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The public-access sunshine is bright today in Jackson County, Oregon, where the sheriff wasted three years fighting the local newspaper – the Mail Tribune – over access to records that were clearly public. Now the county must pay $43,500 in legal fees for the lost cause. Here’s the start of the newspaper’s story: By PARIS ACHEN A three-year [...] Advertisement
The Billings Gazette has posted a victory for public-records access in Montana, with a judge’s order that Billings police must release patrol car videos from a deadly high-speed chase. Not only had the city of Billings refused to release the dashboard videos – which are cited as key evidence in a wrongful death lawsuit – but [...] Closed meetings? Not on our watch! News today from Billings, where our sister paper the Billings Gazette has filed suit to force Southern Montana Electric Cooperative to open its meetings. This is essential work – to keep the workings of our nation open and accessible to the people. Thank you, Gazette, for advancing that cause here in [...] Deb Milbrath, freelance cartoonist We love sunshine here in the Missoulian newsroom, and I don’t just mean the occasional glimpses we get out the window. That’s why we’re cheering the Public Online Information Act introduced today by Montana Sen. Jon Tester. The legislation would require the executive branch of the U.S. government – where the vast [...]
David Cuillier University of Arizona journalism professor David Cuillier is en route to Missoula this week as part of his “Access Across America” national Freedom of Information training tour. The two-hour training session he’ll present Thursday night is a must-do for journalists in the Missoulian newsroom, including me. Here’s why: Cuillier comes highly recommended by our own [...] A follow-up to my blogpost on Missoula County’s refusal to release the names of five finalists for the job of fairgrounds director: This afternoon, after considerable talking and e-mailing back and forth, Missoula County released the names and brief bios of five men who will interview with the county commissioners and other officials next week. I remain [...] President Barack Obama launched his presidency with a series of orders he said would bring about “a new era of open government.” One memorandum that day in January 2009 specifically addressed the Freedom of Information Act, and told government agencies to abide by “a presumption of disclosure” when ruling on FOIA requests. The Obama White House, [...] Sunshine Week 2010 concludes today, but not the Missoulian’s commitment to open government, freedom of the press, and the public’s right to know. As my final Sunshine Week blogpost, I wanted to share this Q&A from the Associated Press, featuring the federal government’s open records ombudsman. I think you’ll find it interesting and important reading. By SHARON [...] One of the most inspiring features of Sunshine Week each year is the recognition given “local heroes” by the American Society of Newspaper Editors. These are folks all across the United States who go way above and beyond to open up access to government and the judiciary. I’d like to share those heroes’ stories with you, [...] |
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