Moving Beyond Statute for your, democracy's sakes

It’s time for everyone to come to the same table and talk.

We see it in our own organization as well as outside entities — people work in silos, and the COVID-19 pandemic aftermath only heightened that fact. Folks have tunnel vision and only see instances from their own perspective and not another’s.

That’s why The Sheridan Press editorial staff has set the table for local agencies’ public information officers to grab a free lunch and hear from Wyoming Press Association Attorney Chris Wages and State of Wyoming Public Records Ombudsman Darlena Potter about aspects of public records and open meetings laws in Wyoming.

We’ve titled the event “Beyond Statute” to signify The Press’ goal of not skirting around the law, but going above and beyond in our relationships between information givers and information sharers for the benefit of the Sheridan County communities we serve.

Part of our job as journalists is to maintain relationships with tax-funded agencies, checking in to ensure taxpayers know how their money is being spent and people in positions elected by the people are maintaining transparency and ethics in their duties.

The Press staff has worked hard over the years to maintain great relationships with each of the entities we’re inviting to the table — entities that are statutorily required to designate a public records person to accept all requests from media and the public. Some of those relationships are smooth as butter — the public records person shares information voluntarily and is agreeable to our requests for information or access to other members of their organization.

Others have given us a harder time. Despite sharing the same goal of serving the public, The Press typically stands on the side of sharing as much information as possible, while some entities stand on the other side, not wanting to share certain information.

We don’t like having to pull statute out to obtain information that we believe should be readily available to the public, and that’s not the spirit of public work, right? The goal as an elected official should be to best serve those who elected them into the position and help their representing organization flourish and reflect the community it serves. The Press’ job is to share those successes and failures, struggles and celebrations.

The space between those two goals is where The Press hopes to land with our Beyond Statute conversation. What don’t we, as a news organization, understand that public information holders need us to understand? What can public information officers learn from us about what the public seeks to understand? How can we better serve the public together?

The collaboration is intended for public information officers and anyone in Sheridan County entities who work with the public or media outlets, but all are welcome to attend. We’re looking forward to energizing conversation and deepened relationships — and a better ability to get you, the reader, the information you deserve in a timely manner — at the end of it all.

If You Go

Who: Public information officers

What: Beyond Statute collaboration

When: 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Sept. 23

Where: Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library Inner Circle

Email [email protected] for a livestream link.