Editorials

By BILL WILLIAMS
The Paris Post-Intelligencer
Most people probably pay little attention to public notices in newspapers. But — like the fire department that’s out of mind until you need it — they fill an essential role in good government.

MANCHESTER TIMES
Founding father Thomas Jefferson said in 1787, “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have government without newspapers, or newspapers without government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”
In small towns across America, Mr. Jefferson’s words seem to ring true today. A study recently released by the National Newspaper Association shows that communities served by local newspapers continue to demonstrate heavy reliance upon their local papers for news and information.

By KEN PAULSON
First Amendment Center
A Pennsylvania congressman is targeting bull’s-eyes.
In the wake of the attempted assassination of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., and the murder of federal Judge John Roll, Rep. Robert Brady, D-Pa., told The New York Times that he plans legislation that would ban language or symbols that could be perceived as threatening federal officials and members of Congress.

By GENE POLICINSKI
First Amendment Center
Let’s begin 2011 on a hopeful note: Texas A&M University officials say they will revisit a recent decision that would have banned journalism instructors from directing students in filing open-records requests about — of all things — Texas A&M policies and practices.
At Tarleton State University, one of 19 Texas schools and agencies in the A&M state system, journalism instructors have for years taught their students how to file such requests.
Not surprisingly, Tarleton State students have done that very thing.