Defending privacy and the right to public information were the topics of debate at a roundtable discussion on public records Tuesday, featuring a cornucopia of lawyers, journalists and government officials.
The event was put on by Associated Press Managing Editors at the College of Law in an effort to increase discussion on the issue of media access to public records.
"Journalists are trying to be reasonable," said Enric Volante, a reporter at the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson.
Journalists pressure government agencies for information because they want to do their jobs effectively and quickly, Volante added.
In late 2004, members of the Arizona media conducted an audit of many state agencies to measure their efficiency in response to requests for public records, said Paul Giblin, a columnist for the East Valley Tribune and audit coordinator.
"The results were rather dismal," Giblin said. "About a quarter [of the agencies] failed the audit."
Giblin said an agency failed the audit if it did not present the requested information within one week.
The federal Freedom of Information Act requires all government agencies to make certain information, such as police records and financial reports available to the public in a "timely" manner.
ASU officials participating in the forum stressed their commitment to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) -- a federal law that protects students' educational records.
ASU can release limited information on students, including name, course of study and e-mail addresses, according to FERPA.
ASU received several requests for information after the shooting death of former ASU football player Brandon Falkner, said Terri Shafer, public information officer for ASU.
Shafer said the media was looking for information on Loren Wade, the former ASU football player who has been accused in Falkner's death.
"They wanted to know everything," Shafer said. "Counseling records, interaction with faculty, and other students."
The University could not release any of this information under FERPA. Some of the requested information -- such as who Wade may have dated -- the University did not have records of, Shafer said.
Sara Fulkerson, a journalism senior, said she attended the event to earn extra credit for a magazine writing class.
"It's important for all journalists to understand routes to public information," she said.
Fulkerson said she has not encountered obstacles to gaining public records herself.
"I've been doing a lot of document research, so I've requested records from the clerk of superior court," Fulkerson said.
Reach the reporter at emilia.arnold@asu.edu.
