Freedom of the press:
Every March, Sunshine Week is celebrated amongst my peers in the field of journalism as a time for promoting open government and freedom of information. While this year’s Sunshine Week, which was from March 16-22, just wrapped up, I think it’s never too late to highlight the benefits we have as engaged citizens to know and understand what’s happening in our local (and national) government.
Before working in my first staff writer job at The Alpena News, I had never attended a local school board meeting, let alone a township, city, or village council meeting. It’s hard to make time for meetings, especially when it’s not a priority or part of your job. Like many newsrooms across the country, reporters are assigned to several beats, and are also responsible for covering various features and breaking news stories as they come in. As much as I love the light-hearted, feel-good features, I knew eventually I would have to report on government topics and issues. A meeting of local government or school board officials didn’t come across as the most exciting assignment, but it was one that I quickly came to appreciate as a member of the press.
I remember tuning in via Zoom to my first school board meeting I ever had to cover amid the COVID pandemic in 2020. Social distancing and safety precautions were in place and the board of education at Alpena Public School was trying its best to find ways to get learning materials and food to students on a daily basis. The public adjusted to these regulations and some would attend these meetings online as they couldn’t gather at the time in-person. As a daily publication, the reporters that were left working in the newsroom aimed to get information about these updates out as fast and efficiently as possible knowing that readers needed to be informed of what was happening next. Although this is just one example, the state’s Open Meetings Act made this possible during this difficult time. Throughout this chaotic period and years after, the Open Meetings Act has always required certain meetings of public bodies to be open to the public, to require notice, and to keep minutes of meetings. It also provides for enforcement, to provide for invalidation of governmental decisions under certain circumstances, to provide penalties, and to repeal certain acts or parts of acts. A public official who violates the act intentionally can even face penalties as serious as a misdemeanor and fine.
I’ve learned over the years that although the public may not always be able to attend meetings for whatever reason — typically because people are busy working, caring for their families, etc. — the press is usually the next best way for them to learn about what decisions and discussions are happening in their communities. For that reason, it’s vital that not only the press, but engaged citizens, continue to have the opportunity to attend and participate in these open meetings. As administrations and local government entities continue to make decisions that affect our lives every day, I urge the public to stay informed and to learn about your rights and access to public information not just during Sunshine Week, but whenever possible.
