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"I wholeheartedly agree that freedom of access to data about Government is so vital that only the national security, not the desire of public officials or private citizens, should determine when it must be withheld or restricted."

-- Donald Rumsfeld, 1966

A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of speaking before the local noon Lions Club on a topic that I find near and dear to my heart and one that I thought the organization might find interesting.

It was on the Freedom of Information Act, its history, how it has been used by the press, and the challenges it faces under the current social and political climate.

Much of the information I culled as background for the presentation I gleaned from the Associated Press Managing Editors organization.

My purpose in the beginning was to the stress that freedom of information is not only critical to media, it is essential to a democracy.

A newspaper must convey in clear, concise and accurate terms the information citizens need to effectively make good decisions about their lives, personal and civic. Citizens must take all the information available to them, analyze it against their values and make decisions about how they wish to be governed. The Freedom of Information Act is less than 40 years old but has proved to be an invaluable tool for the press and citizens as well.

It's that act, according to APME, along with the public records laws at the state level, that takes the First Amendment a step further: It specifically protects the public's right to information gathered by our government. The founders granted the press freedom from regulation by the Congress so that it could undertake with vigor this quest to gather and publish information.

The purpose was to build an informed citizenry that could govern itself effectively. Give people enough information, the founders thought, and they'd find the truth.

At this moment in our nation's history, threats to freedom of information have never been greater. In the wake of Sept. 11, the federal government is choking off the flow of vital information, citing national security concerns. Our military often operates below the media radar, with information dispensed in tiny, thoroughly sterilized doses.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld certainly has changed his tune in the last 40 years when he was congratulating President Johnson on the signing of the Freedom of Information Act.

One would have a great argument that things certainly have changed in the last 40 years and there are compelling reasons to squeeze off the free flow of information.

During my discussion at the Lions Club, we had an opportunity to get into some interesting discussions regarding a variety of issues.

Moffat County Sheriff Buddy Grinstead made the argument that access to public records can sometimes lead to a compromise of an investigation that could endanger the integrity of a case and put law enforcement officers in danger.

My thoughts were that, especially in a community such as ours, communication between the press and law enforcement agencies is crucial. We at the Daily Press will not jeopardize an investigation or the safety of an officer simply for a "scoop." At the same time, however, we realize that openness promotes accountability, which breeds trust among citizens and just might help solve a crime. In the same way, access to court records and proceedings promotes the belief the system is working in the best interests of justice overall. Nothing will erode that confidence faster than blocking public access to court proceedings through sealed records, gag orders and closed hearings. Openness allows citizens to witness justice at work. Secrecy can only breed distrust and undermine the credibility of the system.

We welcome these discussions because they are so thought provoking and critical to the democratic process.

Remember that these are really your rights, not mine or my newspaper's.

"Bleeding the Black Ink" is a weekly column that aims at getting readers better acquainted with the Craig Daily Press, the First Amendment and the newspaper industry. Do you have a question or an issue for an upcoming column? Call Terrance Vestal at 824-7031 or email him at tvestal@craigdailypress.com.