NCC journalism students examine Right to Know Law
By Myra Saturen
Northampton Community College
Students at the Monroe Campus of Northampton Community College's (NCC) Journalism and Society class played an integral part in the Associated Press (AP) Pennsylvania-wide audit, "Right to Know." They were the only students to take part in the project, which otherwise included media professionals.
The audit tested local agency response to the state's new open law records. The law, passed in January 2009, mandates that all records, beyond a list of specific exceptions, are deemed to be public. Records sought by the students -- all of them accessible under the Right to Know law -- included 911 emergency response logs, police blotters, school superintendants' employment contracts, and township grant applications.
To gauge the impact of the law, each student in the class submitted three Right to Know requests to obtain copies of public records from local municipalities, school districts, and police departments. They then reported on how these entities responded and whether they were able to access records as the law provides.
General studies major Mike Kelly initially encountered puzzled or skeptical looks when he approached employees of schools, police stations and municipal buildings. Although all had some familiarity with the Right to Know law, many seemed unsure about the law's practical application. Mike's experiences varied from swift and helpful receipt of the material to the frustration of never receiving any of the information he sought.
Kelly feels that Pennsylvania did a good thing by passing the law. "It is important that citizens have the right to know about issues," he says. "It used to be more difficult to access public records. The law has made information easier to obtain."
Danielle Ertle, a journalism major from Bartonsville, was among the students who tested knowledge of and compliance with the Right to Know law. "It was interesting to see people's reactions," she says. Employees at some venues were unfamiliar the law, since it is still new. Nevertheless, she did find information. At a police station, she gained access to police blotters and at a school district, she examined some grants.
"I learned from this experience to be more observant," Ertle says. "I discovered that sometimes you have to hunt for information; it is not right where you think it is. You have to know what you are looking for and think of ways to find it."
For a journalism major, what could be a more useful skill?
Northampton Community College
Students at the Monroe Campus of Northampton Community College's (NCC) Journalism and Society class played an integral part in the Associated Press (AP) Pennsylvania-wide audit, "Right to Know." They were the only students to take part in the project, which otherwise included media professionals.
The audit tested local agency response to the state's new open law records. The law, passed in January 2009, mandates that all records, beyond a list of specific exceptions, are deemed to be public. Records sought by the students -- all of them accessible under the Right to Know law -- included 911 emergency response logs, police blotters, school superintendants' employment contracts, and township grant applications.
To gauge the impact of the law, each student in the class submitted three Right to Know requests to obtain copies of public records from local municipalities, school districts, and police departments. They then reported on how these entities responded and whether they were able to access records as the law provides.
General studies major Mike Kelly initially encountered puzzled or skeptical looks when he approached employees of schools, police stations and municipal buildings. Although all had some familiarity with the Right to Know law, many seemed unsure about the law's practical application. Mike's experiences varied from swift and helpful receipt of the material to the frustration of never receiving any of the information he sought.
Kelly feels that Pennsylvania did a good thing by passing the law. "It is important that citizens have the right to know about issues," he says. "It used to be more difficult to access public records. The law has made information easier to obtain."
Danielle Ertle, a journalism major from Bartonsville, was among the students who tested knowledge of and compliance with the Right to Know law. "It was interesting to see people's reactions," she says. Employees at some venues were unfamiliar the law, since it is still new. Nevertheless, she did find information. At a police station, she gained access to police blotters and at a school district, she examined some grants.
"I learned from this experience to be more observant," Ertle says. "I discovered that sometimes you have to hunt for information; it is not right where you think it is. You have to know what you are looking for and think of ways to find it."
For a journalism major, what could be a more useful skill?