Sunshine Week Coverage

Books on race, sexuality among most targeted across NC schools

These books are increasingly coming under scrutiny by small but vocal groups, a collaboration of North Carolina media outlets found.

Sunshine Week partners

NC journalists discuss diversity, elections during Sunshine Week

Journalists and researchers from across the state came together on Thursday to exchange knowledge on covering elections, climate change and requesting public information.

Maggie Brown, WRAL multiplatform producer

How do state leaders spend their time on your dime? We asked for their calendars

Opaque details like the public schedule released by the governor's office underscore the need for the public to have access to calendars for the state's top executives, transparency advocates say. Such documents can provide valuable insight into the daily work of the state's most powerful officials - and the work they do on the public's behalf.

NC Watchdog Reporting Network

Search warrants are powerful. Yet few NC courts track how often they're kept secret

A first-of-its-kind examination by a dozen North Carolina newsrooms found that state courts for the most part don't track how often they keep these records secret. And although they contend that sealing search warrants is an uncommon practice, most court clerks, district attorneys and judges can't say how often it happens.

Sunshine Week partners

Sunshine Week 2020: How we reported on search warrant secrecy

A dozen newsrooms across the state partnered to answer questions about transparency in the courts for a project timed with Sunshine Week, a national celebration of transparency and open government.

Tyler Dukes, WRAL investigative reporter

WRAL's Laura Leslie joins panel discussion on covering the 2020 elections

WRAL Capital Bureau Chief Laura Leslie joins a panel discussion on the biggest issues facing journalists in covering the 2020 elections.

Sunshine Day keynote address on transparency, government

Judge Chris Brook, of the N.C. Court of Appeals, will offer a keynote address on the relationship between transparency and good government in North Carolina. Also, the NC Open Government Coalition will announce the winners of the sixth annual Sunshine Awards.

NC officials discuss the effects of body-worn cameras on public safety

As part of N.C. Sunshine Day, journalists and government officials discuss the effects of North Carolina's police body camera law on government, transparency, and community health and safety.

Message sent: General Assembly transparency bill given 13 hurdles to clear

Despite nods toward more transparency in the House, clear kibosh put on Democrat's sunshine bill.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Lawmaker introduces NC Sunshine Act to strengthen open government rules

Rep. Ray Russell is introducing the NC Sunshine Act, which would strengthen the states open government laws.

Legal settlements cost taxpayers but could save money

Government officials in North Carolina have shelled out millions through insurance and taxpayer money to quell the risk of legal action - whether it's from an employee alleging discrimination or a driver hit by a local school bus.

Sunshine Day: Transparency in 9th District

Joe Bruno (WSOC), Travis Fain (WRAL), ​Steve Harrison (WFAE) and Kirk Ross (independent journalist, Washington Post NC correspondent), will discuss their reporting on the congressional race and subsequent investigation in the 9th Congressional District race between Mark Harris and Dan McCready. Moderator: Debra Morgan of WRAL.

Sunshine Day: Online access in local government

Online Access in Local Government: Matt Calabria (Wake County commissioner), Cheyenne Flotree (City of Charlotte) and Patrick Conant (PRC Apps) will discuss advances in open data and open records on the local level. Moderator: Angie Newsome (Carolina Public Press and the N.C. Open Government Coalition).

How we reported our investigation on North Carolina settlement agreements

To see just how prevalent settlement agreements are inked at the state, county and local level, nine news organizations from the mountains to the coast submitted 61 requests to public agencies across the state.

Tyler Dukes, WRAL investigative reporter

Behind the scenes of government, millions in payouts and little transparency

When public agencies face the risk of legal action - whether it's from an employee alleging discrimination or a driver hit by a local school bus - lawyers for state and local governments often spring into action to settle. Settlement agreements can be a cost-saving measure, but the payouts from taxpayers add up quickly. And with little uniformity on how these agreements are tracked and shared with the public, a statewide investigation has found the total costs hard to calculate.

Sunshine Week partners

Request public records in 8 steps

You haven't found what you need by searching Google or scanning the agency's website, but you're sure that somewhere the document you want is out there.

Request public records in 8 steps

You haven't found what you need by searching Google or scanning the agency's website, but you're sure that somewhere the document you want is out there.

Submit a records request like a pro in 8 easy steps

Sunshine Week, an annual celebration of open government taking place this year from March 11 to March 18, is a great opportunity to share what we know so you can access public information like a pro.

Tyler Dukes, WRAL public records reporter, and Kelly Hinchcliffe, WRAL education reporter

How it happens: Anatomy of a news story

In honor of Sunshine Week, the Associated Press takes you through the steps of reporting, editing and production behind every news story.

How requesting family members' military records works

If you need to prove military service or are doing genealogical research, a records request could help.

Months after closed meetings, details often remain off-limits

A collaborative investigation by 10 newsrooms across the state found that governing boards that meet in closed session are often slow to hand over legally required records that detail what they discuss in secret, if they provide them at all. When they are produced, they're often heavily redacted, raising questions about how closely those boards are following the law.

Sunshine Week partners

Secrecy, settlements and staffing: Inside NC school boards' closed meetings

When North Carolina school board members retreat behind closed doors to discuss sensitive public business, the amount of information they share with the public afterwards varies greatly. While some release detailed notes of their closed-door discussions, others conceal large portions of their meetings, refuse to say how board members voted or release nothing at all.

Sunshine Week partners

Mimicking Trump, local officials use 'fake news' as a weapon

President Trump's campaign to discredit the news media has spread to state and local officials, who are echoing his use of the term "fake news" as a weapon against unflattering stories and information that can tarnish their images.

By RYAN J. FOLEY, Associated Press

Column: Perceived biases, attacks erode trust in the press

President Trump's attacks on the media and the actions of his administration have emboldened journalists to pursue watchdog and accountability reporting. At the same time, perceived biases among media outlets have eroded the public's trust.

By LATA NOTT, Newseum First Amendment Center

Social media offers dark spaces for political campaigning

Social media offers a dark space for political campaigns where journalists can't observe