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

5Dic 2012

Participation, ethics and transparency: what citizens want from Brussels

Participation, ethics and transparency: What citizens want from Brussels Brussels, 17 November 2012 – The European Union is ever more important in influencing the laws and policies that affect more than 500 million europeans. Yet very few know about our european representatives and the influence of interest groups upon them. Therefore, various organisations around Europe, including Access Info Europe, Friends

4Dic 2012

Sí saben, pero no contestan

A pesar de la inminente puesta en marcha de una ley de acceso a la información pública, el informe del primer cuatrimestre de actividad en ‘Tu Derecho A Saber‘ pone de manifiesto que, en la práctica, existen graves problemas de transparencia en España. Este primer informe, revela que la mayoría de las solicitudes no obtienen respuesta, o ésta es incompleta.

22Nov 2012

Lithuania Nuclear Power

Debate on Lithuanian Nuclear Power Deal Centres on Access to Information It is unacceptable to shield a nuclear project from Freedom of Information says Access Info Europe Vilnius, 22 November 2012– At a high-level debate in Lithuania (20 November 2012), Access Info Europe strongly criticised an anti-freedom of information clause in the public-private partnership agreement on the Visaginas nuclear power

14Nov 2012

Measuring Transparency Debate

The Debate on How to Measure «Openness» 9 November 2012 – In a public comment issued today, Helen Darbishire, Executive Director of Access Info Europe and Toby Mendel, Executive Directorof the Centre for Law and Democracy respond to criticisms of the RTI Rating in the paper Measuring Openness: A Survey of Transparency Ratings and the Prospects for a Global Index

13Nov 2012

Spain is a world leader in Open Data. Says who?

13 November 2012 – In September 2012 the Web Foundation published the first edition of its Open Data Index, “a specific set of 14 indicators directly targeted at measuring open data worldwide”. Many open data and transparency activists in Spain were surprised to find Spain in the leading pack, since Spain still doesn't have an access to information law and