New Web sites empower community members (Guam)
June 2, 2008
New Web sites empower community members
By David V. Crisostomo
The Pacific Daily News launched two Web initiatives this past week that put the power of public information into the hands of our community.
We care deeply about public service, about being a government watchdog and ensuring a continuing freedom of the press.
Our new data site -- GuamWatchDog.com -- extends the mission of the PDN's Information Center to provide our community members with information when they want it, the way they want it.
GuamWatchDog.com unleashes the power of public information and local databases. It's meant to provide a central location from which our readers can access useful public information and data that they can search and sort.
The data project is led by Projects and Data Editor Steve Limtiaco.
What's available so far:
These databases will be updated periodically. New searchable databases will be added as they become available.
The information on the site is mostly from local government sources and PDN files.
In the case of government of Guam staff lists, most are available on various agency Web sites, as required by law, but they are only static lists, with no ability to search. Our Information Center took existing staff information, made it searchable by name and department, and put it all in one place.
GuamWatchDog.com is the only place readers will find a searchable Guam voter registration database.
Our data editor got an electronic copy of the voter registration list through the Freedom of Information Act, then made it searchable by name, village and gender.
The database of auto-pedestrian deaths also is unique to this site. The information about dates and locations of accidents was pulled from the newspaper's files.
We used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain some of the data on GuamWatchDog.com.
Anyone can use this law to request information from local government agencies. In general, the law allows you to review or copy existing government documents only.
You can find links to the Freedom of Information Act -- which can be downloaded -- so you'll know your rights to public information from the local and federal governments. GuamWatchDog.com also has information about and a download of Guam's Open Government Law.
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