The East Tennessee Society of Professional Journalists is having a workshop for citizens and journalists on "Open Records – Open Meetings: How to get records & get into meetings," 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, in the Shiloh Room of the University Center. See the following press release for more details.

Citizens and working journalists are invited to a free workshop designed to teach them what records and meetings are open to the public under Tennessee law and what they can do if denied access. In partnership with the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, the East Tennessee chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (ETSPJ) is pleased to present this freedom-of-information workshop, which is open to the public and all working journalists.

Experienced reporters, a lawmaker and an open government expert will offer tips and advice on what you need to know to access public information and meetings. Panelists include: Sen. Randy McNally, chair of the Tennessee open government study committee; Frank Gibson, director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government; Don Dare, WATE-TV; and David Keim, News Sentinel assistant managing editor. The panel will be moderated by WATE-TV News Director Jamie Foster.

Mark your calendar for Open Records – Open Meetings: How to get records & get into meetings. The workshop begins at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, in the Shiloh Room of the University Center. Parking is available in the University Center garage, for a fee. Free parking is available in the S-9 lot just to the south of the University Center. For more information, visit www.etspj.org

ETSPJ is a chapter of the national Society of Professional Journalists. With nearly 10,000 members, SPJ is the nation’s most broad-based journalism professional organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. SPJ’s mission is the perpetuation of a free press as the cornerstone of our nation and liberty.