NFPW stands with our affiliate Arkansas Press Women (APW) and with the Arkansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), who have expressed to the leaders of the Arkansas General Assembly their opposition to House Bill 1003 and Senate Bill 7. 

In the words of the attached letter, which SPJ has sent and that APW has signed (along with other organizations), the legislation weakens the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act by creating “several new exemptions to the law that will shatter citizens’ protection and violate the law’s presumption in favor of disclosure and transparency. If passed and enacted into law as written, the bill will lock critical elements of state government in a black box, away from the people who have a right to know what the government does in their name and how it spends their money.” 

NFPW continually works for all Americans to protect First Amendment rights through our First Amendment Network (FAN). We also participate in Sunshine Week, an annual event that heightens awareness of First Amendment issues. For more information on FAN, click here. 

Julie Campbell
President, NFPW