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News Little Rock Bureau

LITTLE ROCK -- The 1999 FOIArkansas Project, which tested the effectiveness of the state's open-record law, will receive a Distinguished Service Award from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the school announced Monday.

Five newspapers and the Arkansas News Bureau in Little Rock participated in the project, which included as its primary element a walk-in survey of four offices in each of Arkansas' 75 counties.

Participating newspapers were the Log Cabin Democrat of Conway, the Pine Bluff Commercial, the Southwest Times Record of Fort Smith, The Jonesboro Sun and The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas.

Seven journalists, seven news organizations and several journalism students at UALR will be honored at the UALR journalism department's banquet on April 14.

Although the 1967 "sunshine'' law gives citizens access to most public records, the FOIArkansas Project's survey found that Arkansas citizens seeking documents were turned away one time in three.

Surveyors included journalists and other employees of the newspapers and bureau, retired and semi-retired journalists and volunteers ranging from stay-at-home moms to a certified public accountant.

Surveyed in each county were state Health Department offices, county jails, school districts and city halls.

The project also included two mail surveys, one by traditional mail of county clerks and one by e-mail of state colleges and universities.