Public awareness groups, the media, community advocacy organizations, and governmental agencies are all tasked with ensuring that governments provide open and transparent access to public information. This process begins with public awareness groups educating citizens about their rights to access government information. These groups develop campaigns to spread knowledge about Freedom of Information acts as well as other laws that protect citizens’ right to government documents (Hoffman & Terenzini, 2020). Working in tandem with these awareness initiatives are the media outlets who report on stories related to state secrecy or corruption. These news stories often lead citizens to contact their representatives or file formal complaints into the lack of transparency in certain areas of government operations (Wojcikiewicz et al., 2018).
Explain the roles of public awareness groups, the media, community advocacy organizations and governmental agencies to ensure openness and transparency in supply of government information to the public
Community advocacy organizations play an important role in this process by amplifying voices that might go unheard without them. Many communities do not have the resources necessary for every citizen to pursue legal action when faced with a lack of transparency from their government. Thus, grass-roots community organizations such as churches, non-profits, and local businesses can assist those facing barriers like language barriers or economic hardship (Lloyd & Jakubowicz 2019). Finally, governmental agencies play a critical role in enforcing compliance with Open Government regulations at both federal and state levels. The Department of Justice is responsible for using civil enforcement authority when there has been a violation of law while oversight committees within Congress actively investigate potential issues relating to Open Government initiatives (Reedy et al., 2017). Additionally many states have set up online portals where people can submit inquiries and complaints if they feel there has been a denial of access or delay in providing requested documents.
In conclusion, it is clear that all four entities – public awareness groups, the media community advocacy organizations and governmental agencies -have roles which serve important functions in creating an open environment for supply information from governments to the public . All parties must work together in order ensure free flow between these two entities; thereby allowing citizens access what belongs rightfully belongs them .