Mar 14
Sunshine Week is a national effort by news organizations to shed light on the importance of open government
and the public’s right to know what its government is doing, and why.
The cartoon on the blog main page is one that ran in The News Reporter on Monday, March 12.
How do you feel about the state of open government in the U.S., in North Carolina and in Columbus County?
March 15th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Ideally government should be very open. Unfortunately modern media has loss some of its self control/self discipline.
Many media outlets fail to practice responsible journalism on a regular basis.
They…..
take political sides in non editorials.
run stories without checking sources/facts.
create controversy that really doesn’t exist.
sometimes make things up. (Thinking, surely it’s got to be true.)
smear individuals that they have personal vendettas against.
I am sure it is tempting for lawmakers and officials to have closed meetings because if this.
That said, it doesn’t make it right. The public should know what’s going on within their government.
I think we could easily turn this conversation into a responsible journalism discussion.
But here are my thoughts.
Feds: They have been using the whole national security thing to close some things that should be open even with the security issues. (Grade C-)
State: I don’t really have enough information to make a good judgment. Our state representatives seem easy to contact and open with information. (Grade: Our representatives: B+ Statewide: NA)
Local: The county commissioners’ openness has been dismal. It makes me think they are hiding something (Grade: F)
March 16th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Leave it to The News Reporter to jump on board with this front-page, above the fold promotion of National Sunshine Week. The newspaper leadership claims to be the county’s “do-no-wrong” public advocate, yet the cartoon published on the blog title page and in Thursday’s printed edition is a perfect illustration of how the newspaper staff views our government leaders (especially the County Commissioners and administration) - as rats with smiling faces. Remember, the people elected these “rats”, which is more than we can say for the newspaper that often seems more concerned about selling papers than with what is good for Columbus County. And, don’t think that this kind of “ratty” thinking doesn’t come across in their “journalism” (and I used that word loosely).
In fact, there are really very few “journalists” on The News Reporter staff. Most of them, like Nicole Cartrette (and Mike Helm before her), have “frontpageitis.” They will do or say anything to get the front-page story. These tactics make it very difficult for our elected officials (state and local) to feel comfortable discussing anything in the “sunshine” because the information is so often twisted, manipulated, and converted into something negative. And then it is regurgitated in edition after edition for weeks at a time. Just ask Sheriff Chris Batten about the damage that can do!
Positive news about moving our county forward and the good that is accomplished is almost never mentioned and certainly never makes the front-page. The News Reporter staff should be ashamed of aligning themselves with the negative, “nay sayers” of the Columbus County Citizens for Better Government, who have no idea what “better government” looks like. They, with the newspaper’s assistance disguised as public advocacy are really the one’s bringing embarrassment to our county.
I agree that any discussion about doing the people’s business in the open should start with a review of responsible journalism. Responsible journalists would do a better job building a rapport with our county leaders rather than being adversarial.
There are many times when local, state and federal officials (elected and otherwise) need to ask questions, consider options, and yes, even make decisions out of public view. There is no competent person who has ever been a part of an organization (business, school, church or even a newspaper) who has not seen the need for some closed-door deliberations.
In fact, there is a reason why North Carolina open meetings law allows for closed sessions. For the sake of space, I will not list them here. But, you can look up the North Carolina General Statutes §143-318.11 at http://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_143/GS_143-318.11.html
March 16th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Come on, you hypocrites! You claim to be advocates for free speech, free press, etc. and then censor my comments by saying “comment moderation has been enabled. All comments must be approved by the blog author.”
Approved? If you can’t take the heat, then get out of the kitchen! You and your so-called “journalists” are not the only people in Columbus County who can write negative and adversarial comments. It’s okay when you are writing about county government, but I guess you can’t stand to see the tables turned.
March 16th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
Talk about hypocrits. At least the writers at The News Reporter have the guts to sign their names to their stories, unlike you cowards who had behind anonymous. I think your letters to the editor don’t get published because you’re too cowardly to sign your names.
I imagine they do comment moderation so the likes of you don’t slander someone out in the community.
I think they deserve an “attaboy” for having the guts to give a forum to miserable, unhappy, chip-on-the-shoulder complainers like yourselves.
Losers.
March 17th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
I will only comment on a local governing body I think is very open.
I have been impressed with my school board.
I have seen the Whiteville City School board discusses some topics that would have been much easier behind closed doors. When they have had planning sessions they have even invited the media.
Of course, when it comes to personnel issues, there are times a closed door meeting is necessary. I think most in the public and media would agree with that.
I’m not going to be as harsh as Bill was on the anonymous folks. Besides Bill may not be Bill with this system. I might not be Anthony either.
The News Reporter’s staff gets paid to write their words. They also have editors. I guess my point is that their words are somewhat approved by their employer. No one is editing what I am writing or approving this. If my employer doesn’t like it, they might make my working condition more difficult because of the words I made public.
I can understand wanting to be Anonymous.
I think it is good that the News Reporter is doing this, and that they are moderating the comments. They can prevent major issues if necessary by just not letting some crazy post. Also it might be worth noting that sometimes people “Spam” these type of things by putting up advertisements as posts. That is another reason having moderated comments is good.
Although, without the spam posts, how would you know there is a pill out there to cure a problem you didn’t even know existed. This is a inside joke for folks that have seen discussion board spams.
Thumbs up to the News Reporter for the Blogs.
Thumbs up to Bill for putting his name on his post.
Thumbs up for the Anonymous brothers/sisters for participating.
March 18th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
I think it would be good if the News Reporter tried to publish more good stories about our community. When people are looking to move somewhere, one of the first things they do is look at the paper. What impression does the News Reporter give of this county? There are LOTS of good things going on that NEVER
get mentioned.
While our commissioners could stand
much improvement, it seems that the News Reporter tries to make them look as ridiculous as it can.
Also, some of the articles about county government sound like middle school children arguing,
and I’m not talking about our commissioners — I’m talking
about News Reporter reporter vs. county comm/worker/attorney/etc.
In every negative article about county government, the News Reporter should point out that it is presently involved in litigation with the County.
There was the negative article about hiring a new DSS attorney (which most every county has, in fact, most have several full time), but did the News Reporter point out that one of its reporter’s husbands was previously doing this work as a contract attorney for the county?
Also, there are lots of things that are public information, that
are not proven (like allegations in a lawsuit) but does the News Reporter tell its readers this when it publishes juicy tidbits about people having affairs? Some of these things are just allegations, and beyond that, even if they were proven, why print all the sordid details in the paper?
Couldn’t you just summarize respectfully? Don’t these families go through enough without being shamed beyond belief by
their hometown newspaper?
Sometimes News Reporter is more like the National Enquirer.
Yes, News Reporter, take your journalism seriously. You will doing this County that you serve a big favor.
March 18th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
I would like to speak to several topics brought up in this blog. I too am not a fan of the CCBG or its constituants believing them to be bitter individuals seeking power themselves. I also feel that the County Commissioners need to change many things (including Prevatte, Bullard, and Gore.) Constant 4-3 votes will get this county no where and only fuels the mistrust and criticism. Working together towards the common goal of a better Columbus County should be the priority, not power plays between ” Boss Hog’s of Columbus County.” Likewise we have a county attorney and county manager who do not seem to be up to the job. I am not saying that they can’t do the job, they are just not currently showing any ability. As to the Newsreporter. I have always found the paper to be fair and honorable. I have had the pleasure to speak with Nicole Cartrette and truly believe that she does not have frontpageitis. She seems to be concerned greatly about her words and articles, especially considering she is apparently not from our Community. As to Sherriff Batten and the Damage that “sunshine in government” could do. One Place I believe that “sunshine and openness” is needed is in our local law enforcement. Are all of these dismissals we read about in the paper a result of prosecuter incomptence, lack of caring, or liberal judges. I don’t think so. I have had an occasion or two to deal with our local law enforcement, and although I know that they mean well and many of them are excellent, I have a filling that some of the fault in these many Dismissals that your paper writes about may fall squarely on THEIR shoulders. I am simply a small town boy, but I have seen enough of this world to know one thing. OPEN government is a good thing. The federal government was created with Checks and balances. The Congress/President/Supreme Court system. Columbus County does not have a system like this so I leave it to the News Reporter and ourselves to be the Check and Balance for our local government.
Thanks for giving me this chance to vent.
March 19th, 2007 at 11:04 am
The News Reporter has plenty of “good stories.” More so than other papers such as Wilmington or Fayetteville.
I imagine most of the writers who complain here have been the subject of a story in the paper they didn’t like.
I imagine that sooner or later anyone in elected or government office has been called on the carpet by the paper. That’s the price you pay for public service.
March 19th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
Why come supporters of the county commissioners in these blogs don’t ever sign their names.
March 19th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
how come their accusers don’t either?
March 20th, 2007 at 10:46 am
The News Reporter takes a lot of heat for some of the stories it does. I am amazed to see some of the attacks here on the paper. But I didn’t read any letters to the editor along these lines. And the paper does print letters that are critical of the paper. They printed the letters critical of their coverage of the high school basketball player charged with rape, the letters critical of their coverage of the city manager’s affair and on and on.
The blogs critical of the paper are still posted and could have been removed.
Sure, the paper is going to misstep here and there. They have so much to cover.
Sure there are people who are unhappy. There will always be unhappy people.
Most misery is self-inflicted and some folks aren’t happy unless they have something to be miserable about.
As for the paper not printing good things, that’s ridiculous. The paper is full of stories about successful programs, school events and outstanding folks who have made a difference.
The organizations I work with have received tons of coverage - photos and stories.
The paper has never turned down a request or submission from us.
March 25th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
A blogger here wrote:
“There is no competent person who has ever been a part of an organization (business, school, church or even a newspaper) who has not seen the need for some closed-door deliberations.”
What Mr/Mrs Anonymous seems to forget, or fails to understand, or is simply being disingenuous, is that our local government and its elected officials are NOT in a business, NOT a school, NOT a church, and NOT a newspaper. They ARE part of our American form of government that is at a county level. County commissioners are just that… commssioners. NOT Commissars. We all know how commissars acted in the now defunct Soviet Union. We all know how that form of secret “behind closed doors” form of government has failed. It failed because a chosen few decided to do their “work” in secret, without regard to their citizens’ needs and rights.
As I am a proud citizen of the United States and its republican form of government with democratic principles, I look with disgust and loathing at “secret” sessions that are held, in spite of this county’s laws, by a half dozen or so wannabe “Boss Hoggs”.
We will not forget. Just as they were elected, they will be “unelected” and persons of better character with law abiding values will be put in their place.
Thank you for the opportunity for me to give my views. I am not anonymous.
Tom Pawlik
March 26th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
The crux of the problem with NC’s open meeting law is that it is a sham! Plain and simple. I fought similar battles as those the News Reporter fights trying to get info which was public record. (Public record means it already belongs to me, as a citizen of this county, and to you, as well.)
Look, until the State Legislature finds a gram or two of testosterone and puts some teeth into that law… it isn’t worth the paper it is written on! Currently there is NO punishment for simply ignoring the law or violating it outright!
The memories of the COLCOR investigation, by the Feds, has all but faded from memory. But Columbus County still bears the stigma of that shameful time in our history. You would have thought we would have learned from that, but one must not look far to see those lessons have long since been forgotten and it is business as usual in Columbus County.
While the counties around us are the fastest growing counties in the state, with industry and new residents filing in and adding to the tax base everyday, Columbus is slowly dying on the vine.
Until the voters of this county decide to join the 21st century, and elect leaders based on their qualifications for the job rather than the established “Ole Boy System” we can expect no better for this county, no better for her wonderful people, and no better for the economy.
It is truely a shame!
March 27th, 2007 at 6:20 am
In the event you’d actually like to read NC’s Open Meetings Law… then go here:
http://www.ncpress.com/openmeetingslaw.html