Journalists and the public will have the opportunity to learn about Tennessee law governing open records and open meetings at a free workshop at the UC Thursday.
"Open Records-Open Meetings: How To Get Records & Get Into Meetings" comprises the following panelists, who will offer tips on accessing public information and meetings:
- Randy McNally, chair of the Tennessee open government study committee
- Frank Gibson, director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government
- Don Dare, WATE-TV
- David Keim, Knoxville News Sentinel assistant managing editor
It would have been very useful for me to have the information I needed to stand up to the officials right then and there! Jean Ash, communications coordinator for ETSPJ
The panel will be moderated by WATE-TV News Director Jamie Foster. Jean Ash, communications coordinator for the East Tennessee chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, says this workshop will be particularly useful for student journalists who are unclear on the laws behind open records and open meetings.
"I remember well the days when I was starting out as a journalist and wasn't entirely sure what I was allowed to hear or see," Ash said. "Even with some great courses at UT under my belt, it was a lot different standing at a government office counter and being told I couldn't have a record, or being told that no reporters were allowed into a certain committee meeting. It would have been very useful for me to have the information I needed to stand up to the officials right then and there!"
The panelists will discuss how open records and open meetings laws are implemented and will share their personal experiences with the law.
"We'll have a lot of materials for attendees to take away that will summarize the laws and provide great resources for later on when students do get that big break and need to get the story," Ash said.
The workshop begins at 7 p.m. in the UC's Shiloh Room. Refreshments will be served.
UT's Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, ETSPJ, and UT's School of Journalism and Electronic Media are sponsoring the workshop.
Comments
D.A. Bowles commented, on March 5, 2008 at 8:53 a.m.:
Excellent job on story and the whole package. Thanks, Shannon and others who worked on this.
Elenora Edwards commented, on March 5, 2008 at 9:40 a.m.:
This is a fine advance on a program that will provide important information any journalist and any citizen can use. Thank you.