Editors must make more noise about the Freedom of Information Bill because ministers think it is not a big issue, the Society of Editors has warned.

The organisation says it is vital that editors focus on FoI because senior government sources suggest that ministers feel that with few exceptions such as The Guardian, the press had not made a fuss.

These comments come the day after articles supporting the campaign to improve the bill were released by the Newspaper Society from Anita Roddick, founder and co-chair of The Body Shop, and Maurice Frankel, director of the Campaign for Freedom of Information. To read them click here

The society says it is important to make sure the Bill is completed in the current parliamentary session. It is due to be discussed in the House of Lords later this month. The society is supporting amendments proposed by the Campaign for Freedom of Information which has cross party backing.

The key amendments could make the inadequate Bill almost acceptable, says the society. A further time to lobby MPs, and especially to carry stories, will be when the Bill returns to the House of Commons.

The campaign aims to make sure the government does not use its huge majority to cast aside any amendments made in the upper house.

Society of Editors president Neil Fowler, editor of the The Western Mail, said: “It is becoming clear that ministers feel it is not a big issue because few sections of the media have covered the issues and explained how important it is.

“It is understandable that it is not such a big issue with voters because in a secret society they do not know what they are not being told. We must show that this is not just an issue for the chattering classes. It is about the public’s right to know.

“The Guardian has run a campaign and so have some regional newspapers. As Harry Evans said earlier this year some editors might think it is a Guardian story until they wake up and find totally inadequate legislation being introduced.”

For details of the CFoI campaign see the FoI section of the Society of Editors site. For an up-to-date briefing on the Bill go to www.cfoi.org.uk

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