UA Journalism’s Open Government Web Site Available

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A wide variety of information on issues related to open government and the freedom of information in Alabama is available on the Alabama Center for Open Government’s (ALACOG) Web site at www.alacog.org.

The Web site, maintained by the journalism department within The University of Alabama’s College of Communication and Information Sciences, regularly posts stories about open government issues.

The site contains commentary and many of the latest stories from newspapers nationwide, with an emphasis on Alabama. The site also contains an ALACOG membership form, statement of purpose, links to other freedom of information organizations and a number of other features.

A popular feature of the site that reporters, citizens and officials are finding helpful is the “Alabama Public Access Laws: a Manual for Alabama Public Officials,” prepared jointly by the Alabama Attorney General’s Office and the Alabama Press Association. Clicking on various headings, for example, “Definition of a Meeting,” “Good Name and Character” and “Payment for Copies of Records,” takes the user directly to that section of the manual, saving valuable search time. The headings are conveniently arrayed in a column to the left of the text. To get to the manual, click on the header titled APAL.

ALACOG was recently created in order to develop an atmosphere of openness and trust in the conduct of the public’s business by providing a number of services – from education to direct assistance in situations where access to public meetings and information has been wrongly denied.

Individuals who see articles dealing with meetings or records issues can have the articles posted on the site by sending them to Dr. Ed Mullins, Department of Journalism, University of Alabama, Box 870172, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487; or by e-mailing the URL to Mullins at mullins@jn.ua.edu. Interested parties may also contact Mullins concerning additional opportunities of supporting the organization and its mission.