Covering the Public Meeting

What are the rules?

What are the strategies?

Preparing for the meeting

• Know the critics• Know the history • Get an agenda

– Does it conform to state law?– Have it explained– Do your research

Do your research

• Know the players– Elected positions– Staff position– Past elected officials– Former staffers

Know your calendar

• Know the official-announced calendar– Meetings– Contract lengths– Holidays

• Know the unofficial/unannounced calendar– Budget seasons– Training trips– Reports– Reviews

Keep a tickler file

• Keep file folder for each month/week/day– Keep clips of stories

Get four-deep files

• Gather names, work & home phones, e-mail addresses, titles, of top people

• Gather info for second, third and fourth level people.

• Know lines of authority: who reports to whom• Don’t forget gatekeepers

– Secretaries, assistants, service people

Understand laws, limits and power

• How does law empower board?• How does law limit board?• Spending constraints?• Where does money come from?

Know the constituencies

• Official• Unofficial• Follow the money!• Special privileges? Exemptions?• Permanent (non-elected) government?• Understand power relationships

Find wise men & women

• Commands respect• Wields power• Dispenses advice

Understand the dollars

• Budget limits• Industry or political forces• Technical language

Question every government story

• What service is being offered or taken away?

• Who gets it? Who loses it?• What do residents have to pay?• How will it affect people?• How can it be judged successful?

Failure?

Know how meetings work

• Where are meeting notices posted?• How much in advance?• Where are public notices advertised?• Press packet available?• Who is the best person to brief you?• Does board hold briefings, workshop

sessions?

Understand the process

• Procedure for executive session?• Conditions for meeting in private?• How are minutes made available?• What constitutes a quorum?• Simple majority vote? • When is the public comment session?

The Brown Act

– Notes– Questions– Ideas

The Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act

A.B. 1363 (‘The Gloria Act’)

During the meeting

• Get to meeting early• Sit close enough to hear• Sit far enough to watch• Take notes• Follow official actions• Note audience size & reactions

After the meeting

• Ask follow up questions• Stay late• Know how to reach contacts later• Do not rely on tape recorder

Writing the meeting story

• Lead is usually what important action was taken• Cover main points (without chronology)• Always include normal 5Ws• Compare advance to what actually happened• Include direct quotes, indirect quotes• Consider comments from knowledgeable sources• Write to assigned length. Spellcheck. Proofread. Use

AP Style.

What you already know

• Profile summary of members• Important issues• Meeting dates• Agenda and minutes

Next Deadline

• Nov. 11 - last date for preview story (due 12 hours prior to meeting)

• Story due no later than 12 hours following end of meeting.

• Submit electronically (for deadline)• Bring printed story to class• Second story on agency due prior to Dec. 2• Agency summary due Dec. 2