Radio Television News Directors Association Urges Obama to ‘Reverse Climate of Secrecy’

November 11, 2008 9:32 AM

RTNDA Urges Obama to 'Reverse Climate of Secrecy'

By Christopher Perez

With a current administration known for its secrecy on its way out, the Radio Television News Directors Association and other media organizations issued a letter to President-elect Barack Obama today, urging him to "take immediate steps to insure open government, allow access to information and strengthen the Freedom of Information Act."

Under what is being billed as the Sunshine Government Initiative, the RTNDA identified four steps it urged the president to follow to "reverse the climate of secrecy in the executive branch."

The group urged Obama to exercise discretion in withholding information under the Freedom of Information Act, to create an independent ombudsman to help citizens access their government, to ban unnecessary statutory exemptions from disclosure and for the administration to speak on the record in all statements about public policy and news important to the public.

"President-elect Obama has the opportunity to lead by example and guarantee open government for U.S. citizens," RTNDA President Barbara Cochran said in a statement. "By taking these steps to extend transparency, the new president can reverse a climate of government secrecy that has prevailed for too long."

 
 

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