Public forum focuses on maintaining government transparency

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WKYT) - The Bluegrass chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists hosted a Public Forum on Open Government to discuss maintaining government transparency.

Al Cross, the Secretary of the Bluegrass Society of Professional Journalists, said as journalism changes, community members need to understand the mediums journalists use to stay informed.

“It is your government, but it’s less your government if you don’t take part in it and journalists try and connect the public with their government and that’s what this meeting is about,” Cross said.

Cross said he hopes assembling a panel of journalists, advocates and lawmakers will encourage public involvement in government.

One of the panelists, Representative Jason Nemes, said he values opportunities to remind people he is a part of the community he serves.

“I want to make sure I’m open to not only respond to my constituents but people who kind of synthesize information for the citizens and that would be obviously mainly reporters,” Nemes said.

Another panelist was Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong, and she said informing constituents on how rules impact outcomes is important to her.

“We work for the taxpayers and for the public, and so those folks deserve to know what we’re doing and how we’re doing it and people should expect us to be out here and be open,” Chambers Armstrong said.

Chambers Armstrong and Nemes were joined on the panel by Executive Director of the Kentucky Press Association David Thompson and first Vice President of the League of Women Voters of Kentucky Becky Jones.

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