By Rebecca Boone In Idaho, it’s not supposed to matter who holds government records. The law is clear: A public record is public, regardless of whether it’s in the hands of a government agency or a private company hired to do government work. Idaho Code 74-102 (13) states, “A public agency or independent public body corporate and politic shall not prevent the examination or copying of a public record by contracting with a nongovernmental body to perform any of its duties or functions.” But getting access to those privately … [Read more...]
Public records and private companies: Tips for requesting records from government contractors
PRESIDENT’S COLUMN – Celebrating successes, charting course in changing times…
By Betsy Russell This year’s Idaho Press Club awards banquet was a smashing success, drawing 165 people to a new venue, “Kindness” in the newly renovated Owyhee Plaza. With great food, great music – thanks to our own journalist/musician Kevin Richert – a great venue, great people and great work to celebrate, it was the right way to toast the Best of 2014. We liked it enough that we’ve already scheduled next year’s awards banquet for the same venue; plan on it for April 30, 2016, when we’ll celebrate the Best of 2015 in Idaho … [Read more...]
Post Company in talks to sell newspapers
NOTE: This article first appeared in the Idaho Falls Post Register on July 30, 2015 By AUBREY WIEBER The Post Co. is negotiating a deal to sell the businesses and all its assets. President Jerry Brady informed the employees of the possible sale by email Wednesday afternoon. In the email, Brady said the move to sell was spurred by a need for additional resources that a larger company could provide. He felt selling the company, which publishes the Post Register, Jefferson Star, Shelley Pioneer and Challis … [Read more...]
Mid-Career scholarship winner – Communities on the edge: Water in the Magic Valley
Editor’s Note: Stephen Reiss is the winner of this year’s Don Watkins Mid-Career Scholarship from the Idaho Press Club, which he is using to help defray the expenses for a long-form enterprise photo story based around specific aspects of water in the Magic Valley. The project will include a multimedia collage of images, sound and video that will be the culmination of the thematic photo essay. Here, Reiss shares what he’s learning as he works on the project. By Stephen Reiss Idaho’s Magic Valley gets its name from a … [Read more...]
Party resolution to relax Sunshine Law lands with a thud
By Betsy Russell NOTE: This article first appeared in The Spokesman-Review. BOISE - Idaho Secretary of State Lawerence Denney is less than enthusiastic about a resolution passed by the Idaho Republican Party central committee at its summer meeting in June calling for loosening campaign finance reporting requirements under Idaho’s Sunshine Law. “If they ask my advice, I would say leave it alone,” Denney said. “I’d like to see more transparency. I’d like to know where all the money comes from.” The state GOP passed … [Read more...]
Meet Your IPC: Bill Dentzer
Interviewed by Melissa Davlin Bill Dentzer is a relative newcomer to Boise, but has quickly immersed himself into Idaho journalism and politics. Dentzer has covered politics for the Idaho Statesman since December 2014, and recently joined the Idaho Press Club Board of Directors. Where were you born? Arlington, Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C. My dad worked in government, and we lived in Arlington and in Peru for a time when I was very young. We moved to New York when I was six and I mostly grew up … [Read more...]
Media Moves
New faces in your newsroom or communication department? Let everyone know. Send your Media Moves to: email@idahopressclub.org TELEVISION BOISE KTVB Newschannel 7 Reporter Stephanie Zepelin left for a position as an investigative reporter at KTNV Las Vegas. Briana Carr left KTVB to become a producer at KSL in Salt Lake City. Andrea Lutz left to be news director of KTMF – ABC/FOX Missoula, MT New reporter Emily Valla joins KTVB from KIFI/KIDK in Idaho Falls. Tess … [Read more...]