Tennessee broadcasters' use of information access laws

This research examined how Tennessee broadcasters use information access laws, particularly the Freedom of Information Act, Tennessee's Open Meetings Law and Tennessee's Open Records Law in daily newsgathering. These laws were written with the intent of making government more accountable to its citizens. Journalists played a major role in pushing for these laws' enactment, and they were anticipated to be the primary users of the law. Nineteen radio and television news directors from five Tennessee markets participated in the survey over a six-week period. Their responses help paint a picture of news coverage in the state's demographically diverse regions. With a response rate of 76 percent, the study found that news directors from all markets have a general understanding of access laws, even if they do not have to actively enforce them every day. The participants said financial and time limitations within broadcast newsrooms and peculiarities within the laws that prevent them from using the open records law, open meetings law and FOIA in daily collection. However, the laws' very existence allows Journalists greater access to meetings and records, which allows the media to relate the business of government to the public.