This first editorial is Mark Mahoney’s response to readers’ responses to the blog entitled “Your Right to Know.” This blog was about access to public records. Mahoney says in the article that they have tried to talk about other local government issues in the past, but that the public has not really seemed to care. However, the blog about access to public records suddenly gained popularity with people. It seems a lot of the readers had experienced difficulties accessing public records through the Freedom of Information Law. Mahoney spends much of the article talking about meetings among lawmakers as they tried to find a good solution to the issue of Freedom of Information Law requests being denied.
In this second editorial, Mahoney explains that a reader wrote in as a response to the previous editorial, asking if Mahoney could submit a Freedom of Information Law request on his behalf. Mahoney does a sort of “give a man a fish” versus “teach a man to fish” thing here and explains, step-by-step how to file a Freedom of Information Law request. He explains that he is not refusing this reader’s request because he does not care, but because he cares so much that he wants all the readers to know how to do it for themselves.
These are important and amazing editorials because the two of them together accomplish two very important tasks. The first is educating people about a concept. An understanding of the Freedom of Information Law is an important foundation for understanding the second editorial. The second editorial teaches readers a skill. It teaches a skill that not many people realize they need and may not be sure who to ask if they realize they need help. Many editorials teach concepts, and that is wonderful. However, very few teach a skill. I personally appreciate this style of editorial and think it is a testament to all the different roles journalism can fill.
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