J-School students will have a unique opportunity in the years ahead to be part of a new national initiative to revitalize journalism training. It is led by five of America's leading universities with the support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Knight Foundation. The initiative brings together UC Berkeley, Columbia University, the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Northwestern University and the University of Southern California.

CAL-FOI ARCHIVE

The CAL-FOI archive, sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists Northern California chapter, is a collection of documents and links to Internet sites on First Amendment, public records, open government and similar issues of concern to reporters.

Public Records | Open Government | Courts | General FOI issues

Public Records

How to access government records.

Guide to using the California Public Records Act
A guide with hyperlinks at the First Amendment Project Web site.
Obtaining records from federal agencies using FOIA
A guide with hyperlinks at the First Amendment Project Web site.
Electronic Frontier Foundation
A Web site with White House documents and other background information on the Freedom of Information Act, including an FOIA kit on how to use the act.
Electronic Privacy Information Center
A Web site with links to a variety of FOIA guides and White House memoranda on accessing government records.

Open Government

Your right to attend meetings of government agencies.

California Brown Act guide
A guide with hyperlinks at the First Amendment Project Web site.
Contra Costa County Open Government Ordinance
A model local ordinance in California on accessing government records and meetings.

Courts

Access to courts and court records.

Access to courts and court records in California
A guide with hyperlinks at the First Amendment Project Web site.

General FOI issues

FOI organizations and discussion groups and other general sources of information.

calfoi e-mail discussion list
How to join an e-mail discussion list on FOI and First Amendment issues set up by the Northern California SPJ FOI Committee and the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.
California First Amendment Coalition
A Web site that has CFAC's bulletins and newsletters on court decisions, government legislation and other actions affecting access to public records and government.
First Amendment Project
The Web page of the Oakland, California-based public-interest law firm that includes hyperlinked documents on the Freedom of Information Act, California Public Records Act, government and court access, and anti-SLAPP suits.
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
The Web page of the non-profit group that provides legal help to reporters and news organizations. The site has a First Amendment handbook with advice on government and court access, obtaining public records, and a host of related issues, a sample FOIA request form and a hot line number to call for assistance with First Amendment problems.

This site is sponsored by the Freedom of Information Committee of the Northern California chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and runs on a Web server at the University of California at Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.

Send comments and suggestions to Paul Grabowicz

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