Financial struggles of local media has led to fewer challenges when governments seek to close public access to records or meetings. Some national groups are trying to fill the gap. By ataxin for SunshineWeek.
In this Tuesday, March 10, 2020 photo, Shane Fitzgerald Regional Executive Editor for Gannett works at his computer in Langhorne, Pa.
“You really have to assess your risk there, and, do you really have a shot at getting it?” said Fitzgerald, executive editor for the Bucks County Courier Times, The Intelligencer and the Burlington County Times. “It used to be you could go and file for open records and fight it a little bit on a hunch or on a theory or on some premise. That doesn’t really happen that much anymore.”
“There’s a lot fewer instances where newspapers or anybody are willing to actually go to court and force an agency to comply,” Snyder said. “So what happens on a stretch of highway if the speed limit is 55 if everyone knows there’s never a cop on that stretch of road ever, or very rarely? They’re going to drive fast.”
“In some respects, it doesn’t matter what the law says if you can’t enforce it,” Townsend said. “There are lots and lots of stories that come out of public records that I think oftentimes required some form of a lawsuit.” Once the paper was sold to a series of media companies, he said it became tougher to make the case to spend money on these local court battles. Now, there are fewer journalists doing this kind of work at all, he said.
“A couple of years ago when the need to keep fighting these right-to-know cases came up, we started calling each other and saying, ’Hey, do you want to join my case?” she said.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Shane McMahon Down To Bring Chuck Liddell To WWE, 'Give Me A Ring!'If Chuck Liddell wants a job with WWE, all he's gotta do is pick up his phone and call his buddy, Shane McMahon
Read more »
Stock market points up after days of plunging amid coronavirus pandemicU.S. financial markets on Friday were up 5 percent before the opening bell.
Read more »
Liam Gallagher insists his wedding won't be cancelled amid coronavirus chaosFormer Oasis star Liam Gallagher is planning his wedding to longtime girlfriend Debbie Gwyther and he's insisted his big day is still on and won't be called off due to the coronavirus crisis
Read more »
Remote-work strategies to stay productive amid the COVID-19 outbreak - Business InsiderWorking from home is not an impossible feat — and amid the coronavirus pandemic, it might be necessary. Here's how to keep 'work' and 'home' separate. (by jasonfried and dhh)
Read more »
Lin-Manuel Miranda Shares New 'Hamilton' Song to 'Give Peace of Mind' Amid Coronavirus FearsAfter productions of Hamilton were shut down amid the coronavirus outbreak, Lin_Manuel shares an unheard song to lift spirits amid mounting fears
Read more »
How to Run Safely Amid Coronavirus ConcernsWe've got answers to your most frequently asked questions as the virus continues to spread. Covid_19 coronavirus
Read more »