SUFFOLK
The contributors to a blog that critiques City Hall have been rebuffed in their bid for a little more government access - to news releases.
The blog Inside Suffolk Virginia asked earlier this month to be added to the city's e-mail list.
The answer was no.
Deme Panagopulos, one of the blog's contributors and the one who made the request, said he was shocked. An e-mail exchange with the city about the topic was posted by another contributor.
"First of all, we have a city that claims to be open and transparent," Panagopulos said Monday. "I question that at this juncture."
Debbie George, the director of media and community relations, said news releases are for media outlets, and she does not consider a blog to be one.
"If I add one blog, then I have to add all the blogs," she said.
The city has not received any other requests from bloggers to get on the e-mail list, she said. News releases - the city sends out roughly 15-20 a week - to the media currently go to about 35 e-mail addresses, mostly at local newspapers and TV stations.
Media-relations staff from other South Hampton Roads cities could not recall similar requests from bloggers but said they didn't see a problem with adding them if they asked.
"If someone wanted to be added, we would put them on," said Sandra Hemingway, a Norfolk spokeswoman.
In Virginia Beach, the distribution list includes civic leagues and Virginia News Source, an online news site that is often critical of the city, said Marc Davis, a city spokesman.
"I think we're happy to distribute the press releases to anyone who wants them," Davis said. "They're pretty much for the public."
Suffolk plans to have its news releases posted to the city's Web site beginning Aug. 1. Other cities also do that.
Chesapeake blogger J.R. Hoeft of BearingDrift.com said he gets news releases from a host of political groups and government offices, including the governor, the lieutenant governor, the attorney general and U.S. Sen. Jim Webb.
He said he's never been denied.
"It perplexes me why the city of Suffolk would not want to find another avenue to communicate," he said. "Whether they agree or disagree."
Inside Suffolk began in February 2007 with a mission "to eliminate public apathy and create an 'Open and Transparent' City Hall," according to a mission statement on the site. It features a list of phone numbers for City Council members.
Mayoral candidate Roger Leonard, a frequent voice of criticism at City Council meetings, contributed to the blog but said he will not post entries during his campaign.
Panagopulos, who described Inside Suffolk as "somewhat critical of the city" at times, said he will continue to push for the news releases.
Dave Forster, (757) 222-5563, dave.forster@pilotonline.com
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Blasted and Laughed At
I wonder if Debbie George and the City of Suffolk realize they are the laughing stock of the blogosphere right now?
Most political blogs get press releases from the Governor's Office on down and most get them from Senatorial/Congressional candidates and sitting electeds as well a Presidential Candidates.
While I understand Inside Suffolk's request, I have no idea why a good blog would want a press release from Suffolk Virginia.
Though to be honest, I did send a Freedom of Information Act request to Debbie George and the FOIA Officer requesting the last 30 days worth of press releases.
Debbie George has stepped in it and it stinks all over Suffolk.
Information Age?
Newspapers, television stations, radio stations, and bloggers this is the Information Age. Local government is a public trust and City of Suffolk has lost that "Trust!" Citizens are wondering who is running the city? Whether you are a high official or a city staffer employed by a City. Your life is like a fish bowl always under the scurtiny of the public. City of Suffolk is still having financial issues, low bond ratings, and a "Green" governing body. No wonder the upper management staff have either been "Fired" or "Resigned!" Suffolk city government doesn't want anyone to know what is really going on! If you are born and breed in Suffolk you know what is going on with the city government. If you are an outsider, the "Good Ole Boys" don't want you to know! That's why the Freedom of Information Act was created to help keep the general public abreast of what is happening in their local governments.
Hiding
I agree what does the city of Suffolk have to hide? There has to be an issue somewhere when 7 of your top official resign there postions in the government. It all has seem to come about since our new mayor took office. Is there a comspiracy who knows, but we the citizens are not as informed about what is going on in the city has they want us to believe. Post the blog address and stop hidding.
Silly hyperbole is what makes a lame blog
And that has been well demonstrated by several posters.
get a life bloggers
It's a "press release" that the blog is requesting. Why don't they just read the paper. It's not anything secret if it's being released. The blog is not a newspaper, radio or tv station so I see no reason why they should request or receive press releases.
is this news?
I don't think this qualifies as newsworthy. If one neighbor sometimes complains about the other neighbor's dog, well then the guy with the dog probably isn't going to fetch the newspaper for his neighbor. This doesn't change anything. The first guy can still go get his news all by himself. And it certainly isn't newsworthy. By publishing this non-story, the Pilot is pressuring the City of Suffolk.
How many secrets???
Just say it isn’t so Suffolk bloggers. The Suffolk City PR Machine just handed off to Ms. George from the Police Department; considers us to be unworthy of note or notice of any kind. As we watch our “New City Staff” implode under Ms. Glenn leadership style, will there be even more mistakes? For sure, I am sure… While I take no pleasure in pointing out these errors, omissions, and gaffs they seem to be the way of our “Fresh NEW Staff”, even if they did attend nice colleges and can spell better than I do. There have been a long line of those who would apologize for these failures past, present and future, but for what reason and why can’t they just admit making a mistake and move on?
Thanks to the Pilot for reporting on this issue. Besides, I really just don’t understand why allowing an active local blog a copy of a Press Release, is handled by the City like a “State Secret”…
To Blog or not to blog?
The City of Suffolk is not one to let the average citizen know what truely is happening in city government. The City Council is known for closed door meetings and backdoor politics.
City of Suffolk had created the Freedom of Information Office which duties are to release information requested by the average citizen as well as the media. Remember: The Freedom of Information Act was created for the releasing of news from the local governing body to the local citizens.
"It's time to read over the first four amendments to the Constitution!"
Blogging is just another source for citizens to express their Constitutional Rights!
Mailing lists are a pain
Big mailing lists are a huge headache to maintain so I understand why they would want to keep it small. It's much easier to just post the releases on the web site and let people come get them.
Open & Transparent Government - not!
How hard is it to add another email address to the bang list used to send out Press Releases? probably a lot less time consuming than it took to write back and tell the only Blog to make such a reasonable request - "no!" - The Suffolk PR department lacks common sense.