Bloggers denied Suffolk, Portsmouth VA press releases
25 July, 2008
When is government transparent enough? Is it enough for a city or county to send press releases to newspapers, hope to get covered, and think that’s enough information for the taxpayers to know? And who makes the decision on when enough information has been distributed- The person hired to disseminate information, or the taxpayers funding the city employee’s salary?
Deme Panagopulos from Suffolk, VA seemed to have a reasonable request when he asked Debbie George, the Suffolk City Communications Director, if he could join the city mailing list to receive press releases. Panagopulos wished to post the information on his blog, Inside Suffolk Virginia, which exists to urge greater transparency within city government. Unfortunately, Ms. George replied that she didn’t consider blogs to be news sources, and if she added one blog, she would have to add other blogs that requested the information.
GASP! Someone had the audacity to ask a city communications person to communicate information to more than the mainstream media??? Outrageous!
Ultimately, this standoff is not about whether a blog is a credible source of information (in most minds, that fight was won years ago), but it is about having an open, transparent government that is responsive and accountable to taxpayers.
Dave Forster from PilotOnline.com quoted Panagopulos: “First of all, we have a city that claims to be open and transparent. I question that at this juncture.”
Alarmingly, blogger Scott White from Scott’s Morning Brew had a similar experience:
I personally received the exact same reaction from Ms. Claudia Cox-Wynn in Portsmouth when I asked her to place me on the mailing list for news releases. “That’s a blog!” she said. “I can’t send you this stuff. I have people to answer to.”
Well I’m sorry folks. This IS the new media. Like it or not.
New media or old- it’s the responsibility of government employees to keep taxpayers as informed as possible on all the ways their money has been/will be/might be/could be/should be spent. Less information available = less citizen oversight and involvement. And we all know the result of that.
Comment posted by Claudia on 11 Sep, 2008
I was just curious. If you are promoting equal protections under the law, freedoms of press and speech, transparency and sharing, why did you misquote me and use my name in your blog without affording me an opportunity to refute your message or protect myself? Why would you need my name to build a case for yourself? All city press releases are available for the taking on the city website. You don’t need me for that. But I am sure if you asked, I would have gladly made you an e-copy and emailed it to you. Additionally, city publications are also there for the viewing. Who are you and what are you so angry about? If you tell me, I promise I won’t create a blog and list your name to build a case for myself. Would you please remove my name from this page? Thank you.
Comment posted by Scott on 16 Sep, 2008
Ms Cox-Wynn, I did not misquote you. I related a telephone conversation that you and I had and your response to my offer to publicize city wide events on my blog. Your response both verbally and in tone was one of disdain and refusal.
Whether or not this blog removes your name from the entry is up to them. But as a public employee directly involved in communicating with the media, your name being used in quotes with your office in an official capacity is perfectly acceptable.
I am not angry, assuming you are talking about me, though it’s hard to tell if you are talking about this article or the part where the blog quoted my article.
I am simply flabergasted that any entity involved in communicating with the public, would not take every opportunity to get the message out there, through whatever means was available. Be it main stream media sources or “new media” sources such as blogs.
And Portsmouth and Suffolk specifically can use all the help they can get. With the reputation both cities have for their wonderful, down home, good old boy/girl leadership, crime, and other issues, anything you could do to change that would be positive.
If you don’t want to be quoted by the media. Don’t talk to them. Regardless of WHICH media it might be. But that almost puts you out of a job doesn’t it?