Sunshine Week Panel: How Journalists Can Unlock Inaccessible Government Data

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Press Club's Press Freedom Committee is joining with open-government groups during Sunshine Week to explore the technical keys to making government data truly transparent.

The panel discussion is titled, "Partly Cloudy: Why 'Public Information' Doesn't Always = Accessible Information." It's being held at the Club on March 18 during a week that spotlights the importance of open government.  Admission is free but registration is required: http://press.org/events/making-%E2%80%98public%E2%80%99-data-truly-accessible#tickets

Although often with good intentions, the government sometimes hinders access to valuable public information by posting it online in proprietary and other closed formats (such as PDFs) that make analysis problematic. Panelists from the Sunlight Foundation, USA Today, ProPublica and the Data Transparency Coalition will discuss how digitizing government data does not always improve its accessibility. And they'll provide insights on how to overcome poor disclosure practices.

The Club is partnering on the event with the Sunlight Foundation, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), OpentheGovernment.org, ProPublica and the Reporters Committee for Freedom the Press.

Courtesy of these sponsors, a cash bar will be open and appetizers will be served after the panel.

WHAT: "Partly Cloudy: Why 'Public Information' Doesn't Always = Accessible Information," a Sunshine Week panel and mixer (cash bar)

WHEN: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 6:30-8:30 p.m.

WHERE: National Press Club, Holeman Lounge

WHO: John M. Donnelly, National Press Club

Kathy Kiely, Sunlight Foundation

Kaitlin Devine, Sunlight Foundation

Hudson Hollister, Data Transparency Coalition

Jeff Larson, ProPublica

Paul Singer, USA Today

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS EVENT, PLEASE CONTACT:
John M. Donnelly, [email protected]; 202 746 6020

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080917/NPCLOGO

SOURCE National Press Club

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