The Tribune

Reporters with The Tribune generally have pretty good luck with gaining access to public meetings and gaining access to public records.

That’s because local public officials, for the most part, appear to comply with the Indiana Open Door Law and the Indiana Public Records Act.

Having said that, we’d be naive not to point out we may occasionally wonder whether some actions taken in public meetings haven’t already been decided in private.

And of course we occasionally must question whether executive — or closed — sessions really merit being discussed in private session.

We think it’s essential the two laws be followed by local officials. We also consider it essential we work to see local officials comply with the laws.

We do that annually by doing our part to comply with the law by informing local government entities we want to be kept informed of meeting times and locations and the topics of executive sessions.

We also inform readers annually of the role of the Indiana Public Access Counselor, which reviews complaints and questions filed by members of the press, the public and by government officials and their employees. We’re happy to report each year, by the way, that a majority of questions and complaints filed with that office come from members of the public.

We hope that shows John and Jane Q. Public are aware of their rights and are willing to step forward and raise a red flag when warranted.

We also typically make note of a celebration or observance that is taking place this week — National Sunshine Week. Sunshine Week, which begins Sunday and continues through March 21, is a national effort to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information, according to News Leaders Association, which represents news organizations across the U.S.

Sunshine Week is a project supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Bloomberg, The Gridiron Club and Foundation and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

Although Sunshine Week was initiated by journalists, the annual observance is all about the public’s right to know what its government is doing, and why. Those are the same principals behind the Indiana Open Door and Public Records laws.

We encourage anyone with concerns about access to public meetings and records to contact us here at The Tribune, 523-7051, or Public Access Counselor Luke H. Britt, 800-228-6013.

About Indiana’s Public

Access Counselor

The Public Access Counselor provides advice and assistance concerning Indiana’s public access laws (specifically the Access to Public Records Act and the Open Door Law) to members of the public and government officials and employees, according to the office’s website, in.gov/pac/.

Gov. Frank O’Bannon created the office by executive order in 1998 after a statewide collaboration of seven newspapers found great obstacles in obtaining government information in Indiana. The General Assembly then created the office by statute in 1999.

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Openness and transparency in government are essential in a democracy.

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We encourage anyone with concerns about access to public meetings and records to contact us here at The Tribune, 812-523-7051, or Indiana Public Access Counselor Luke Britt, 800-228-6013.

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What do you think? What’s your opinion on this topic? Send comments to [email protected]. You can find copies of earlier editorials online at TribTown.com.