Empoderando al periodismo2021-08-30T12:55:14+02:00

EMPODERANDO AL PERIODISMO A TRAVÉS DEL DERECHO DE ACCESO A LA INFORMACIÓN

EL MANUAL ‘LEGAL LEAKS’ AYUDA A PERIODISTAS A OBTENER 
INFORMACIÓN USANDO LAS LEYES DE ACCESO A LA INFORMACIÓN

Why is the right of access to information important for journalism?

Journalists play a central role in initiating and stimulating public debates, but face constant challenges in accessing information from public bodies, particularly when that information relates to sensitive issues such as corruption, organised crime, environmental contamination, or relationships with business and lobby groups. The right of access to information and access to information laws have become a crucial tool in this context. They guarantee journalists access to information held by public bodies for their stories and investigations, enabling them to exercise their role as public watchdogs in our democracies.

A Guide for Journalists on How to Access Information

The Legal Leaks Toolkit, developed by Access Info Europe and n-ost, helps journalists access information using Access to Information laws. The Toolkit is available in a generic international version and can be adapted to the legal framework of any country. The existing national versions, translated into local languages, are available below. You can also read more below about our training programme and about how to contact
the Legal Leaks Help Desk.

Why do media experts think access to information is important?

Journalists, activists, and media experts speak about the importance of access to information in their daily work. Watch all interviews here!

That little detail in the relationship between journalists and sources, that little one, is so important that could change the way in which we tell stories.
Juan Luis Sánchez, Deputy Director of eldiario.es

It is extremely important that there is this mechanism that you can use as a journalist to say «Hang on a minute, you need to give us this, because we have a right to know».
Ana Petruševa, Managing Editor, Balkan Insight, BIRN Country Director Macedonia
It’s a great way to get stories, it’s a great way to fin out what governments in particular are doing, it’s a great way to find out where money goes, it’s a great way to prove accountability.
Gavin Sheridan, Investigative Journalist and FOI Expert

The right of access to information is very important for the journalists’ work; it’s important for everyday work, but it’s even more important for investigations.
Alexander Kashumov, Head of the Legal Team; Access to Information Programme Bulgaria
Journalism is about investigation, it’s about asking questions; but it’s about documents as well, as a proof for questions, as a proof for answers
Christian Mihr, Executive Director of Reporters Without Borders Germany

Basically, I need access to information to do my job as someone who is supposed to ensure the accountability of politicians, of public officials.
Marcus Hametner, Co-Founder, Forum Informationsfreiheit Austria

Cover photo: European Parliament via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

ÚLTIMAS NOTICIAS SOBRE EMPODERANDO AL PERIODISMO

15Jul 2014

MEPs urged to push lobby transparency to top of Juncker’s agenda

Brussels, 15 July 2014 - Access Info Europe as part of ALTER-EU is calling upon Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to ensure that improvements in the area of lobby transparency, conflicts of interest, and ethics are placed high on the agenda of the new European Commission, as they prepare to quiz its president-elect Jean-Claude Juncker today. During the recent

9Jul 2014

Concerns about EMA’s transparency backtrack on clinical trials data

Madrid, 9 July 2014 – The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is considering adopting a policy on access to clinical trials data which imposes stricter confidentiality requirements and restricts citizens’ ability to exercise the right of access to documents. The proposed policy on proactive publication of clinical trial data has caused concern for Access Info Europe and other civil society organizations,

2Jul 2014

Cypriot draft access to information law needs significant improvement according to civil society organisations

Madrid/Nicosia, 3 July 2014 - Access Info Europe has called upon the Republic of Cyprus to significantly improve the recently proposed draft law on access to information to come into line with international standards, in recommendations submitted as part of a public consultation. In the submission made this week to the consultation, Access Info welcomed the decision of the Government

26Jun 2014

Un libro sobre el fenómeno de las puertas giratorias

Madrid, 26 de junio de 2014 - Hoy a las 19h se presenta en el Centro de Estudios Políticos y Constitucionales de Madrid el libro realizado por el Foro Empresarial APRI, El Lobby en España ¿asignatura pendiente?, publicado por la editorial Algón Editores. Access Info Europe colabora en el libro con un capítulo dedicado a las puertas giratorias. Se trata

25Jun 2014

Legal Leaks training in Podgorica focuses on media self-regulation and access to information

Podgorica, 14 June 2014 - "There is a weak culture of investigative journalism in Montenegro, with young journalists not being encouraged by editors to use the access to information law," stated participants in last week’s Legal Leaks training in Podgorica. Long timeframes for responding to requests for information and complex appeals procedures were also concerns raised by the participants in