A new EU directive calls for more transparency from major companies

Posted: 24/04/2014 | Author: | Filed under: Transparency | Tags: , , , , , , | 1 Comment

More than 6,000 big companies from the European Union will have to increase the amount of non financial information they release, because of a new EU directive addressed to private enterprises. This new rule has been greatly water down by the pressure of lobbies in Brussels, but it will improve public access to the impacts of these companies’ activities over the environment, social issues, diversity, respect to human rights, corruption and bribes. Read the rest of this entry »

How to write a successful FOI Request

Posted: 03/03/2014 | Author: | Filed under: Transparency, Working with data | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

FOI requests are one of the most amazing tools to get data that I have ever discovered. I came across with them for the first time earlier this year, as part of my MA course in Science Journalism, since there is not anything remotely similar in my country, Spain. I have become very enthusiastic about them and the opportunities they offer for finding new stories, in many cases with an important impact on the public. Below you can find some recommendations to write a successful FOI request and send it to a public body in England. Read the rest of this entry »