Talking Points: Talking Points: Sunshine Week 2007

What We Do

Guests On Call offers a variety of media promotional services to non-profit organizations and others. We can provide flexible support to promote any issue, activity or event that fits our mission and areas of interest. Please contact Jimmy Durchslag at 800-884-8852 x2 or jimmy@mainstream-media.net to find out the specific ways our services may benefit your project. We welcome any inquiries on ways to support our activities.

First Class Booking Service

If you are a radio host or producer and are interested in coordinating an interview on our current topic, please contact one of our Expert Media Coordinators here or call toll-free 1-800-884-8852. For interviews in Spanish, please contact our Latina Media Coordinator Naihma Deady at 1(800) 884-8852 ext. 6.

"From Advocate to Expert" Media Training for Talk Radio

We offer two types of radio training in English and Spanish: Basic training for the less media savvy and Advanced training for those who have experience in advocacy via media and would like to reach the "other side" in a solutions-based manner of dialogue. For more information, please contact Harmony Groves, Program Coordinator at (707)826-9111 x 26

Monday, March 12, 2007

Talking Points: Sunshine Week 2007

What is Sunshine Week? How did it start and why?

Sunshine Week is a national week to raise public discussion about the importance of open government, the Freedom of Information Act and Sunshine Laws.

Sunshine Week is rooted in an event that originally took place in Florida, called “Sunshine Sunday” in 2002. Prompted by concern among the public and the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors about potential reforms to open government laws, a campaign was launched to educate and motivate the public about open government laws and their importance. This campaign was successful as many people advocated and pushed for their representatives to protect open government laws and the public’s right to know.

In 2005, the first national Sunshine Week was launched, supported by the American Society of Newspaper Editors. There have been several success stories from the information released during Sunshine Week and the involvement of the public in learning about whether their federal, state and local governments are providing affordable, easy access to public information.

Main website for sunshine week

Click here to view events planned around the country

Radio-Television News Directors’ Association Sunshine Week information page:

Text of Freedom of Information Act

New York State Committee on Open Government