SUNSHINE WEEK

The week of March 10 – 16 is Sunshine Week, an initiative to promote open government and access to public information. It was established in 2005 by the American Society of News Editors, a nonprofit that promotes principled journalism and fights for freedom of information and open government. Each year thousands of Americans including journalists, media outlets, civic groups, nonprofits, advocacy organizations, schools and promoters of open government celebrate Sunshine Week.

The occasion coincides with the National Freedom of Information Act Day on March 16, the anniversary of the federal government’s adoption of the Freedom of Information Act in 1966. It is also the birthday of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States, who is known as the father of open government. He wrote the Bill of Rights, which ensures a free press and gives everyone free speech.

Government officials work for the public, not the other way around. Without an open government, Americans would only have access to the activities and documents that the bodies choose to share. A lack of transparency and openness can lead to corruption.

When I started as a freelance reporter for the Rockford Morning Star in 1969, I attended all Durand village board meetings and school board meetings. Sometimes, I was welcomed with smiles when members wanted coverage of their actions. Other times, I could feel the antagonism when the boards felt their decisions might not be popular with their constituents. Meetings can be closed for some of their discussions sending media representatives out the door but all votes have to be taken under scrutiny. I phoned in my unbiased report to the newspaper by a 10 p.m. deadline so the article could be included in the next edition. Most of our community’s residents subscribed to the daily that was delivered to homes early each morning by teenage boys riding bicycles.

After thirteen years, I lost my part-time job when the Rockford Morning Star dropped its correspondents reporting from the smaller communities surrounding the city. The newspaper no longer carried stories about neighboring school board and village board meetings.

Today, local and area newspapers are being squeezed by the lack of advertising, their main source of funding. One of the first things I learned as a reporter was the newshole in each edition is the space left for journalism is determined after the paid ads are placed.

TV inundates us with world happenings, but we need local news about our towns and schools, which we support with property taxes that affect both homeowners and renters. Our councils have jurisdiction over the police, water supply, streets and sewers. The decisions of the school trustees determine whether our system attracts families or causes parents to leave our community.

How do you acquire your news?