Each year in March, news media organizations across the country highlight the importance of transparency in government and the work of journalists to ensure openness among elected officials.
Sunshine Week, as the observance is known, is timed to coincide with the March 16 birthday of James Madison, fourth president of the United States and a framer of the Bill of Rights and its guarantee of freedom of the press. Celebrating Sunshine Week at the time of his birthdate is meant to honor Madison for his stalwart protection of a free press as a watchdog over government.
There’s a temptation to think that in this world of seemingly infinite sources of information, people no longer have to worry about such things. In fact, the opposite is true.
In an era when misinformation spreads like wildfire and touches on just about every conceivable subject, the need for reliable information is greater than ever. That means open records and open meeting laws have never been more important.
Newspapers such as ours are focused primarily on what’s going on in our communities. For us to do our jobs and properly serve our readers, it is imperative that we along with the rest of the public have access to the meetings and information that enable us to keep track of what municipal and county governments, school boards and other agencies are doing.
Reporting based on such information is far more reliable than the rumor mill in online forums upon which so many people rely.
But continuing to have such access requires vigilance on our parts and the support of the general public. Sunshine laws guarantee the public’s right to access government information at public meetings and through public records, allowing the public to witness decision-making so that the democratic process functions properly — and to be made aware when the doors are closed.
There are some new benefits and challenges in today’s environment. The advent of streaming meetings online has made it easier to keep track of what’s going on but could give officials the ability to manipulate what people can see. The local press must be vigilant and the laws to ensure sunshine must be enforced.
It is no secret that our newspapers and media outlets across the country are working with fewer resources amid economic challenges. Making matters worse, the United States is losing newspapers at the alarming rate of 2.5 per week, according to a 2023 Northwestern University study. The nation has lost one-third of its newspapers and two-thirds of its newspaper journalism jobs since 2005. Other parts of the media have been taking a beating in recent years as well.
But we’re still here, working to keep up with the news of local government and other activities of interest in our communities. Doing so in this difficult environment demands strict compliance with open records and meetings law by officials along with support from the public in the form of paying readership and joining us in speaking out when rules are broached.
Remember that the rules of open government are not in place to make easier the work of journalists. Rather, the work of journalists exists to give citizens insights into actions officials conduct outside public view. Open government is a two-way street lined with trust.
This week is a reminder to walk it outside the darkness of secrecy and let the sun shine in. Please join us in our call for continued vigilance.
— The Main Line Times & Suburban (Ardmore, Pa.)
