Sunshine Week

This is the week that news media, or what's left of it, anyway, celebrates and attempts to help the public understand why we need the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

This law that gives us the right to access information from the federal government or other public authorities. It allows us to stay informed about our government’s actions and decisions.

It is how we can hold politicians accountable for wrongdoing. FOIA also promotes transparency and democracy by allowing us to participate more effectively in public affairs.

As a journalist, I used FOIA requests infrequently, but there were times when I did need them. Because of FOIA, I am sent a notice for every local Board meeting. Any citizen can ask to be advised of any meetings if they so desire, but I don't think many people bother.

Even though I am no longer attending meetings, I still listen to them on the phone when the county offers that option. (They don't do that for every meeting, unfortunately.)

When the members of a government perform things in secret, the public has no chance to express its opinion. Long ago, some local elected officials took it to heart that they represented everyone, Republican and Democrat alike, but that has long gone out the window. And even people in parties have different ideas about how things should operate, or where monies should be spent.

Learn about your state's Freedom of Information Act, as well as the federal government's. It's a tool that every citizen has access to (although sometimes localities and the feds charge way too much and that can be a hindrance). Used well, it can clear up inequities and force change.