Guest Speaker: Tim Nickens

I didn’t realize how difficult it is to get information like what we get here in Florida then in many other states. We are very fortunate here in Florida; Tallahassee is well trained as an open government; however, Tallahassee can be frustrating at the local level. A local government such as a city hall is where you run into problems with open government. They may not be comfortable or not know the laws very well. Also, most of the staff are traditionalists with certain morals. There is a lot of information that I was unaware of that is made available to the public. I was surprised that you can get voting records, driver’s licenses, or even what you sold your house for and what it’s actually worth. Public records are your “toolbox” in all aspects of journalism for making a good story. I now understand the process of networking with sources. Keeping and knowing good sources may lead you to where you need too look in public records. Just because its public doesn’t mean it’s going to be right there in front of you. Your sources can assist you by pointing you in the right direction. Also, its helps the more you know about a document because its likely the source will be willing to help you “look under that rock” and point you in the right direction. Even though I’ve never had a problem with it, it’s important to never be afraid to ask questions. By doing this you will be able to read and understand what you are looking for. I found the story of the supposed college building that was actually an airport hanger to be an inspiring, hardworking, journalistic story. I believe that those in power who abuse the system need to be put in check regularly by the media.