It’s a Sunshine Day: Save the Date for OGIS’s Sunshine Week Event!

OGIS is pleased to announce that we’re sponsoring a unique event to mark Sunshine Week (March 9-16, 2012), a celebration of government openness. Our parent agency, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), is acknowledging Sunshine Week by showcasing the original Freedom of Information Act, Public Law 89-487. The original historic document will be available … Continue reading It’s a Sunshine Day: Save the Date for OGIS’s Sunshine Week Event!

Good Day Sunshine: Get Ready for Sunshine Week 2012!

Signs of spring are appearing in Washington – robins abound, crocuses are in bloom, food truck patrons eat outside rather than scurrying back to the office – and that can only mean one thing: Sunshine Week is nearly here! We at OGIS eagerly anticipate this weeklong (March 11-17, 2012) celebration of government openness, scheduled to … Continue reading Good Day Sunshine: Get Ready for Sunshine Week 2012!

FOIA and ADR: Will You Be My Valentine?

My name is Jean Whyte, and I serve as Director of the National Archives and Records Administration’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program.  I’ve been invited to write this guest post about the intersection of FOIA and ADR and why I believe these two are made for each other.  First, a little about our couple: Freedom … Continue reading FOIA and ADR: Will You Be My Valentine?

OK Computer: Announcing the FOIA Information Technology (IT) Working Group

In August 2011, OGIS hosted a meeting of FOIA IT professionals from the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and State, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to discuss how technology can streamline the FOIA process. This single meeting spawned a group of FOIA and IT professionals who are sharing ideas, making plans and dreaming big … Continue reading OK Computer: Announcing the FOIA Information Technology (IT) Working Group

How to Invite a FOIA Lawsuit

In the course of our work as the FOIA Ombudsman, we regularly hear from agencies and requesters about FOIA practices that work well. We also hear about practices that don’t work as well. Too often, such problems result in legal action by requesters. We have observed that the following agency practices can be “litigation invitations”: … Continue reading How to Invite a FOIA Lawsuit