PTA says her organization is “shocked and appalled” that three new memers of the Jeffco Board of Education hired an attorney without involving other members of the board.
Does court ruling on AG consumer complaints have broader implications?
A court decision last week that let the Colorado Attorney General turn over consumer complaints to the Better Business Bureau, but not to a Denver TV news organization, may have broader implications for the release of public records.