Why Sunshine Week matters: A Q and A

The Associated Press has lost four staff members in Iraq. We know that three were executed. The media have become the target. We spend hours a day on security. Clearly, our movements are restricted, and our ability to gather information is hampered. We be | The Associated Press • Published March 11, 2007

Q. Does the mix of privacy concerns by the public and heightened anxiety about national security in a war climate make it more difficult for reporters to effectively practice their craft?

A. Certainly, and some of that thinking is normal for wartime. Judging by election results and convictions of elected officials in a half-dozen states, the public attitude is shifting back toward a demand for accountability and debate. We have traveled almost six years from the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The willingness to "risk" openness is growing.

Q. Media advocacy groups such as the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders have issued detailed reports on how dangerous the world has become for media workers. What effect is the targeting of journalists having on newsgathering?

A. Q. Campaigning for the U.S. presidency is under way. How does the intensity of the politics of a presidential campaign affect open government initiatives?

A. A campaign is the best time to win a commitment to public service. Interviews with candidates should explore the attitude toward public service or self service. Voting records and dealmaking behavior should go under the microscope early. Some of the most blatant examples of self-dealing occur in larger states where daily individual scrutiny is a challenge. The election offers another chance to inform voters.

Q. What role can citizen journalists and participatory networks play in advancing the dialogue about the people's right to know?

A. The citizen community has produced some of the most exciting counters to cover-ups. The growth in public involvement and sophistication in information gathering and distributing are among the most positive signs in connecting the people to their elected or appointed representatives.

Q. No other news organization has defended reporting in more states and federal courtrooms across a broader range of issues than AP in its 161-year history. Do you see that changing?

A. We must intensify our vigilance. We added one more lawyer to the payroll for 2007. While we try to pick our fights carefully, the sad reality is that more in government are presuming confidentiality rather than openness. We are intensifying our training of reporters and editors and working with journalists at other organizations and citizen groups where appropriate. As Sunshine Week has demonstrated, we will succeed if we, too, serve the people.

The Associated Press