The wrong type of FOI headline for a public authority

From the US - not the type of headlines many organisations will want in 2005. An important message here about the dangers of treating requestors differently.

"Public records audit: Some records requests met with suspicion and threats. Public officials, ignorant of the law or paralyzed by suspicion, regularly thwart citizens exercising their constitutional right to inspect public records, a statewide audit has found. While journalists and attorneys enjoy the benefits of Florida's open government laws, the same rights are not always granted to Florida's other residents."

St Augustine News (Florida) Feb. 7th