Special message from Jason Stverak
Just a few years, ago government and public officials were conducting the people’s business without fear of a free press watching their every move. Today, the legacy media remains mute – incapable and unwilling to serve the public trust. While they remain on the sidelines – often doing the government’s bidding instead of the people’s – Franklin Center journalists have taken the field – and government and public officials are afraid – very afraid.
I am proud to say that when a government or public entity receives a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) from a Franklin Center reporter – their initial reaction is one of fear. The days of state and local government officials operating unchecked have become a distant memory.
Today, Franklin Center reporters across the country – from California to New Jersey – are keeping state and local government accountable to the people.
As pointed out this morning by the aggregator news website NewJersey.com, the Hunterdon County Democrat is reporting on a local school’s failure to properly respond to a FOIA request made by Franklin Center project New Jersey Watchdog. Basic investigative journalism professionally executed by Franklin Center reporters has become news.
The above revelation illustrates how low the old guard press has sunk. But at the same time, it reaffirms the important public service Franklin Center and its affiliates are performing on a daily basis.
Vice President Joe Biden doesn’t know it, but yesterday he showered Franklin Center and its affiliates with the finest praise when he told reporters, “We’re counting on you – the legitimate news media — to cover these discussions because the truth is that times have changed.”
Mr. Biden is right. Times have indeed changed. Your “legitimate” reporters have become part of the problem. Independent and objective journalists at Franklin Center are the solution.
It is absolute necessary to have a free press. Politicians must he held accountable for all that they do and the public must be informed. Please keep up the good work.