Access to information - Source for a better information quality (2012-2013)
The EU-funded project improved and raised awareness about the importance of having greater access for journalists to public information in order to increase the quality of public information and to promote freedom of expression and independent media.
The right to know is the fundamental right of journalists and all citizens should have access to information held by public bodies. The project built on positive experience of NGOs and journalists from EU member states. It worked directly with the journalists on strengthening their role as public watchdogs through exercise of their right to free access to public information.
Results achieved:
- Increased journalists’ awareness for the importance and possibilities of the powerful tool of independent media – Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which is currently under-used by the media.
- Enhanced journalists’ skills for greater use of the FOIA
- More fact-based and substantiated news reporting through greater use of FOIA
- Proposed legal changes to FOIA toward shortening the deadline for answering to the requests for information in alignment to other European countries.
The project is implemented by the Center for Civil Communication in cooperation with Access Info Europe and the Balkan Investigating Reporting Network BIRN.