As the celebration neared it conclusion on Sept. 13 at The Freedom Forum, it was clear that much more had been done, that momentum was building for a renewed effort on behalf of the right to know.

The commemoration began with a moving recognition of 24 men and women who, over nearly a half-century, provided the critical leadership in the press, in Congress and in the day-to-day battles of gaining access to government information.

Among those inducted into the FOIA Hall of Fame were Harold Cross, ASNE counsel whose 1953 book, "The People's Right to Know," became the bible of the FOI movement; former ASNE presidents Jim Pope, Russ Wiggins, Ed Murray and Bill Hornby; current ASNE counsel Dick Schmidt, and two members of Congress, Rep. John Moss of California, the legislative father of FOIA, and Sen. Pat Leahy of Vermont, the principal sponsor of and persistent advocate for the Electronic FOIA, which won congressional passage a few days later.

The working sessions of the FOIA commemoration considered such issues as expanding access, secrecy and national security, access vs. privacy, improving journalists' use of FOIA and building broader public support for the right to know.

The workshops were effectively organized and led by Paul McMasters of The Freedom Forum and Frosty Landon, a longtime worker on FOI issues for ASNE.

Of special interest is the discussion of how to help journalists more effectively use FOIA. The problems facing reporters are extensive: government delays in responding, overly broad requests for information, suspicion on both sides, lack of government interest in the importance of public access, lack of knowledge about how to file a request, and the need for greater interest and support by publishers, journalism educators and the public.

The coalition suggested several approaches:

• Encourage meetings with public affairs officers to seek access to government information without having to file FOI requests.

• Work with FOI officers to tailor requests so that they are more effectively focused on the specific information needed.

• Form partnerships with public interest groups to bring additional leverage for prompt government action on FOI requests.

• Increase newsroom training to encourage more use of federal and state FOI laws for routine stories as well as investigative projects.

• Utilize computer technology and the electronic FOIA to increase access to government information.

• Encourage publishers, editors and legal counsel to become stronger supporters of the freedom of information movement.

• Help educate the public as well as local, state and federal officials about the values and the importance of public access.

Twenty-four organizations are members of the coalition. The group expects to meet again to develop an action plan for expanding public understanding of the right to know.

New York Sen. Pat Moynihan, chairman of a commission on reducing government secrecy, hit just the right note in his luncheon remarks: "The central fact is that we live in an Information Age. Open sources give us everything we need to know to make intelligent choices. Secrecy is not the key to our security. Analysis is the key."

ASNE President Giles is editor and publisher of The Detroit News.

E-mail him at rgiles@ detnews.com.