Oklahoma is one of five states selected by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press to receive pro bono legal support to support local journalism.

The Reporters Committee said Tuesday that Oklahoma, Colorado, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Tennessee are the initial states selected for its Local Legal Initiative. The initiative is meant to enable state news outlets to seek legal means to access public records and meetings and defend from legal actions.

Freedom of Information (FOI) Oklahoma, known for its advocacy of open and transparent government, is one of eight organizations involved in the initiative.

Other Oklahoma news outlets involved include:

• Oklahoma Press Association, which has 175 newspaper members statewide,

• Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters, which has 152 member radio stations and 29 television stations,

• Native American Journalists Association, which serves Indigenous journalists and promotes more informed coverage of tribal communities,

• Nonprofit investigative news organizations Oklahoma Watch and The Frontier,

• StateImpact Oklahoma, a reporting team sponsored by public radio stations,

• Oklahoma Pro chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

The initiative is funded primarily through a $10 million investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as part of its pledge to double its commitment to strengthening local journalism.

The five launch states were selected from more than 45 submissions that the Reporters Committee received last year from more than 30 states, regions and territories nationwide.

The program and more funding will expand to other states in the future.

The Reporters Committee, based in Washington, D.C., will hire an attorney in each state, including Oklahoma, to work with the participating news organizations. Each state’s lawyer also will offer pre-publication reviews of content, which is common in journalism for assessing legal exposure, as well as other services.

“We are eager to expand our legal services to help more local journalists pursue stories that inform and strengthen their communities,” said Bruce Brown, executive director of the Reporters Committee. “We are looking forward to working closely with our partners in each of these states to support thriving local journalism.”

“FOI Oklahoma is proud to join the other organizations in this initiative and excited to see what the Reporters Committee support can do to improve transparency in this state,” said FOI Oklahoma President Joe Hight. “We are thankful for this investment from the Knight Foundation.

“FOI Oklahoma has long championed and led the push for more transparency in government. I hope Oklahomans see this as a positive development that will further our organization’s commitment to improve access to open records and open meetings. This certainly sends a message to certain elected officials that it’s time to come out from the darkness and behind closed doors.”

Mark Thomas, executive vice president of the Oklahoma Press Association and an FOI Oklahoma board member, added, “The Local legal Initiative is revolutionary because it will help restore the rights of citizens who want access to records kept by their government, and provide the financial backing to challenge bureaucracy and violations of Oklahoma’s transparency laws and principles.

“It is also right to commend the public servants, past and present, who have tirelessly supported transparency at all levels of government. For those who do not, the Local Legal Initiative will be a ‘Shot Heard ‘Round Oklahoma’ and help Oklahoma become one of the most transparent states in the nation.”

Tristan Ahtone, president of the Native American Journalists Association, said, “We believe the opportunity will encourage both mainstream and tribal media to attain the highest standards of professionalism and improve coverage of Indigenous communities.”

“The enthusiasm and responses we received from across the country make clear that there is a significant need for pro bono legal assistance for local journalists nationwide,” said Katie Townsend, legal director for the Reporters Committee. “At a time when important local reporting is routinely stymied, we stand ready to help journalists and news organizations overcome the legal roadblocks they too often face.”

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