Increased Public Understanding of Government Decision-making?

Abstract

This chapter looks at whether FOI has increased public understanding of government decision-making. It examines the forces that influence public knowledge, the general move by the government towards facilitating increased understanding, the role of the media and the impact of the internet. It then analyses to what extent FOI has increased understanding of both how and why decisions are made, looking at FOI’s effect directly on requesters and indirectly on the public through reporting of FOI in the media.

If people don’t care, you are not going to make them care. (Interview 17)

A lot of the background reinforces but does not enlighten. (Freedom of Information requester on whether requests can aid understanding [Interview with requester 7])