When Indiana officials accidentally swapped the identities of two Taylor University students involved in a car accident, death records and the coroner's report were essential to determining how the mistake occurred. Reporters also use birth and death records for fact checking. For medical researchers, the documents are imperative for tracking trends in human health, including infant mortality rates and disease clusters.
The SPJ group said states already can protect citizens' identities and open records by offering informational copies of birth and death records. After reviewing motor vehicle licensing procedures in every state, the initiative found that certified copies of birth certificates are required nationwide. The same is true for obtaining a Social Security number.
But informational copies can be used to obtain birth certificates, said Garland Land of the National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information System. Once a terrorist obtains a birth certificate, Land said, it can be used to obtain a passport, credit card or driver's license. Land said the NCHS hopes to achieve a balance between security and access.
The initiative noted that by 2008 states will be required to implement strict procedures to authenticate identity documents. These procedures should make it impossible for anyone to use an informational birth certificate to obtain genuine documents. In fact, a very small percentage of complaints about identity theft contend that identifying documents were faked. In 2005, 2.7 percent of identity theft complaints included forged or illegally issued driver's licenses, Social Security cards or other government documents. The majority of complaints were for credit card, bank and telephone or utility charges.
"The U.S. government makes a lot of noise about preventing identity theft, but restricting or removing access to these basic public records is not the answer. It's just a smoke screen," said SPJ president David Carlson. "If Washington truly wants to solve this problem, enacting some real regulations about how businesses -- and government employees -- can use, trade, sell and even carry around Americans' personal information on laptops would have much greater success. So would enacting truly severe criminal penalties for anyone caught using another's identity or credit card or enforcing existing laws that make it illegal to use Social Security numbers for identification.
"Birth and death records are among the most basic of public records. They are used by children trying to track their birth parents, by families researching their genealogy, by scientists tracking health trends, by journalists, and in a hundred more legitimate ways. Restricting access to them to solve identity theft is like closing up an entire library because a book was stolen."
The draft regulations are expected to be issued by January. A 60-day public comment period will follow. To provide comment, mail letters to Delton Atkinson, Division of Vital Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, 3311 Toledo Road, Room 7315, Hyattsville, Md. 20782.
Meghan E. Murphy is the editor of the Clear Creek Courant in Idaho Springs, Colo., and a member of the Colorado Professional Chapter of SPJ.
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PEOPLE & PLACES
Jessica Ashby-Satterfield has been promoted to public relations specialist II at AmeriCredit. She has been with the auto finance company 2 1/2 years. ...
Six area newspapers took Sweepstakes in the Texas Press Association's statewide Better Newspaper Contest in June. Winning top honors were the Waxahachie Daily Light, Wise County Messenger in Decatur, Mansfield News Mirror, The Community News in Aledo, the Springtown Epigraph and the Alvarado Star. Across the Dallas County line, top honors for large weekly papers went to Park Cities People in Highland Park.
TCU grad Jerry Tidwell, publisher of the Hood County News in Granbury, will become president of the National Newspaper Association at the group's annual convention in Oklahoma City in October. Tidwell is a native of Andrews, and what is it about Andrews High School being a training ground for newspaper men? Marshall Day, publisher of the Gatesville Messenger, is the fourth AHS graduate to lead the Texas Press Association. Day joins publishers Roy McQueen, Snyder Daily News; Larry Crabtree, Vernon Daily Record; and Tidwell as president of the Texas Press Association, Texas' largest newspaper trade group.
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GET A JOB
Tarrant County College seeks a coordinator of public information to work in the Fort Worth district office. Requirements excellent interviewing, writing and editing skills, knowledge of media relations and the ability to speak and write Spanish fluently. Desired qualifications include experience and understanding of internet/intranet strategies and technologies, including e-newsletter production. Must have a bachelor's degree in communications or journalism. Minimum annual salary $39,850. Apply at tccd.edu/career. For more information call Chris Smith, 817-515-5211. ...
Find the latest job postings -- editing jobs in Ohio and New Jersey, a reporting gig in Tennessee -- at the SPJ Job Bank. Only members may view these leads, but anyone may post openings for free.
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NEW MEMBERS
PRSA ... Kelly Drawdy, City of Arlington ... John Gonzales, Nolan Catholic High School ... Rhonda Hughes, Wixted Pope Nora Thompson and Associates ... Victoria Keegan ... D.J. Latham, National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame ... Laura Mayberry, Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce ... Robert Ogle ... Remekca Owens, Fort Worth Zoo ... Nicole Recker, Northeast Tarrant Chamber of Commerce ... Lisa Ross, LJR Group ... Katherine Shelton, McCormick
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COMINGS & GOINGS
Additions ... at the S-T: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette ex and southern Missouri native Traci Shurley in Arlington, covering general assignments with an emphasis on community and grassroots organizations
Promotions ... at the S-T: Anna Tinsley, to the national/foreign desk to localize national and foreign stories and to work with Maria Recio on covering the Texas congressional delegation
Exits ... at the S-T: education reporter Kelly Melhart Richey, after more than six years in the Northeast newsroom, to the Fort Worth school district, teaching sophomores, juniors and seniors to pass the TAKS test; the new job will give her more time with her daughter and baby son
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