Salem Offers First Annual Online Resident Survey
Labels: Mayor Kim Driscoll, opne govenrment, Salem
Labels: Mayor Kim Driscoll, opne govenrment, Salem
The workshop is for professional and civic journalists and for those who work in related areas, such as nonprofit employees who monitor government action. It will kick off with a session that examines how strong newsrooms are built around a lasting awareness of FOI issues and how access to public records serves as a driving force behind top-quality reporting. Next, learn about the public records gold mine that exists in your town or city hall, and how to identify, request and use this valuable information to do enterprise and investigative reporting. After lunch, Lucy Dalglish, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, will talk about the role of the press in keeping government open, and the threat posed by erosion of local media. Also in the afternoon, find out about two dozen open-records Web sites that are of value to any newsroom or organization that wants to keep tabs on government, and how to search the Web more effectively.
The following are just a few of the stories that appeared online during Sunshine Week 2009 (March 22 - 28). For more stories about the Massachusetts Campaign for Open Government’s recognition awards ceremony that took place at the State House during Sunshine Week, please go to the Common Cause Massachusetts news feed page.
Lines Drawn In Battle To Open Workings Of Government
Second of a two part series about government reform. This part focuses on proposed changes to the open meeting and public records law pending in the legislature. The first part, “Winds of reform could chill Statehouse scandals”, by Dan Ring, focuses on ethics reform.
Open Government According To The Founding Fathers?
This is a reprint of a piece about the author’s problems with obtaining public records under the open meeting. He made his request in April, 2008, and his appeal to the State was still pending as of March 2009. Who says there are no problems with the current Public Records Law?
Newton To Be Honored For Web Accessibility
Article about the Massachusetts Campaign for Open Government’s recognition of almost 120 cities and towns for posting key public records online.
Virtual Town Hall Lauded For Openness
Piece about the importance of the local newspaper in obtaining access to local government information.
Electronic Records Upset The Boat Of Public Access
Calls for updating policies and procedures to address electronic record retention issues.
Sunshine Week: Local Towns Fare Well On Superintendent E-mail Requests
“As part of Sunshine Week, the Daily News requested copies of e-mails sent between 13 area school superintendents and the heads of their respective school committees during March 2008.” Results are contained in the article.
Town of Easton Honored For Government Openness On Its Website
Counsel Offers Opinion In Flap Over Westport Superintendent's Contract
Local counsel says no violation of open meeting law occurred in how the school committee handled the retiring school superintendent’s contract.
Article about how the town of
Nonprofit Honors Boxborough Website, But Not Acton's
March 23, 2009, The Beacon
Another article about the Massachusetts Campaign for Open Government, Common Cause Massachusetts annual recognition awards to local websites for posting key public records online.
Labels: Massachusetts Common Cause, Open Government, Sunshine week
A continuing series linking to reports and stories on the web about open government issues around Massachusetts. The following are stories about open government issues that appeared during the last week in February and the first week in March, 2009:
Hunter tells state board broke law
“A local hunter is asking the state attorney general and Ethics Commission to investigate whether the Conservation Commission violated the Open Meeting Law by communicating through e-mail…”
Board's E-mails Violated Open Meeting Law
Feb. 27, 2009, Media Law blog, Robert Ambrogi
Essex County DA rules Boxford Board of Health violated Open Meeting Law with use of email. Robert links to the Salem News story and the Wicked Local story.
How does one go about getting public information from our town officials?
March 3, 2009, Sudbury Watch blog, Sabo
Provides an example of a public records request letter.
A story about the Jackson Square Citizens Advisory Committee excluding the press from some of its meetings. Apparently a few chosen citizens think only they should be privy to information that could affect a number of citizens. How can that be right?
Official Questions Closed Door Meeting
March 8, 2009, Media Law blog, Robert Ambrogia
Another great posting by Robert Ambrogia about a possible open meeting law violation, this time in Auburn. The story referenced was in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.
Labels: Common Cause, Massachusetts, Sunshine week
Labels: Andover, Massachusetts, Methuen, on demand videos, Open Government, Orleans