Make open records work for you and your readers.
Keep public meetings and courts open to the sunshine.
Learn how, from experts and colleagues on the front line at
Sponsored by Kentucky Press Association,
Scripps Howard First Amendment Center,
Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues,
School of Journalism and Telecommunications/University of Kentucky
Kentucky's open-meetings and open-records laws are some of the strongest in the nation, but newspapers often don't take full advantage of them, so they miss stories that their readers need and want. These workshops will be designed to help reporters and editors at all levels improve their skills at using state and federal freedom of information laws.
The panelists will include leading experts: Jon Fleischaker of the Dinsmore & Shohl law firm, author of the state open-meetings and open-records laws; Amye Bensenhaver, the assistant attorney general who usually handles open-records and open-meetings cases; and veteran Courier-Journal Frankfort Bureau Chief Tom Loftus, who mines campaign-finance data for important stories. Presenters will also include journalists from weekly and daily newspapers, who will tell how they used freedom-of-information laws to keep government open and cover closed court proceedings. There will be plenty of time for questions and answers, and discussions of your own experiences.
KPA, the Scripps Howard First Amendment Center and the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues are sponsoring two “Sunshine Seminars” with a location convenient to you.
Thursday, May 29 - Lexington Herald Leader (The Buckner Room), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern)
Thursday, June 5 - Country Cupboard Restaurant, Madisonville, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Central)
Both locations include a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and lunch will be provided.
Registration is $20 per person. Registration deadline for the May 29 seminar in Lexington is Friday, May 23. Registration deadline for the June 5 seminar in Madisonville is Friday, May 30.
Complete the registration form CLICK HERE and return to KPA by the deadline date for the seminar you and your staff will be attending. If paying by credit card, fax the registration form to KPA at (502) 226-3867. If paying by check, mail the form and a check for $20 per person to: Sunshine Seminars, Kentucky Press Association, 101 Consumer Lane, Frankfort, KY 40601.
SUNSHINE SEMINARS PROGRAM
All times are “local time”
8:30 a.m. – Registration and Continental Breakfast
TIME |
TOPIC |
LEXINGTON |
MADISONVILLE |
9:00 |
The importance of open records, open meetings and open courts |
Dr. Mike Farrell, Scripps Howard First Amendment Center |
Dr. Mike Farrell, Scripps Howard First Amendment Center |
9:15 |
Success stories: How we used freedom-of-information laws and reporting techniques to keep local government and courts open to the sunshine |
Melony Jones, Todd County Standard; Joe Parrino, Kentucky New Era; John Nelson, The Advocate-Messenger |
Joe Parrino, Kentucky New Era; Ryan Craig, Todd County Standard |
10:45 |
Getting good stories from campaign-finance records |
Tom Loftus, The Courier-Journal |
Al Cross, Institute for Rural Journalism |
12:00 |
LUNCH |
Catered via KPA |
Buffet at restaurant |
1:00 |
Dealing with the Office of the Attorney General |
Amye Bensenhaver, asst. attorney general |
Amye Bensenhaver, asst. attorney general |
2:00 |
History of state FOI laws; how to file open-records requests and appeals; how to keep meetings and courts open |
Jon Fleischaker, partner, Dinsmore & Shohl law firm |
Jeremy Rogers, Dinsmore & Shohl law firm |
3:15 |
Records you can and should publish in your newspaper |
Al Cross, Institute for Rural Journalism |
Al Cross, Institute for Rural Journalism |
4 p.m. - Adjourn