While I usually want to devote this column space to something more lighthearted and entertaining, I’m unable to do that this week.
And what’s on my mind is still a struggle because its’ something I’ve written about before, too.
But, these past few months I’ve been pulled aside by friends, readers, and concerned citizens that are struggling to wade through the slew of gossip online.
These folks are bombarded by sensationalism, social media algorithms, and an ever-churning rumor mill.
Once they’ve voiced their inquiries and concerns, I try to share what knowledge I’ve gathered covering various events and meetings.
More often than not, they seem satisfied with my explanation or I point them towards the person, organization or board that they
should be talking to instead.
That’s all I can really do as of late and it’s really become frustrating and aggravating.
Due to our once-a-week printing deadline, a few of our stories might seem to lag behind, purely based on the fact that we were caught between press runs.
Timing is everything and that adage definitely weighs heavily on newspapers.
However, there has been a new problem making waves for us – a surge in bureaucratic red tape nonsense.
Thanks to certain unscrupulous characters trying to be the county’s version of the “National Enquirer,” we’ve been thrown under the “Public Information Act” (PIA) bus.
I can’t speak for Mike, but in all of my 15-plus years reporting the news and writing feature stories, I’ve never faced such stonewalling as I have these past few months.
And sure, I’ve seen some teeny, tiny instances where the PIA rules are important and can understand enforcing them.
But, when the governmental powers that be decide to close ranks and dissolve the relationships we’ve fostered with boards, employees, and organizational leaders – we’re chopped off at the knees.
Not only have we spent over a decade building this newspaper, fostering relationships and partnerships with those in charge, we’ve been reporting the news along the way.
At a city level, we’re stuck having to funnel our requests through either someone too busy to answer them or someone that’s new to their position and doesn’t live in the county.
Speaking of the county itself, I’ve yet to encounter the same sort of backwards gatekeeping, micromanaging, and gag orders on personnel - and I’m praying that it stays that way!
At any given time you pick up our paper you can see the good, the bad, and possibly the ugliest things going on at a local level and sometimes at the state or national level.
We’re here to print the truth of everything we come across and if that includes needing questions answered or supporting documents to provide a complete and total overview for our readers then so be it.
Unfortunately, PIA only outlines having a governmental body turning over formally requested files “promptly.”
What’s worse is that each entity is allowed to define their version of promptly – “a governmental body may take a reasonable amount of time to produce the information, but may not delay.”
Plus, there’s this misconception that most folks have of it being 10 business days until they get information, and honestly, that isn’t much better.
At 10 business days’ worth of waiting, we’d be possibly losing out on that story for three press runs before being able to get it printed! It’s even more disheartening knowing that while we’re stuck jumping through asinine hoops for something that should be rather simple to answer - it’s worse for the general public.
