Comments on: Kansas alternative media shut out of legislative access

By: Kansas alternative media senate access discussed on WIBW

Kansas alternative media senate access discussed on WIBW — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:28:14 +0000

[...] reporting by me on this issue is at Kansas alternative media shut out of legislative access and Kansas alternative media discussed on Kansas Week. The latter story contains video of my [...]

By: In Anaheim, I am the press

In Anaheim, I am the press — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:32:18 +0000

[...] get the same level of access that traditional media has in the Kansas statehouse. My post Kansas alternative media shut out of legislative access gives [...]

By: kathy ostrowski

kathy ostrowski — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 10:13:42 +0000

Even more important for citizen involvement than media floor access is transparency in the way the legislature operates. Too many votes are oral, and unrecorded, particularly in the Senate. We would have been better served by an electronic remodeling of the Senate chamber, instead of just slavishly recreating antique designer details. Instead, citizens only have access to “listen live” recordings, instead of retrievable, recorded floor debate. Too often these do not transmit properly, and during critical times of the session, when both chambers are on the floor simultaneously, citizen must choose one and lose the other.
Also, committee rooms are not wired (except Jim Morrison’s) and conferees’ testimonies and ensuing discussion aren’t consistently recorded in written fashion, nor approved and available in a timely manner.
(And a word on the atrocious lack of visitor seating in the Senate balcony: 90-degree-angled hard benches with a miserably limited view of the Senators, while granting a clear vista of Senate president, staffers, media, and opposing balcony.) And –unlike the House–no large score board is inside the Senate chamber, or television screen outside the chamber, to assist monitoring.
People are not engaged in politics because it is not easy for them to hear all that is being said or done “under the Dome”, although we live in an age where common access to technology makes this really indefensible. Only moneyed interests, and those wanting tax money, can afford salaried lobbyists to keep track of things.

By: Kansas alternative media discussed on Kansas Week

Kansas alternative media discussed on Kansas Week — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 01:59:17 +0000

[...] Read the story behind this by clicking on Kansas alternative media shut out of legislative access. [...]

By: LonnythePlumber

LonnythePlumber — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:59:35 +0000

Correction. It is the Kansas City Kansan that went all online this past January. The paper for Kansas City, Kansas. The KC Star is the paper for the Missouri side.

By: James

James — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:52:12 +0000

Excellent points Bob. Please keep up the good work and keep pressure up on Senate leaders. The real bullet here is Hawver getting credentials and KS Liberty not. If readers making comments is the distinguishing factor, then the Topeka Capital Journal, KC Star, Lawrence Journal-World, Salina Journal, Hutch News, Emporia Gazette and Wichita Eagle should all be revoked as well. And that’s just a few that allow comments on blogs and “hard” articles as well.

The fact is sites like KS Liberty, KS Meadowlark, and yours are getting the truth out, and Senate leadership isn’t going to do anything that would help those information outlets along.

By: LonnythePlumber

LonnythePlumber — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:46:21 +0000

I thought Hawvers was a printed newsletter and if you subscribed to the print then you could get the online version also. I have only seen it in print. And wasn’t it the Kansas City Star that went to online publication only, and no printed edition?
Bob are you going to be at the Attorney General’s Open Record/Meetings seminar in Wichita in the morning?

By: Dave Trabert

Dave Trabert — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:38:15 +0000

There are legitimate issues here, such as space and the concern about those with press credentials also functioning as lobbyists, but solutions can be found. The real question seems to be the extent to which the Legislature wants to control press coverage.

By: Benjamin Hodge

Benjamin Hodge — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:18:19 +0000

Bob,

Great efforts. Thank you for them.

One question of clarification: If I understand your article correctly, White considers it a NEGATIVE that readers are able to post comments on a Web site? Why is that even a consideration — on top of that, a negative one?