NC Open Government

NPR Legal Affairs Correspondent Nina Totenberg gave the Supreme Court justices a human quality on March 16 in the Carolina Theater in Greensboro, N.C., delivering the keynote address that ended the state’s annual Sunshine Day, which aims to recognize openness in government and to honor those who work to promote transparency.

The city of Greensboro has not always been viewed among journalists as the most open and accessible, but despite past transgressions, Greensboro is attempting to change and bring more sunshine to its proceedings.

How should journalists go about getting a story using public records? Is it ethical to cover the hospitalization of a public figure? And who should shield laws protect--are bloggers to be given the same rights as professional journalists?

Andy Curliss, Dick Barron and Ames Alexander will tell you some of the largest stories in journalism require open access to records so reporters can gather information.

Public records are just that--public. Every citizen is entitled to view records of an arrest warrant and go to certain government meetings--and they should be allowed to do so. Protecting and celebrating these rights is what the Sunshine Center and the North Carolina Open Government Coalition does annually during its Sunshine Day events.

An attorney with Brooks Pierce updated Sunshine Day attendees on government transparency, saying that threats to openness in government in North Carolina remain.

Hugh Stevens, the president of the North Carolina Open Government Coalition, expressed his gratitude to the various organizations that have supported the coalition at the beginning of Sunshine Day on March 16. The event was hosted at the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro, N.C.

By Dale Harrison, Sunshine Center: The American public becomes quite agitated when a public servant considers himself or herself “above the law” or the ethical obligations of public office. Such transgressions have done much to erode our confidence in the American system. It is a narcissistic view that has brought down a U.S. president and, more recently, governors from Illinois to New York (and threatens the current governor of the latter). It further continues to severely stain the service record of countless former officials, including the former chief executive of our own state.

From the Raleigh News and Observer (3/13/10): The Star-News of Wilmington last year asked the New Hanover Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, a public agency, to list staff salaries.

The state's celebration of open government is scheduled for Tuesday, March 16 in Greensboro at the newly opened International Civil Rights Center and Museum.