Sunshine Week, designated to promote open government, began Sunday. Journalists are particularly interested in this topic because its objectives help reporters access information to fulfill their public watchdog responsibility. But you have a vested interest in open government, as well.
Laws that require open government records and meetings help the media bring to light corruption, inefficiency and ineptness — or good practices. The overarching goal of open-government laws, though, is to make sure the public — you and everyone else — has access to government documents and decision-making processes.
In fact, the public uses the federal Freedom of Information Act to get to public records far more often than the working media do. According to the Coalition of Journalists for Open Government, only about 6 percent of FOIA document requests are made by journalists.
The federal open records laws are supplemented by similar Indiana laws that guarantee you access to public meetings and all sorts of government records. The Indiana Public Access Counselor’s office is a good resource for information about these laws and to help you get access to government information. Visit www.in.gov/pac/ or call 800-228-6013 to seek advice or assistance in accessing state or local government records.
-----
The Herald Bulletin wants you to feel informed and comfortable about submitting news for publication. To that end, we’ve created a pamphlet that explains how to get your news into the newspaper and onto our Web site. The pamphlet contains contact information for the newsroom and advice about where and how to submit items on local events, meetings and organizations, as well as how to pitch story ideas.
Stop by our customer service counter during business hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to pick up a copy of the pamphlet. Or, if you’d like a representative of The Herald Bulletin to present the pamphlet at a meeting of your organization, just shoot an e-mail to me or give me a call. We’ll do the best we can to agree on a date and time.
In the next few weeks, I’ll be announcing dates the newspaper sets up to invite members of the community to come in to hear a presentation about how to get your news into the newspaper. Please watch for more information in this weekly column.
-------
If you’re as big a basketball fan as I am, you’ll want to participate in The Herald Bulletin’s Bracketbucks contest in conjunction with the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The two-page brackets and entry form for the contest will be printed in Tuesday’s newspaper. You earn points toward prizes by correctly predicting the outcome of the tournament games.
I love competing in office pools and contests (THB employees are not eligible for Bracketbucks) related to the tournament every year. But I can never resist the urge to pick a lot of underdogs, which always leads to my undoing. So this year, I’m going with all the No. 1 seeds to reach the Final Four. … On second thought, I think I’ll sneak Montana and Lehigh in there!
Editor Scott Underwood’s column appears Mondays. Contact him at scott.underwood@heraldbulletin.com or 640-4845.
Columns
Related Photos
-
John P. Cleary
Discussion
Scott Underwood: Sunshine on gov’t makes me happy
- Columns
-
-
Amish Cook: Trip to replace broken stove allows for family visit
We were glad for the warmer weather last week. Our house didn’t have heat from Wednesday until Saturday morning because the glass on our Hitzer coal stove broke.
-
Susan Miller: Minds made better thanks to lists
Not all lists are created equal. Indeed, there is an art and a science to list crafting.
-
Primus Mootry: Challenge for black leaders in 21st century? Lessons of past
The black experience in America can roughly be divided into five main periods including the slave trade and slavery itself; emancipation (or the end of slavery) and Reconstruction; the Jim Crow era; the Great Migration; and the civil rights era.
-
Jim Bailey: Kids play basketball, but some adults prefer basketbrawl
We’ve heard all too much about the failings of today’s youth. Methinks the blame in most cases is misplaced. Like father like son? Perhaps, which reinforces my point.
-
Jesse Wilkerson: What example should we follow?
In our lifetime we have witnessed real life success stories. We have also seen real life failures. We have witnessed men and women who have achieved success in one area, but failed miserably in others.
-
Emmett Dulaney: The tragedy of the insurance commons
In basic economics, students often hear of the concept of “the tragedy of the commons.” In overly simplistic terms, this is a situation in which many individuals share a limited resource.
-
John Rosemond: Taxpayers are catching on to education fads
The media recently reported “new” research findings to the effect that rewards often backfire and self-esteem is not the wonderful, uplifting personal attribute once thought.
-
Scott Underwood: Introducing THB reporters
We at The Herald Bulletin last week were pleased to add a veteran reporter to our newsroom staff. Stu Hirsch, formerly of The Indianapolis Star, joined our team midweek and his byline was already appearing by Friday.
-
Maleah Stringer: Lyla and Cuddles find happy homes
Every animal who comes to the Animal Protection League matters and deserves compassionate and humane treatment. They deserve our effort.
-
Theresa Timmons: An opinion on couponers
I try to avoid opinions, mainly because I am the only female in my house and I am not really allowed to have them.
- More Columns Headlines
-
Amish Cook: Trip to replace broken stove allows for family visit
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
