David Cuillier

A comparison of political, cultural, and economic indicators of access to information in Arab and non-Arab states

Abstract As more and more countries adopt access-to-information (ATI) laws to advance economic development and democratic self-governance, efforts are under way to foster ATI movements in the Arab world. While one nation in that region already has adopted the legislation, the likelihood of adoption in other Arab states is unknown. This comparative study analyzed 12 quantitative indicators measuring political, cultural, and economic factors associated with access to information. Results indicate that Arab countries, as a whole, contrast sharply in nearly all areas with non-Arab countries that have ATI laws and are consistent with non-Arab countries that do not have ATI laws. However, the study also found that the most recent ATI law adopters had weaker political, cultural, and economic enabling environments for government information access, which may portend a global phenomenon that will continue and could explain the interest in adopting the legislation in the Arab world. Findings also suggest that while a handful of Arab countries might have the wealth to effectively implement ATI laws, political and cultural conditions may be substantial obstacles for greater government transparency. Other results regarding the use of quantitative indicators of ATI adoption, particularly structural pluralism, are discussed.

Gambling with Identity: Self-Representation of American Indians on Official Tribal Websites

This analysis of 224 official American Indian websites examines how tribes with the incentive to attract tourists to casino gambling represent their identities on the Internet. The framing analysis found that nearly 4 out of 10 tribes with casinos represent their own identities using the historic relic frame—primarily relying on the exotic Other, such as tepees and stoic chiefs in headdresses, locked in the past. In contrast, only 1 in 10 of the tribes without casinos communicates the same identity, instead being more likely to display a voiced participant frame of modern images and assertions of sovereignty and resistance. Implications for ethnic tourism are discussed, including the continued marginalization and stereotyping of American Indians, in this case, by American Indians themselves.

Honey v. vinegar: Testing compliance-gaining theories in the context of freedom of information laws

Freedom of information laws are useful to the extent that they are followed. This study, based on compliance-gaining theories, employs two field experiments to examine the effect of persuasion tactics and litigation threats on agency adherence to public records laws. In Study 1, a journalist requested use-of-force reports from all police agencies in a state, mailing agencies either friendly or threatening letters, randomly assigned. In Study 2, a journalist requested superintendent contracts from school districts, mailing agencies randomly assigned versions of friendly, neutral or threatening letters. In both experiments the threatening letter resulted in slightly higher response rates, lower copy fees and faster response times, however, the friendly letter resulted in more helpful behavior from agencies. The article concludes by discussing implications for journalists, compliance-gaining theory in a legal realm, and freedom of information.

Access Attitudes: A Social Learning Approach to Examining Community Engagement and Support for Press Access to Government Records

This survey-based study examines public attitudes toward press access to government records, deriving a political model predicting support for freedom of information based on social learning theory and testing whether support for press access is best explained by societal power, media importance, or political attitudes. Findings indicate that support is tied most closely to political attitudes such that the strongest predictors are community engagement and support for press rights, regardless of age, income, education, newspaper reading, or other variables. The results offer insights to help journalists, scholars, and citizens understand—and perhaps influence—public attitudes toward freedom of information.

Subconscious Gatekeeping: The Effect of Death Thoughts on Bias Toward Outgroups in News Writing

This study contributes to gatekeeping theory by examining the importance of individual-level subconscious psychological factors in news story fact selection, specifically whether the thought of death increases biased writing toward outgroups. An experiment (N = 79), based on terror management theory from social psychology, indicated that college journalists primed to think about death injected into their news stories 66% more negative facts toward a rival university than those in a control condition. Implications for mass media research, particularly individual-level psychological factors overriding routine gatekeeping forces, are discussed.

SUSPICION AND SECRECY: POLITICAL ATTITUDES AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO SUPPORT FOR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

Public attitudes toward government transparency can affect freedom of information policies, laws and even, perhaps, court rulings. Relatively little research, however, has identified factors that explain and predict public support for open government, an essential element of democracy, journalism and freedom of information law and policy. This survey-based study examines how political psychographic factors, such as skepticism, cynicism, apathy, complacency, liberalism and external efficacy relate to support for government transparency in principle. Results from a random-digit-dial telephone survey of Washington state residents (N = 416) indicate that skepticism, cynicism and political liberal values predict support for government transparency. Implications discussed include the importance of cynicism and skepticism in political decision-making, as well as the role of critical thinking and the questioning of authority in the development of freedom of information law and policy.

GIFTed Teaching: A Content Analysis of 253 Great Ideas for Teaching Awards in Journalism and Mass Communication Education

A content analysis of all 253 Great Ideas for Teaching (GIFT) awards presented 2000–2009 at Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication conventions found that exercises containing the most effective teaching elements identified in the educational literature were team-based and used in courses involving visual communication, such as photography, online, and advertising. Relatively few ideas incorporated technology or elements of diversity. This exploratory study also introduces a measure for assessing the number of teaching elements in classroom exercises, based on theory from the education field. Other findings and implications for journalism and mass communication education are discussed.

Ethics Pedagogy 2.0: A Content Analysis of Award-Winning Media Ethics Exercises

A content analysis of 253 Great Ideas for Teachers (GIFTs) found that most of the 18 activities suitable for ethics courses relied on traditional methods of teaching, mainly discussions, teamwork, and case studies. Few used online technology, games, or simulations, compared with activities in other areas of journalism education. While most ethics ideas were designed to stimulate higher order learning, they were less likely than other GIFTs to incorporate varied elements that might improve student engagement. The authors make suggestions, based on the education literature and GIFT analysis, for incorporating dynamic, interactive activities in ethics courses.

The People’s Right to Know: Comparing Harold L. Cross’ Pre-FOIA World to Post-FOIA Today

Journalists and politicians often disagree over whether the state of freedom of information is better or worse since the passage of the Freedom of Information Act in 1966. This study attempts to provide some historical context by comparing the state of access in 1953 as outlined in detail in The Peoples Right to Know by Harold L. Cross, the first comprehensive review of case law and statutes in the United States regarding access to public records at local, state and federal agencies. Analysis indicates that the legal right to information, particularly for police records and federal documents, is better today than it was in 1953, but challenges persist regarding compliance, enforcement and the prevalence of exemptions. Recommendations are provided for the next fifty years, including renewal of Cross’ urging for a First Amendment right to know.