Carolina Public Press announces the next forum in its Newsmakers series, a new nonpartisan conversation series on top Western North Carolina interests and issues.

Going beyond headlines and sound bites, the Newsmaker series brings together the state and region’s top journalists with those making and influencing the news — people such as business leaders, lawmakers, agency administrators, public policy influencers and others — for in-depth, nonpartisan conversations with the public. Newsmakers will break down barriers often felt between journalists and lawmakers, between community members and leaders — all toward building an engaged, informed community.

Eventbrite - NEWSMAKERS: The Best & Worst of WNC's Open Government

NEWSMAKERS
The Best & Worst of WNC’s Open Government

Carolina Public Press will hold its next Newsmakers forum during Sunshine Week, the annual nationwide celebration of access to public information and what it means for you and your community. In North Carolina, the week is an opportunity for journalists, open government advocates, public officials and community members to discuss open government and its importance to a transparent and vibrant democracy.

This year, Carolina Public Press will publish an in-depth and investigative special reporting project analyzing the frequency and causes for county commissioners in the 18 westernmost counties of the state to go into closed session. The report will also analyze how often those local governments subsequently release meeting minutes from those closed meetings — and which governments do or don’t pay attention to North Carolina laws overseeing closed sessions of public government bodies.

Featuring a live interview and public Q&A with:

Jon Elliston, Investigations and Open Government Editor, Carolina Public Press
Quintin Ellison, Reporter, The Sylva Herald
Jonathan Jones, Director, NC Open Government Coalition

Tuesday, March 17, 2015
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Jackson County Public Library
310 Keener Street, Sylva

The forum is free and open to the public. Space is limited, so please reserve your spot below.

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Angie Newsome is the executive director and editor of Carolina Public Press. Contact her at (828) 774-5290 or e-mail her at anewsome@carolinapublicpress.org.

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