Open government benefits citizens as well as media

Brian Cooper with The Telegraph Herald of Iowa wrote an interesting reflection on recent legislative victories for open meetings and open records laws. Perhaps the most interesting part is that half of the examples he discusses were the result of "everyday citizens," not the media.

The Iowa Freedom of Information Council's annual meeting takes place Friday in Des Moines, so it has me reflecting on the status of public access to government.

The bottom line: It could be worse, but it could be a whole lot better.

The council, of which I am an executive committee member and past president, recently published an update on various legal actions involving government access.

There are some victories -- but at a cost.

More here.