Open Meetings

Jason Davis, editor of The Mountain Press in Sevierville, writes about the Greene County school board's decision to ban TV cameras from its meetings and the danger to a free press if its decision is allowed to stand. Here is an excerpt, republished with permission: Call it naiveté, but I generally believe most people seek public office because they think they can make a positive difference for their community. In many cases those elected are true statesmen — that is, they do right for the people they represent, putting the public, their constituents, before self. But there are some that, once elected, become entrenched and affected by the process. Often [...]

WJHL News Channel 11 has an update on the ban of TV cameras from Greene County school board meetings. Last week, the school board chairman turned away a TV reporter's video camera, with the schools director later saying it was long established policy to ban TV cameras from its meetings and it helped prevent a "sound-bite view" of proceedings. But the underlying policy is becoming a controversy. As written, it says school board members can decide whether to permit cameras or not. Two school board members now tell WJHL that there was never a vote to keep TV media cameras out. Also, Office of Open Records Counsel Elisha Hodge told [...]