Nevada state Sen. Nicole Cannizzaro sponsored legislation in the 2017 session for the New Voices project, and journalism professor Patrick File rallied support that helped lead to its passage. In doing so, they have ensured the protection of free press and free speech rights in Nevada schools for students, …
Read More »The definition of a newspaper qualified to publish public notices is contained in NRS 238. Here’s the basic definition: NRS 238.030 Publication of legal notice or advertisement only in qualified newspaper of general circulation; exceptions. 1. Any and all legal notices or advertisements shall be published only in a …
Read More »Nevada should be like a kid happily skipping home to show his parents a ‘B’ on his report card. And taxpayers, reporters and other watchdogs should be like the stern parents who respond, “Yes, I’m happy too. But you know you can do better.” The ‘B’ earned by Nevada is …
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Ralston Live will feature the type of interviews, commentary and analysis that have made Jon Ralston a household name in Nevada for many years. Longtime executive producer Dana Gentry also joins Ralston Live. Production of Ralston’s nightly broadcasts will be shared by Vegas PBS and KNPB Reno. The two stations …
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Is government too open? Have our records and meeting laws actually gone too far in pushing transparency, such that they interfere with the decision-making process of democracy to the detriment of our society? My answer, of course, is no. But I was intrigued by the question offered as a recent …
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Now that I’ve vented my frustrations with the Legislature’s refusal to release records, I have some suggestions for how to fix it. In fact, the Legislature can make itself far more accountable on both records and meetings without sacrificing its authority to make its own rules and live by only …
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Here’s my quote in the Associated Press story about the Legislature’s response to a request for some records: “I’m appalled by the breadth of the arrogance in this response.” I told reporter Michelle Rindels quite a bit more, too (which I’ll get to later), but I think this pretty well …
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The following column is being published in Nevada newspapers this week. By Barry Smith In an age when government leaks, classified e-mails and court orders to unlock phones seem to make the news daily, it’s worth remembering why we insist on open and transparent government. Sunshine Week is the annual …
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A coalition of media groups today urged every U.S. Senator to support legislation that establishes a presumption of openness in law, encourages agencies to use public-friendly technology, and makes other changes to the way agencies respond to requests for information from the public. The Sunshine in Government Initiative (SGI) sent …
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It’s right there in the fourth sentence of Nevada’s open-records statute. “The use of private entities in the provision of public services must not deprive members of the public access to inspect and copy books and records relating to the provision of those services.” I always have to go back …
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