Open Data Census: A blog post by Rufus Pollack, founder and co-director of the Open Knowledge Foundation also includes a description of a developing effort to create a single overall ranking, an Open Data Index. Pollack also writes about how progress in open government data “is not (just) about the number of datasets being released. The quality of the datasets being released matters at least as much – and often more – than the quantity of these datasets.”
Research Project: “Exploring the Emerging Impacts of Open Data in Developing Countries,” a project started last year that now has a website and a Linked In group. The two-year research programme is coordinated by the World Wide Web Foundation (See an announcement.)and established with funding from the International Development Research Centre. The ODDC project seeks to understand the dynamics of both open data policy and practice across the developing world, paying attention to the dynamics of open data use across different geographies and contexts, and looking at both positive impacts of open data, and unintended consequences. ODDC will conduct 17 independent case studies in 14 countries. Initial case-study countries include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Nepal, Paraguay, Philippines, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda and Uruguay.
Call for Papers: Third Global Conference on Transparency Research HEC PARIS, Oct. 24-26, 2013 — a forum to discuss papers analyzing current policies on access to information held by governments, transparency relationships among government entities, transparency relationships between governments and private and non-profit entities, and access to information held by governments about individuals. Papers advancing the understanding of the concepts, determinants, roots and critiques of transparency and open government are particularly welcome. Submit an individual abstract or a panel proposal to Mr Jocelyn Delatre (jocelyn.delatre@ucdconnect.ie) before May 1. Individual abstracts should be 400 words long. More information on the conference will be soon available at campus.hec.fr/global-transparency.
Legislatures: The U.S. Sunlight Foundation launches the full Open States site with searchable legislative data for all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. “Open States is the only comprehensive database of activities from all state capitols that makes it easy to find your state lawmaker, review their votes, search for legislation, track bills and much more.” It’s described more in a blog post.
OGP: The Stanford Social Innovation Review has published a 16-page supplement featuring articles on the Open Government Partnership by government officials and others who have been closely involved in its formation, beginning with some OGP history from Jeremy M. Weinstein, Associate Professor of political science, senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, and principal architect of the Open Government Partnership. The supplement was underwritten by Omidyar Network, also an OGP supporter, and can be accessed via the Stanford Social Innovation Review website.
South Africa: Right2Know releases its “Secret State of the Nation” report, highlighting the state of secrecy and openness in South Africa today.
Canada: A report says “Canada’s access to information system is in a deep crisis and without urgent reforms could soon become dysfunctional.” The report by the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), is titled “A HOLLOW RIGHT: Access to information in crisis.”
FOI story of the week: Bed bugs – Legislation in the U.S. state of Oregon would shield certain bed bug data from public records law in an effort to encourage voluntary reporting, according to the Art of Access blog.
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