What’s the point of Sunshine Week?
Sunshine Week, launched in 2005 by the American Society of News Editors, is a national initiative to promote the importance of open government and freedom of information. Participants include media, civic groups, libraries, nonprofits, schools and others interested in the public’s right to know.
In the past year, media and citizens across Wisconsin have fought to ensure public access to meetings and records. These battles, for example, have been waged in Minocqua, in Dane County, in Milwaukee and right here in Rock County.
Here’s something that might surprise you. Reporter Frank Schultz suggests that almost every week someone in The Gazette newsroom cites provisions of our open records or open meetings law in discussions with government officials. Not all conversations, of course, are contentious.
In our editorial Tuesday, we’ll reflect on some of these cases in Wisconsin and here in our own back yard. These incidents demonstrate why journalists and the news media must stay persistent in pursuit of the truth and public disclosure.
Greg Peck can be reached at (608) 755-8278 or gpeck@gazettextra.com. Or follow him on Twitter or Facebook
Mar 12, 2013 at 6 a.m.
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NOW that I have read the editorial, I commend YOU, GREG, on this very relevant and meaningful EDITORIAL. We do TRULY need SUNSHINE WEEK. I plan to follow-up on my WE THE PEOPLE blog on the situation you cite vis-a-vis our MILTON SCHOOL BOARD. And now, we need SUNSHINE on the "campaign" - we have 2 incumbents who were part of the crisis situation in our School District of Milton - on the ballot WITHOUT COMPETITION. So, we have a "SILENT" campaign. I myself will NOT vote for either candidate. I do PLAN to vote a WRITE-IN and am looking for a WRITE-IN CANDIDATE.
I do think you are terribly naieve as you assert that someday "SUNSHINE WEEK" could go dark when ALL persons in public office respond to requests for information "professionally." YOU discount HUMAN NATURE, GREG! SORRY... "SUNSHINE WEEK" will NEVER EVER be able to go DARK... IN FACT, how about a "SUNSHINE MONTH"?!?!
Thanks for your editorial... here we go...
John W. Eyster
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