The Brunswick Beacon
Shallotte

The Brunswick Beacon performed a fine public service when it explored North Carolina's public records and open meetings laws. Staff writer Caroline Curran offered readers a complete report on what public records laws say, how they can be used and what state laws require regarding open meetings. But Curran and the Brunswick Beacon didn't just explain to readers what the laws say. Curran and the paper also explained to readers how 19 different public agencies in the county responded to specific records requests, and it provided examples of important local stories readers would have missed if Beacon reporters hadn't used North Carolina's public records and open meetings laws. These specific examples of public records requests, and stories where records were used to report important public issues, gave readers of the Brunswick Beacon a thorough understanding of these laws and why they are important to a Democracy. The effort and commitment by the Brunswick Beacon was remarkable, and a fine example to other media - and to the public - about the value of keeping government decisions and actions in the Sunshine.

The News & Observer Raleigh

The News & Observer did a great job - and performed a valuable public service - by telling readers about taxpayer-paid public information officers(PIOS) and how many of them are more wedded to helping their boss than by assisting in obtaining important public information. Reporters Pat Stith and Joseph Neff brought authority to their effort by using notes and messages from some of these same top officials and PIOs to expose their efforts. In one case, Stith and neff explained how a PIO discussed charging more for public records to "deter others from asking for the same information." The News & Observer exposed an expensive effort to either deny public records or informaiton, or to "spin" a story to the benefit of the official or agency involved. It was a fine example of pulling public officials into the Sunshine.