In the last decade the number of countries that have enacted Freedom of Information (FOI) laws have increased dramatically. In many respects FOI laws have become a democratic ‘right of passage’. No FOI, no ‘proper’ democracy. The promises of FOI regimes are far-reaching: access to personal information and increased transparency in the form of third-party independent access to government-held information will prevent corruption and maladministration and encourage the public to participate more fully in the political process. But are the promises borne out by the practice of FOI? To answer this question this thesis will track a number of real-life FOI requests in five countries. Based on this and other data this project will lay the foundation for the first International Freedom of Information Index, ranking five countries on how their FOI regimes deliver on the promises made. Included in the ranking will also be an evaluation of the legal situation for media whistleblowers and shield laws for journalists. The thesis will show that it is easier to promise information access than to implement it. It will demonstrate that for most of the countries of study FOI laws serve more as a PR tool projecting an illusion of an informed public, rather than granting real independent access to quality information.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--York University, 2006. Graduate Programme in Communication and Culture. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 288-317). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:NR19830

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (LL. M.)--Judge Advocate General's School, U.S. Army, 1968. / "April 1968." Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 91-93). Also issued in microfiche.

Thesis (LL. M.)--Judge Advocate General's School, United States Army, 1988. / "April 1988." Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (second set, leaves 1-53). Also issued in microfiche.

Thesis (LL. M.)--Judge Advocate General's School, U.S. Army, 1973. / "March, 1973." Typescript. Includes bibliographical references. Also issued in microfiche.

Univ., Diss.--Osnabrück, 2005. / Literaturverz. S. 311 - 328.

Thesis (LL.M.)--McGill University (Canada), 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.). / Written for the Dept. of Political Science. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/07/23). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Texas A&M University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 152-161). Also available online.