The Information Commissioner's Office ("ICO") has published a series of tips on freedom of information, aimed at communications professionals working for public authorities.
The tips, entitled "Promoting openness: Freedom of information tips for communications professionals", were compiled by Susan Fox; herself a Chartered Practitioner of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 and, in Scotland, the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, both provide individuals with the right to request certain information held by public authorities. This right to information has undoubtedly had an impact on how public authorities approach PR. Indeed, a recent ICO survey found that 75% of individuals and 70% of public authorities surveyed agreed that freedom of information increases people's trust in public authorities.
The tips were compiled after consultation and discussion with numerous communications professionals in many different public authorities. The tips are designed to act as a useful checklist, enabling communications professionals to address freedom of information as part of their wider communications strategy.
A general theme running through all the tips is the need for communications professionals to effectively manage and actively engage with freedom of information requests.
Amongst the top tips is for communications professionals to consider making commonly requested information available online as part of their organisation's Publication Scheme. The tips also encourage the provision of help and advice to journalists making freedom of information requests. Furthermore, the tips strongly recommend the inclusion of freedom of information performance in organisations' Annual Reports and corporate audit schedules.
As well as the transparency and reputational benefits associated with the effective management of freedom of information, Susan Fox, the creator of the tips, notes strongly that: "The government's emphasis on transparency and its recent proposals on extending the scope of bodies covered under the Freedom of Information Act mean that the need to get it right has never carried more weight."
The freedom of information tips for communications professionals can be accessed by clicking here.
Disclaimer
The material contained in this article is of the nature of general comment only and does not give advice on any particular matter. Recipients should not act on the basis of the information in this e-update without taking appropriate professional advice upon their own particular circumstances.
