FOI: Remembering that FOI is about more than just getting data

Last month, David Cameron described the principle of open data being better than Freedom of Information because it is the process of discovery which is, to use his phrase, ‘furring up the arteries’ of government. For what it’s worth, I can’t help but think that in central government especially, the furring up is caused by

Gallery: How the newspapers which knew Gary Speed best covered his death

The death of Gary Speed was one of those news stories which, when read first on Twitter, always makes me think: “I need to see that several more times from people I trust before I believe it.” Confirmation followed soon after. As is increasingly the case on social networks, the actual news was soon superceded

FOI Friday: Strange weapons, cost of a big fire, prison menus and revisiting attacks at hospitals

Newcastle Evening Chronicle: Reports compiled about big fire show concerns over safety equipment EFFORTS to fight a giant blaze were hit by concerns over safety equipment. Internal fire service documents seen by the Chronicle reveal the fire caused damage to the neck straps on firefighters’ breathing masks that did not meet required standards. The fault

FOI Friday: Speaking clocks, hospital parking fines, gagging orders and snooping on council staff

1. Court cases dropped for ‘not being in the public interest’ Some fascinating numbers reported in the London Evening Standard as a result of an FOI request to the Crown Prosecution Service, which was asked to reveal how many prosecutions in London were dropped ‘because they were no longer in the public interest’ – often

FOI Friday: Overdue books, bedding plants, baby scans and trading standards

1. The most overdue books in town The devil, they say, is in the detail. And the Accrington Observer got plenty of detail back from its FOI request into overdue books at Accrington Library. Not only did they find out the number of books which are overdue, and the total amount owing in fines, but

Man suffers burns when picking up cat

  What’s the secret of a great regional newspaper headline? Surely making the reader stop and feel they need to know more is part of the mix. If so, then this front page from the Newcastle Evening Chronicle is surely a great example. The story – which is quite horrific – can be found on

FOI Friday: Swine flu deaths, speeding points, paper cuts in hospital and fuel prices

So, how many people did die of swine flu? For reasons known only to itself – although the fact it keeps being named and shamed by the Information Commissioner for its poor record on FOI might be a clue – the North West Strategic Health Authority banned hospital trusts from giving out figures on swine

FOI Friday: Lost warrant cards, council sick days, noisy students and the real cost of council savings

1. Stolen warrant cards The Yorkshire Post used the Freedom of Information Act to find out how many warrant cards had been lost or stolen by officers in Yorkshire in recent years. The answer: 370. Why are warrant cards particularly important? According to the paper: Just over a week ago a gang of distraction burglars

FOI: Government admits a public interest, but still manages to keep secrets…

The Newcastle Evening Chronicle has been campaigning for compensation for sufferers of pleural plaques since 2009. Being in an industrial part of the world, it’s a big issue for Chronicle readers. Pleural plaques is a scarring of the lungs caused by asbestos. The previous government committed to payouts of up to £5,000 per sufferer, and the

“Actionable news”: A dull phrase, but one which should shape what we do

If you were presented with the following three news stories: The promotion of Newcastle United to the Premier League, the death of Raoul Moat after a week on the run, or a story which revealed which restaurants were Newcastle’s dirtiest – which would you expect to be the most viewed online this year? In the