Media Law 6

Freedom of Information (FOI)

The freedom of information act 2000 gives the general public the right to information from public authorities including the government.

The freedom of information act is seen as a good thing for journalists as it allow them to uncover truths about subjects that the public otherwise wouldn't have known. Tony Blair's government brought in the act to give the government more transparancy however Mr Blair has openly regretted the move as many journalists have used it against the governments favour.

Public services covered include;
. Government departments
. Local authorities
. National health service bodies
. Schools, colleges, and universities
. The police
. The houses of parliament
. The Northern Ireland assembley; and
. The National assembley for Wales

McNae's Essential law for journalists states;

Any person (icluding a journalist) who makes a request in writing to a public authority for information must be told wheter the authority holds that information and must be supplied with the information he is seeking, unless an exemption applies. However, in the majority of cases where an exemption applies, the public authority will then have to consider whether the information must be released in the public interest.


Reference: McNae's essential law for journalists 19th edition.