New Jersey's Courier-Post Journal is holding seminars to teach community members how to use the state's Open Public Records Act. The newspaper promoted the free sessions with articles in its own paper. Two seminars have been conducted and a third is scheduled for May 3. According to the Courier-Post's Executive Editor Derek Osenenko, "Participation has been great and has motivated us here at the Journal to continue the fight for access to information." The first two sessions were filled to capacity with about 50 people at each. The newspaper has increased the capacity for its third session to 75 and has already filled it.

In a different approach, an El Paso, TX, paper, the Newspaper Tree, has showcased its use of the state's open records law to obtain information. The paper has provided the community with a blueprint for using the access laws by providing a detailed example of the process. On Jan. 14, the paper requested documents from the City of El Paso about the amount the city paid lawyers for an air permit renewal for the company ASARCO. The city originally claimed the information was exempt from disclosure. However, an opinion from the Texas attorney general concluded that some of the records could be released. The newspaper received the records nearly four months after the initial request.

Newspapers represent an ideal source on right-to-know laws for communities. The organizations are familiar with regional issues and have intimate familiarity with the process. While most newspapers willingly answer any questions from the public about requesting government information, a more proactive effort to educate the public would likely reach more people.