Editorial—Do you know the sun is out?

96.3/WGOG joins the Radio Television News Directors Association and others in drawing attention to next week’s Sunshine in Government Initiative. Here’s the heart of a public service announcement that the RTNDA produced with the support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation: “We don’t leap tall buildings or climb walls, but we have, each of us, a power. The power to pay attention and get involved. The power, through our sunshine laws, to force our leaders to keep their meetings and records open to ther public . . . and make our government accountable….”

The Sunshine in Government Initiative is an important group, keeping watch over a variety of importance access and First Amendment issues. We’ll keep you updated as to the issues and the progress we’re making.

Mike Cavender, RTDNA Executive Director, gives this example: “…the Obama administration had promised to be out front in efforts to make the federal government much more transparent and open than in years past. But it doesn’t appear to be working out that way.”

Sunshine Week, an opportunity to highlight the importance of open government, is returning for its ninth year during the week of March 10-16. Launched in response to attempts by lawmakers to thwart public records and open meeting laws, Sunshine has grown to involve thousands of people inside and outside the news profession, who value transparency in government. 96.3/WOGOG is among dozens of groups supporting the effort. We hope you do, too.

That’s our view. What’s yours?