We already know the federal government has plenty of room for improvement in how it collects information. What about states and municipalities? We wondered whether local governments are doing any better with allowing for electronic filing of information.
Continue readingThe state of state and local campaign finance: D.C. primary edition
While not yet perfect, D.C.’s campaign finance website has a number of features that allow reporters and other researchers to access many aspects of campaign finance data in bulk form.
Continue readingUsing federal levers to open municipal financial data
Could a federal agency play a role in opening up local financial data?
Continue readingSafeguarding sensitive information shouldn’t be an all or nothing proposition
Providing open data comes with challenges. How can governments thoughtfully approach safeguarding sensitive information?
Continue readingWhat makes Pittsburgh’s open data law different
On March 11, Pittsburgh joined the growing number of cities who have adopted open data policies across the United States. So, how does Pittsburgh’s open data policy stack up to the other policies already out there?
Continue readingOpen data is the next iteration of public records
The way we think about access to information is changing along with advances in technology. It's time for public records to be proactively released online.
Continue readingA case of incomplete reforms leaving improved disclosures locked up
The impact of improved disclosure is diminished when the information being shared is still in a format that makes it difficult to search, sort, and compare.
Continue readingWhen your child’s lunch is repossessed — and other communication failures that need a little civic hacking
How a school lunch crisis exposed a need for innovative civic hacking.
Continue readingWhy “set the default to open”? Because information is a public good
A core principle for governments to use in developing an open data policy is that “the default should be set to open.” It means governments should generally be proactive in providing access to the information they collect and produce.
Continue readingWhy I care about open data (and you do too)
Sunlight's new policy manager, Emily Shaw, offers some perspective on the importance and universality of open data.
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