The FOIA process, like any relationship, depends on good communications. In the spirit of the season, OGIS offers Valentines greetings to FOIA stakeholders who demonstrate good communication skills every day. We love all hardworking FOIA professionals, but particularly those who pick up the phone to talk to requesters. While making a call is an investment … Continue reading Will You Be Our (FOIA) Valentine?
In November 2015, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted a resolution declaring September 28th of every year as International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI). “The universal right to information is essential for societies to function democratically and for the well-being of each individual,” UNESCO wrote in its proclamation. “Freedom of … Continue reading International Day for Universal Access to Information 2018
In this season of gratitude, we at OGIS would like to pause and give thanks for: FOIA professionals: Our work resolving FOIA disputes and evaluating compliance brings us into contact with many FOIA professionals from many agencies. We are thankful for how hard they work every single day to carefully balance the interests of disclosure … Continue reading OGIS gives thanks for…
Last Saturday I represented OGIS and the National Archives and Records Administration at a conference on environmental Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) issues at the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law in Queens, New York. The conference, co-sponsored by the CUNY School of Law, CUNY Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and … Continue reading OGIS Deputy Director Martha Murphy Shares FOIA Federal Agency Perspective at CUNY Environmental Law Conference
Today we present an interview with Ginger McCall, who recently became the Oregon Public Records Advocate. Ginger is in her third term on the FOIA Advisory Committee. Over the next year, we will interview other members of the Advisory Committee so that you can get to know them better. Why did you seek to serve … Continue reading Getting to Know the FOIA Advisory Committee: Ginger McCall
Calling all FOIA professionals! Registration is now open for the November 2nd session of our popular training, “Dispute Resolution Skills for FOIA Professionals,” which will be held at the OGIS offices in downtown Washington, DC. This free, daylong training session helps FOIA professionals develop valuable communication skills for preventing and resolving FOIA disputes. Attendees also … Continue reading Reserve a Seat for the Upcoming Dispute Resolution Skills Training Session
The Chief FOIA Officers (CFO) Council met on October 4th to discuss the Final Report and Recommendations issued by the 2016-2018 term of the FOIA Advisory Committee and related guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Information Policy (OIP). What follows are a few highlights from the presentation: Archivist of the United … Continue reading Wrap Up of October CFO Council Meeting
Did you know that October is Conflict Resolution Month? While we at OGIS believe that Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is important every month, we are also happy to have an excuse to highlight our ADR activities. OGIS’s Mediation Program We offer dispute resolution services, including mediation and other informal processes such as facilitation or conciliation, … Continue reading Happy Dispute Resolution Month from OGIS!
The Chief FOIA Officers Council will meet on October 4, 2018, at 10 a.m. in the William G. McGowan Theater, and this meeting is open to the public. If you want to attend in person, please register using Eventbrite. If you cannot attend in person, feel free to join us via livestream. The Chief FOIA … Continue reading Register to Attend the October 4 Chief FOIA Officers Council Meeting
The third term of the FOIA Advisory Committee met for the first time on September 6, 2018, at the National Archives in Washington, DC. Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero and FOIA Advisory Committee Chairperson Alina M. Semo welcomed the Committee members, who introduced themselves and shared why they joined the Committee. The … Continue reading FOIA Advisory Committee Sets Its 2018-2020 Agenda
