As we launch Transparency Update as a new section on Inside Investigator I thought it worthwhile to share a few words about why we continue to devote time and resources to transparency as part of our mission to root out corruption in Connecticut.
In short – transparency is an essential upstream part of good journalism to root out corruption.
Every time we receive a tip sharing how someone has engaged in corrupt behavior, our team is tasked with the vital job of separating fact from fiction. Good journalism must be credible, trustworthy, and delivered to readers in a useful and enjoyable way.
One of the biggest hurdles to delivering on our ideals is willful stonewalling by government officials who have a legal obligation to share information with the public they are ostensibly hired to serve. As Katherine has shared many times before – that obligation is often an afterthought, and sometimes willfully ignored.
While we receive sometimes dozens of press releases in a week from officials touting their accomplishments and priorities, transparency about corruption is lacking. We have been waiting for responses to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests about sexual assaults, physical abuse, and financial misdeeds by state employees – sometimes for over a year – with little or no communication from those tasked with compiling and sharing that information.
Some of these requests will never be truly fulfilled. Others will be provided long after we can make a difference. You deserve to be in the loop throughout our process of seeking transparency, and we think you can be part of fixing Connecticut’s transparency problem.
When Katherine pitched the idea of writing a Transparency Update every other week, it was a no-brainer to start publishing this in service to our readers. I’m excited that she will be pulling back the curtain on the various issues we are experiencing and I hope this can be an informative and fun way to learn how transparency is a key element in the fight to root out corruption.
We’re in this together. Welcome to Transparency Update.
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