Comment
Rate
Your Opinion
Governor's office issues response to editorial
| Advertisement |
Dear Editor: Gov. Blunt has achieved much over the last three and a half years to make state government more open, transparent and accessible to the people of Missouri.
A recent editorial in the News Tribune stated correctly that the information the governor's office provides the media is an effort to provide a more open government.
However the same editorial - “Information overload from governor” - was critical of the volume of information the governor's office provides.
This was unexpected as most media outlets seek more information from elected officials, not less.
The editorial specifically objected to the information we provided in two news releases - one on the recent flooding disaster and another on the governor's support for Missouri arts.
First, as with any emergency, Gov. Blunt receives frequent updates from our emergency responders. With respect to the recent flooding, the governor received constant updates on the river levels as well as other important information that he used to make critical decisions regarding the state's emergency response, disaster declaration requests, the activation of the Missouri National Guard and other critical actions.
Second, the governor and first lady Melanie Blunt are strong supporters of the arts. In fact, Gov. Blunt recently received the prestigious National Award for State Arts Leadership from Americans for the Arts. It was important to the Blunts to help raise the visibility of a recent event sponsored by the Missouri Arts Council. The Missouri Arts Council is doing important work to help enrich the lives of Missourians and Gov. Blunt and the first lady have unabashedly helped promote their efforts.
I also want to correct an inaccuracy in the editorial. The News Tribune's informal count of news information issued by this office was incorrect. Our office had issued 946 news releases and media advisories at the time this editorial was published, not 630 as was reported.
The editorial also expressed concern about the amount of paper news outlets must use to receive information from the governor's office.
We share this concern and are especially concerned about small newspaper businesses that want to save money on toner and paper. This is why we encourage any media outlet that would prefer to receive information from the governor's office by e-mail only to let us know so we can make the necessary arrangements.
When it comes to sharing information with the public we will continue to err on the side of providing more information rather than less and let Missourians decide what information is relevant to them and their families.
Rich Chrismer
Deputy chief of staff, communications
Office of Gov. Matt Blunt
Correction: The header on this page was incorrect when it was originally posted. It is now correctly labeled "Your Opinion."
A recent editorial in the News Tribune stated correctly that the information the governor's office provides the media is an effort to provide a more open government.
However the same editorial - “Information overload from governor” - was critical of the volume of information the governor's office provides.
This was unexpected as most media outlets seek more information from elected officials, not less.
The editorial specifically objected to the information we provided in two news releases - one on the recent flooding disaster and another on the governor's support for Missouri arts.
First, as with any emergency, Gov. Blunt receives frequent updates from our emergency responders. With respect to the recent flooding, the governor received constant updates on the river levels as well as other important information that he used to make critical decisions regarding the state's emergency response, disaster declaration requests, the activation of the Missouri National Guard and other critical actions.
Second, the governor and first lady Melanie Blunt are strong supporters of the arts. In fact, Gov. Blunt recently received the prestigious National Award for State Arts Leadership from Americans for the Arts. It was important to the Blunts to help raise the visibility of a recent event sponsored by the Missouri Arts Council. The Missouri Arts Council is doing important work to help enrich the lives of Missourians and Gov. Blunt and the first lady have unabashedly helped promote their efforts.
I also want to correct an inaccuracy in the editorial. The News Tribune's informal count of news information issued by this office was incorrect. Our office had issued 946 news releases and media advisories at the time this editorial was published, not 630 as was reported.
The editorial also expressed concern about the amount of paper news outlets must use to receive information from the governor's office.
We share this concern and are especially concerned about small newspaper businesses that want to save money on toner and paper. This is why we encourage any media outlet that would prefer to receive information from the governor's office by e-mail only to let us know so we can make the necessary arrangements.
When it comes to sharing information with the public we will continue to err on the side of providing more information rather than less and let Missourians decide what information is relevant to them and their families.
Rich Chrismer
Deputy chief of staff, communications
Office of Gov. Matt Blunt
Correction: The header on this page was incorrect when it was originally posted. It is now correctly labeled "Your Opinion."
 |
||
| Our Opinion Notify public of plans to close Capitol's circular drive |
Article Rating |
|
Before commenting read the News Tribune Forum's policies and procedures.
Thanks.
RSS
gofish wrote on Jul 28, 2008 10:08 AM:
No matter how many press releases that are released about how much "good" he has done, the public will always be able to see through the mound of B.S. "