SPRING 2005 NEWSLETTER
GEORGIA FOI ACCESS
GEORGIA FIRST AMENDMENT FOUNDATION

Georgia's top freedom of information efforts by the print media for 2004

By Tom Bennett

Atlanta, April 25, 2005 -- The Augusta Chronicle, Marietta Daily Journal, LaGrange Daily News and the Times-Herald of Newnan have long histories of support for freedom of information. They confirmed in again with their work on open government in 2004.

Those newspapers are the winners in the FOI categories of the Georgia Associated Press awards. They were announced April 23 at a luncheon at the Atlanta Airport Marriott.

Here are tributes to their work read that day by Mike King of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, who served as 2004-2005 president of the Georgia Associated Press Association News Council.

CLASS AAAA
At least 40,000 circulation

"The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer staff wins for 'Kenny Walker I-85 Shooting.' The judges said: 'What set this entry apart was the newspaper's truly relentless pursuit of public records to illuminate an event that polarized the community during an election year.

" 'Shut out by local authorities and turned down repeatedly by a local judge, the Ledger-Enquirer doggedly pursued the story, filing more than 20 public records requests and taking its case to the Supreme Court, which has yet to rule.

" 'When officials refused to release records, the staff obtained extensive interviews to piece together a reconstruction of the incident, all the while publishing story after story that reminded its readers why they had a right to see the records and judge for themselves what had happened.

" 'The paper is to be commended for its exemplary efforts to lift the shroud of secrecy from an event of high community interest' "

CLASS AAA
15,000 to 40,000 circulation

"The Marietta Daily Journal for 'Light on laptops, sunshine in City Hall' by Otis Brumby, Joe Kirby, John Giloolly, Robin Yamakawa. The judges said:

"'The Marietta Daily Journal shows what can happen when a newspaper takes its watchdog duties seriously. The paper got on two stories with the common threat of government officials making decisions in secret about public policy and public spending. And the paper didn't let go. It was great to use citizen reaction -- in form of emails sent to public officials and obtained under an open records request.'

"The judges also liked the use of editorials to spell out why open government is important to citizens. They also said: ' It was super to catch officials holding three meetings in secret before the scheduled public meeting.' "

CLASS AA
10, 000 to 15,000 circulation

"The LaGrange Daily News for 'Troubled DFCS' by Sherri Brown. Using FOI requests, Brown obtained a state review labeling the Troup County Department of Family and Children Services as 'in crisis' and she documented the serious problems in child protective services. The judges said: 'Great job of tracking down and reporting a critical story.' "

CLASS A
Less than 10,000 circulation

"The Times-Herald in Newnan for 'City manager employee relations: by Sarah Fay Campbell. She covered Newnan City Manager Danny Lewis' struggles over employee relations in 2004 that started after three firemen were terminated and continued later with claims of gender bias in his dealings. Lewis was cleared but ultimately resigned. The judges said:

"'Sarah Fay Campbell’s dogged reporting and aggressive use of freedom of information requests led to the uncovering of substantial problems in the Newnan city government and the eventual resignation of the city manager. She provided a tremendous service to her readers."