CALL FOR CHAPTER PROPOSALS

CALL FOR CHAPTER PROPOSALS:
"Freedom Fighting or Lazy Journalism?
Critical reflections on the Freedom of Information Act"

To coincide with the 10th anniversary of the introduction of FOI legislation in the United Kingdom, co-editors John Mair and Tom Felle are preparing an edited book to be published by Abramis UK, which critically examines the Freedom of Information Act as used by journalists. The planned book will include contributions from working journalists, academics and professionals and will include both an international comparative dimension and critical contributions on the nature of FOI, how it emerged, and its legacy or otherwise in contemporary British society. The proposed date of publication is February 2015.

The co-editors wish to hear from those interested in contributing to this important publication, with proposals dealing with (but not limited to) the following areas:

• Contextualising FOI; history and development of open access to information and the ‘right to know’; freedom of the press and FOI;
• The British legislation explained and how to make a request under FOI
• A number of case study chapters dealing with specific areas of investigation for journalists using FOI, including politics; health; education; environment; crime and policing; data and big data; local newspapers; international relations; business commercial sensitivity.
• International comparative chapters dealing with the development of FOI in specific countries, or regions, including (but not limited to) Australia and New Zealand; Canada; Ireland; the USA; Europe; Africa.
• General ‘op ed’ style critical reflections on the legacy of the freedom of information act has had on British journalism.

Chapters should be fully referenced using Harvard referencing method, with an indicative word count of 3-4,000 words. Send a max. 200-word abstract and 100-word biography to tomfelle@gmail.com and cc johnmair100@hotmail.comby May 15. The deadline for receipt of chapter drafts is September 1, with publication expected in February 2015. Please note deadlines are final and abstract proposals will not be accepted after the close of the call.