Canada: A book titled “Access in the Academy,” developed by the Freedom of Information and Privacy Association and Mike Larsen of Kwantlen Polytechnic University (Instructor, Dept. of Criminology) describes how researchers, students, and others in the higher education can make the most of FOI and ATI practices.
FOIA Machine: Developers of an online tool called FOIA Machine, surpassed their $17,500 fundraising goal after just two days on Kickstarter. FOIA Machine is a working prototype from the Center for Investigative Reporting.
Funding: “If you are developing an open source tool and are looking for funds to jumpstart the project, apply now for an OpenGov Grant from the Sunlight Foundation. We are offering one-time grants in the range of $5,000 to $10,000 to help you fulfill your vision of making government more transparent and accountable. Discover how we will take your project to its next stage of development.”
Commentary: U.S. blogger Alex Howard writes about “What is the return on investment (ROI) of open government?”
United States: The House Oversight Committee issues a report on FOI legislation it approved in March.
United States: The state of Pennsylvania may amend its records law to make higher education more transparent, according to an article by the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press.
Technology: Audio and materials available from webinar sponsored by Transparency and Access Initiative on a draft publication to “guide transparency and accountability organisations through the process of strategising, planning, implementing and evaluating their technology projects. It details how to create a technology strategy, how to effectively plan and manage a technology project, how to evaluate your tech project and includes supporting pieces that focus on discreet types of technology applications.”
United Kingdom: Chris Cook writes in a Financial Times blog post: “The Cabinet Office – which includes the prime minister’s office – seems now to be openly refusing to comply with the transparency law, especially when it comes to the person of the prime minister.”
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