During National Newspaper Week, communities across the United States recognize the vital role local newspapers play in keeping communities informed, strengthening civic engagement and holding governments accountable to the people they serve.
The Michigan Press Association (MPA) is continuing to call on Michigan's elected leaders to halt efforts to remove requirements for governments and other public institutions to publish important information about decision making in newspapers through public notices.
"In Michigan, local newspapers are there day in and day out providing coverage and important information regarding elections, local government meetings and decisions, celebrations and tragedies, informing their communities and holding governments accountable," said Lisa McGraw, public policy manager for MPA. "Publishing public notices is another essential duty of Michigan newspapers, and these transparency requirements are critical to a healthy democracy that holds officials accountable to the people they are elected to serve."
National Newspaper Week is celebrated Oct. 4-10 with the theme "Rooted in Community, Committed to Truth." Along with providing fact-based coverage of their communities, local newspapers provide Michiganders with access through public notices to information they need to participate in the decision-making process in their communities.
Public notice requirements play a critical role in helping Michigan citizens learn about and weigh in on important tax proposals, zoning changes, new ordinances and proposed property developments that may affect them and their family. Along with the Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act, public notice requirements are Michigan's longstanding accountability measures that allow citizens to see what their government is doing, protect democracy and help governments more effectively serve their constituents.
In recent years, some Michigan lawmakers have made efforts to remove requirements for public notices to be published in newspapers and instead require that they be published on a government website. Publishing notices in an independent forum like newspapers ensures the information is permanently accessible and cannot be altered, hidden or removed by government entities.
Shifting notices solely to government-controlled websites would make it harder for Michiganders to access critical information and monitor, evaluate and weigh in on the decisions of elected officials.
"In Michigan, we celebrate and advocate for our local newspapers as vital sources of information that hold power to account, and public notice requirements play an important role in accountability and transparency," said Brad Thompson, co-chair of MPA's Public Policy Committee and president of the Public Notice Resource Center. "As Michigan continues to rank among the worst states in the U.S. for government transparency, lawmakers should focus on improving transparency, not making it worse."
For additional information about advocacy for Michigan's public notice requirements on MPA's website at https://michiganpress.org/public-notice.
The Michigan Press Association (MPA) is continuing to call on Michigan's elected leaders to halt efforts to remove requirements for governments and other public institutions to publish important information about decision making in newspapers through public notices.
"In Michigan, local newspapers are there day in and day out providing coverage and important information regarding elections, local government meetings and decisions, celebrations and tragedies, informing their communities and holding governments accountable," said Lisa McGraw, public policy manager for MPA. "Publishing public notices is another essential duty of Michigan newspapers, and these transparency requirements are critical to a healthy democracy that holds officials accountable to the people they are elected to serve."
National Newspaper Week is celebrated Oct. 4-10 with the theme "Rooted in Community, Committed to Truth." Along with providing fact-based coverage of their communities, local newspapers provide Michiganders with access through public notices to information they need to participate in the decision-making process in their communities.
Public notice requirements play a critical role in helping Michigan citizens learn about and weigh in on important tax proposals, zoning changes, new ordinances and proposed property developments that may affect them and their family. Along with the Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act, public notice requirements are Michigan's longstanding accountability measures that allow citizens to see what their government is doing, protect democracy and help governments more effectively serve their constituents.
In recent years, some Michigan lawmakers have made efforts to remove requirements for public notices to be published in newspapers and instead require that they be published on a government website. Publishing notices in an independent forum like newspapers ensures the information is permanently accessible and cannot be altered, hidden or removed by government entities.
Shifting notices solely to government-controlled websites would make it harder for Michiganders to access critical information and monitor, evaluate and weigh in on the decisions of elected officials.
"In Michigan, we celebrate and advocate for our local newspapers as vital sources of information that hold power to account, and public notice requirements play an important role in accountability and transparency," said Brad Thompson, co-chair of MPA's Public Policy Committee and president of the Public Notice Resource Center. "As Michigan continues to rank among the worst states in the U.S. for government transparency, lawmakers should focus on improving transparency, not making it worse."
For additional information about advocacy for Michigan's public notice requirements on MPA's website at https://michiganpress.org/public-notice.
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