Date: Wed, 24 May 1995 11:13:45 -0400 Sender: State and Local Freedom of Information Issues <FO...@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU> From: Joel Campbell <campbell....@OSU.EDU> Freedom-of-Information (FOI) Hotlines Good sources of information about state and federal meeting and records access laws. Some hotlines also provide help in convincing government officials to open meetings and records. Many of the hotlines listed are restricted to journalists. Compiled from information provided by FOI-L participants, Quill October 1994, Please post any corrections or additions to campbell....@osu.edu . U.S. National Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press 1-800-336-4243 (24 hours; emergency only after regular business hours) Their new address is 1101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va. 22209. Student Press Law Center (202) 466-5242 Freedom of Information Center, University of Missouri (314) 882-4856 Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., M-F (CST) We have an answering machine and will return calls during normal hours of operation. Who can use: Anyone--not restricted to journalists--but no collect calls will be accepted. Contact: Kathleen Edwards, jou...@muccmail.missouri.edu Canadian National Canadian Federal Government The Information Commissioner of Canada AND The Privacy Commissioner of Canada 112 Kent Street Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1A 1H3 (613) 995-2410 1-800-267-0441 No restrictions on who may use it...open from 8:30am to 4:30pm. There are many publications available to the public as well. Province of Ontario - Freedom of Information and Privacy Commissioner 80 Bloor Street West, Suite 1700 Toronto, Ontario Canada States Arizona First Amendment Coalition (602) 351-8000 California First Amendment Coalition Actionline (916) 447-2322 (916) 485-2912 (after hours and weekends) Colorado Freedom of Information Council (303) 623-7070 Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information (203) 584-0501 Florida First Amendment Foundation Hotline (904) 222-3518 Georgia Press Association (706) 722-4481 Hoosier State Press Association (Indiana) (317) 637-3966 Illinois Press Association (217) 523-5092 Iowa Iowa has three working hotlines, but all are for journalists only and are only open during business hours. Iowa Newspaper Association 1-515-281-3100 Iowa Broadcasters Association 1-515-288-2500 Iowa Freedom of Information Council 1-515-271-3083 Kansas Press Association (913) 271-5304 Kentucky Press Association (502) 589-5235 Massachusetts Newspaper Association (508) 465-7539 Minnesota FOI Hotline Inc. (612) 827-5611 Michigan FOI Committee (313) 577-8379 Montana FOI Hotline Inc. (406) 442-3261 Nevada (Evan Wallach, attorney) (702) 383-8832 New Jersey SPJ Pro Chapter Hotline 1-800-813-9498 New Mexico Foundation for Open Government 1-800-283-6634 North Carolina Press Association (919) 833-3833 Ohio Newspaper Association (614) 486-6677 Oklahoma Press Association (405) 524-4421 Pennsylvania First Amendment Coalition (717) 234-4067 ext 222 or 224 South Carolina Press Association (803) 254-1607 South Dakota Newspaper Association (605) 335-0083 FOI Foundation of Texas 1(800) 580-6651 in Texas (214) 977-6651 outside of Texas What are the Hours: 24 hours a day Who can use it: Anyone Utah FOI Hotline 1-800-574-4546 1-801 532-7840 (out of state) Sponsor of Hotline: Utah Headliners Chapter-SPJ and Kimball, Parr, Waddoups, Brown and Gee. Who can use it: Any journalist including student journalists and freelances. Citizens with extraordinary circumstances may also be referred. Virginia Press Association (804) 550-2361 Wisconsin Freedom of Information Hotline 800/362-2664 (in Wis.) or 608/257-3911 (out of state) Sponsor Wisconsin Newspaper Association Hours: 7 a.m.-8 p.m. CT Who can use it: Print and Broadcast Journalists Wyoming FOI Hotline (307) 265-3455 State Government Groups Connecticut FOI Commission (203) 566-5682 Massachusetts Public Records Division (617) 727-2832 New York Committee on Open Government (518) 474-2518 Texas Attorney General's Open Government Hotline (512) 478-6736 Joel Campbell campbell....@osu.edu Ohio State University 211k,School of Journalism, Tel: 614-292-6291