Week starting March 13 is Sunshine Sunday-Sunshine Week

[liveoaktx]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/search/article_display.jsp?schema=&vnu_content_id=1000742242

Even as the inauguration of President George W. Bush draws near, newspapers continue to debate whether their endorsements last fall made any difference at all. Because editorial pages were as closely divided as the electorate itself— E&P's final count had it 213 papers for John Kerry to 205 for Bush— a pretty good case could be made for either side of the argument.

But the week of March 13, newspapers will have a chance to make an endorsement with a proven track record of stirring citizens to action. For the first time, the highly successful "Sunshine Sunday" editorial page campaign begun by Florida newspapers is going national, and multimedia.

During "Sunshine Sunday-Sunshine Week," newspapers, broadcasters and news Web sites around the nation will confront the growing secrecy in government — and remind citizens of how much they are losing when public documents and decision-making meetings are hidden from them. These access issues will be the subjects of editorials, cartoons, Op-Ed commentaries, and news articles.

Organized by the American Society of Newspaper Editors and supported by more than 50 news organizations and industry associations, "Sunshine Sunday-Sunshine Week" is a long-overdue national response to the growing climate of government secrecy.
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[TwentyFive]

1. Bush will pay his shills to counter this - and run editorials opposing it

They have plenty of corporate shills willing to lie to get payouts or special favors. Expect some newspapers to defend the increasing secrecy.

[liveoaktx]

2. More on this -Journalists push for government openness

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/03/09/journalists_push_for_government_openness/

**Have to say I'm totally shocked that Cornyn is involved in this.

The Sunshine in Government Initiative seeks to combat what the member organizations see as increased government secrecy since the 2001 terrorist attacks. The coalition will lobby for legislation and seek to educate the public about First Amendment issues.

"National security depends on public trust," AP President and CEO Tom Curley said. "The trend toward secrecy is the greatest threat to democracy. We must be vigilant at explaining and fighting for accountable government in every jurisdiction."

The initiative was announced ahead of "Sunshine Week," a weeklong campaign for government openness spearheaded by the AP and more than 50 news outlets, journalism groups, universities and the American Library Association.

A bill sponsored by Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., proposes creation of a 16-member advisory commission that would conduct a study to determine ways to speed the release of records under the Freedom of Information Act. Cornyn and Leahy planned to introduce the measure Thursday.