The Indiana Publisher

Page 2 December 2018 Time is approaching for stepping away from vantage point Robert Zaltsberg The Herald-Times (Bloomington) I read a quote every day that's tacked to my office wall. Mark Twain is quoted as saying: "I am not the editor of a newspaper. And I shall always try to do right and be good — so that God will not make me one." He wrote that well before all this "enemy of the people" nonsense. My take has always been quite different. My job as a newspaper editor has always been something to relish, not something to lament. I can't think of a better vantage point from which to do both right and do good, to get to under- stand the place you live, and to learn about and interact with a wide array of interesting people. It's a job of continuous education, every single day. Being a newspaper editor also provides tons of opportunities to hold authorities accountable, expose community needs and wrongdoing, help make sense of complex situations, celebrate milestones and successes, and advocate for people who need help or justice. And I can't think of a better place to do this work than in Bloomington. So it's tough to think about stepping away from this job, this profession. But that day is coming soon; I've set a retirement date for Feb. 1, 2019. The reason is pretty simple. That day will mark the end of a 33-year, 2-month, 16-day run as editor. That was after nine years as a sports reporter, news reporter, city editor and managing editor of the H-T. It will soon be time to step aside and let someone else step into this role. A search for the next H-T editor begins this week. I'll be hard at it, though, through the first month of next year. This column is meant to follow up a memo I sent to our newsroom staff Friday — a preview of what's ahead. It's not a farewell column. Ready or not, that one will be coming sometime in January. Zaltsberg If newspapers want notification of public meetings and executive sessions of various state or local public agencies, the Open Door Law requires newspapers to request that notice in writing to each public agency. This statutory requirement is found in IC 5-14-1.5-5(b). Newspapers are required to deliver their written request for notices to the public agencies by January 1. If the newspaper fails to do this, a public agency would not be legally obligated to give the newspaper 48 hours notice of its meetings. If you have any questions concerning this requirement, please contact Steve Key, general counsel, at (317) 624-4427 or skey@hspa.com. Following is some sample language that could be used by a newspaper in its letters to various governmental entities: Deadline Jan. 1 for letters requesting notice of public meetings, executive sessions Agencies are not obligated to give 48-hour notice if request is not made in writing Dear (public agency or its governing body): The (name of the newspaper) requests that your governing body give the newspaper written notice of the date, time, and place of any of its meetings, executive sessions, or any rescheduled or recon- vened meetings. This request also applies to all of the governing body's committees, and any other of the public agency's entities subject to the public notice provisions of the Open Door Law. This request is made pursuant to IC 5-14-1.5-5. This statute requires 48 hours notice (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays) be given to the public and specifically to news media that request such notice in writing prior to January 1. Please respond to this letter so that we can confirm your receipt of this request and verify which entities will be covered by this letter. Thank you for your attention to this request.

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