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Every March, news organizations across the country emphasize the importance of government transparency and journalists' efforts to ensure the openness of elected officials.
Sunshine Week, as the event is known, begins today and coincides with the March 16th birthday of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States and author of the Bill of Rights and the guarantee of freedom of the press. . Celebrating Sunshine Week, which coincides with Madison's birthday, is intended to honor him as a watchdog of government and a staunch defender of freedom of the press.
In a world with seemingly endless sources of information, there is a temptation to think that perhaps people no longer need to worry about such things.In fact the opposite is true
At a time when misinformation is spreading like wildfire and touching almost every subject imaginable, the need for trusted information has never been greater. That means open records and open meetings laws are more important than ever.
Newspapers like ours primarily focus on what's happening in our community. In order for us to do our job and serve our readers well, we need, along with the rest of the public, access to meetings and information that keep us informed about developments in city and county government, school boards, and other agencies. It is essential that you can. Are doing.
Such informed reporting is much more reliable than the gossip in online forums that many people rely on.
But continuing such access requires vigilance on our part and support from the public.
The Pennsylvania News Media Association, of which this newspaper is a member, is the state sponsor of Sunshine Week, which draws attention to Pennsylvania's Sunshine and Open Records laws. Together, these laws guarantee the public's right to access government information through public meetings and public records, ensure that the democratic process functions properly, allow the public to witness decision-making, and ensure that the door is closed when the door is closed. so that you can know it.
Today's environment presents several new benefits and challenges. Streaming meetings online has made it easier to track what's happening, but it can also allow officials to manipulate what people see. Local news outlets need to be vigilant and enforce laws to ensure daylight.
It's no secret that newspapers and media outlets across the country are operating with fewer resources during economic hardship. To make matters worse, the United States is losing newspapers at an alarming rate of 2.5 newspapers per week, according to a 2023 Northwestern University study. Since 2005, this country has lost one-third of its newspapers and two-thirds of its newspaper journalism jobs. Other areas of media have taken a hit as well in recent years.
But we're still here to stay up to date with local government news and other activities of interest in our community. Doing so in this difficult environment requires strict adherence to laws regarding the publication of records and meetings by public officials, as well as the ability to pay readers to speak up when rules are broken. Support is also sought from the public.
Remember that open government rules are not put in place to make journalists' jobs easier. Rather, journalists' jobs exist to give the public insight into what authorities do in public. Open government is a two-way street built on trust.
This week, we are reminded to walk outside of the secret darkness and allow the light of the sun to shine through. Please join us in our call for continued vigilance.
