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Published 2003 by American Court & Commercial Newspapers and the Public Notice Resource Center.
Enabling an informed citizenry through newspaper public notices helped America develop participatory democracy where it counts: where money is
spent, policy is made and futures charted. Public notices by government and private parties are so tightly woven into the American fabric that many may take them for granted. Located in easily found sections of newspapers, public notices reach out to interested readers and lead them to opportunities.
Yet some argue it is time to close this door to opportunity and shift these notices to government-run Internet sites. Even in South Dakota there are threats pending in the Legislature to do this.
This booklet explores the history of the notices, and the arguments for and against public notices provided through nongovernmental publishers, versus newer notions of notifying the public via online governmental publishers.
Send your name and mailing address in an e-mail message to sdna@sdna.com if you would like to receive a free copy of this booklet.
Long receives 2004 SDNA Eagle Award
The
First Amendment to the United States Constitution ensures liberties
that are the envy of people around the world, but that amendment
suffers the challenge and abuse of public apathy, said Tim Waltner,
chairman of SDNA's First Amendment Committee, in presenting the
2004 Eagle Award to South Dakota Attorney General Larry Long.
"It's
important to recognize people who stood up for the First Amendment,"
Waltner said.
That is the purpose of SDNA's Eagle Award, given annually since
2002 to an individual, group or organization who has demonstrated
outstanding efforts to protect and enhance openness in the conduct
of the people's business.
Long
met with SDNA's First Amendment Committee during his campaign
and listened to concerns the committee had about public access
to information in South Dakota. He agreed to create a task to
look at those issues. Following his election as attorney general
Long did just that by establishing a government openness task
force made up of members of the media, government and the public.
The task force drafted four changes to state law governing open
meetings and records.
Three
of those changes passed the 2004 Legislature, and were signed
into law by Gov. Mike Rounds. Long also worked to open pardons
issued by former Gov. Bill Janklow that the Supreme Court recently
ruled were sealed inappropriately.
Waltner
credited the "tireless and unwavering support of Larry Long,"
with the legislative success of the task force initiatives. But
Long gave most of the credit to task force members.
"I'm
happy to accept the award on their behalf," he said.
The
group of 42 task force members were committed to contributing
and participating in an open dialogue.
"Everyone
on the task force articulately represented their organization
in an honest and forthright manner," Long said.
Their
ability to get past rhetoric and personality issues allowed the
task force to reach consensus on the issues it dealt with, Long
said.
"Except
for that we would not have made progress," he said. "I
think every member of the task force and every organization represented
is better off for what we were able to accomplish."
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