Week 3: Assignment and Student Response

Dennis Fraser Wednesday May 16 at 6:03am The federal Freedom of Information Act “Provides access to all records of all federal agencies in the executive branch unless those records fall within one of nine categories of exempt information that agencies are permitted (but generally not required) to withhold” (Federal Open Government Guide, p. 4). This is open to the entire public for their use. A request can be made over the phone, online or in written word. A person is also allowed an immediate request or to ask for an expedited request. Not only that but if an agency refuses to disclose all or part of a request you have the right to request an appeal. The thing is FOIA applies to every single agency, department, corporation and commission in the executive branch of the government. However, there always are exemptions to FOIA like the Smithsonian and the Public Broadcasting Commission. While another problem presents itself in how you cannot submit a FOIA to the Federal Reserve. The point being is how some agencies have their own rules and laws regarding FOIA to not release anything if requested. What must be remembered is that under this act many agencies are required to make information public as it is on their websites (Federal Open Government Guide). I looked a little further online for examples of FOIA requests and I found an array of different requests. The first one I chose is from the Department of Justice office of Public Affairs. Through going to the actual Website, I could have submitted my own request for some information. Secondly, I chose the U.S. Department of Commerce. This is the general and basic department and nothing further. All of which had the whole form presented to me for submitting a request. Now it all depends on who you ask in pertaining to if FOIA goes too far. As said in the video found in the First Amendment Center it goes on how some believe too much information is at stake while others believe not enough information put out there. This all comes to a conclusion in how as a free government the people have a right to know what their country is doing and has done. While the opposing side thinks it serves illegal aliens, prisoners and journalists too much. I think it does what it was meant to do considering we must have the ability to see and view what our government is doing. As it is a journalist’s job to educate and inform the public of what is going on in their community and the government. It is FOIA’s job to do just the same in informing the public what our government has done and does. References Federal Open Government Guide (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (http://www.rcfp.org/federal-open-government-guide (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.) First Amendment Center (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/tag/freedom-of-information)