This column represents the thoughts and opinions of Jason Hennington.
This is not the opinion of the Taylor Press.
Sunday, March 12, is the first day of Sunshine Week.
For those who don’t know, Sunshine Week is a national initiative spearheaded by the News Leaders Association to educate the public about the importance of open government and the dangers of excessive and unnecessary secrecy.
Communities want and deserve transparency from their leaders, and that is part of what Sunshine Week is about: shining a light on the workings of government and promoting open records and open meetings. From a reporters’ stance, when information is being withheld, it seems suspicious. Trust me, the conversations around the newsroom can be pretty interesting. If no one wants to talk to the media about public information, then it seems there is more to the story. We wonder what’s really going on and if the government is trying to hide something from the public it serves? As reporters, we have to use different methods to get information. Initially, we go to the spokesperson or public information officer, known to us as the “gatekeeper.” While most of the gatekeepers we deal with are cooperative, there are some who make our jobs harder.
I understand that many times, no information can be released or much of the information is not available. That’s OK, but we need to be informed so we can tell our audience. Most public information officers know that, and we have a great working relationship with many governmental bodies. Their gatekeepers are pretty good about getting in touch with us as soon as something else can be released.
In some cases, we are contacted first before the story gets out to the community. Not because we are going to write in favor of any entity, but because the leaders want to get out in front of the situation. We can help with that. When information comes from a credible source, such as the Taylor Press, the governmental body or other entity does not have to worry as much about the spread of inaccurate information.
Unlike other freewheeling sources — often online — that are basically just opinions or hearsay spun out by someone banging away on a keyboard, the newspaper’s information is fact-checked, verified and vetted for accuracy.
We are holding the powerful accountable.
They work for the people, the taxpayers and the constituents, and it’s our job to be a watchdog to keep government transparent. As the local source of accurate information, both through the newspaper and our digital platforms, most area gatekeepers know who we are and know we provide impartial and unbiased reporting. At the same time, when gatekeepers don’t want to work with us, we have to seek other means to find information.
Don’t get me wrong, this is not saying gatekeepers are the bad guys or they are difficult. I understand they have a job to do, but so do we.
Withholding information doesn’t help either side, nor does it help the community members paying the gatekeepers’ salaries. It only creates a lack of trust and animosity.
Public-information specialists need to trust us, the reporters, because we are collecting the information for its intended purpose – to inform the community. Meanwhile, we journalists have to trust that the gatekeepers are providing all the information they can.
We both want the same thing: to inform and assist our communities. So why not work together?
I’m going to get off my soapbox now and figure out what to do with the girls for Spring Break.
They already told me I can’t assign three naps a day.
“Sunshine is a welcome thing. It brings a lot of brightness.” — Jimmie Davis
