Sunshine Lessons: How Open Is Oregon Government?

Event date: Mar 20, 2010 1:00 PM → Mar 20, 2010 3:00 PM

Event location: Central Library

Thanks to the advocacy of journalists, lawyers and politicos, Oregon Attorney General John Kroger recently announced changes aimed at improving government openness. What does this mean for concerned citizens? Join the Society of Professional Journalists as we discuss the meaning of open, transparent government.

Moderator: Lee van der Voo is an independent journalist based in Portland and serves as Sunshine Chair for the Oregon and Southwest Washington Chapter for the Society of Professional Journalists, promoting open records and government transparency.

Panelists:
Therese Bottomly is a managing editor for The Oregonian, an Open Oregon board member, and is the newsroom's expert on the inclusion of reader interests in the paper's daily decision making. In the past several years, she has focused on opening access to public records for the benefit of all Oregonians.

Tony Green, Oregon Department of Justice communications and policy director, is a spokesperson for John Kroger and helped launch the Attorney General Office’s government transparency initiative in December.

Norman Turrill is an active member of Open Oregon and the League of Women's Voters. He joined the LWV in Seattle in the 1970s when men were first invited to join and has remained active in issues regarding the public's right to know.

In the U.S. Bank Room. Saturday, March 20, 2010 1-3 p.m.

Space at library programs is limited. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

About Sunshine Week
Sunshine Week is a national initiative to open a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. Participants include print, broadcast and online news media, civic groups, libraries, nonprofits, schools and others interested in the public's right to know. Visit the web site.