Newspapers across the state have partnered with The Associated Press and Mississippi Center for Freedom of Information to present an in-depth look at public meetings and open records laws in the Magnolia State. The result is a comprehensive series of reports, sidebars, commentary and art that will launch in mid-February.

To highlight the urgency of this problem, the package is being made available to all media outlets through AP and the Mississippi Press Association.

We are pleased that this content will be available to all our member newspapers, including non-dailies and non-AP members.

Mississippi's Open Meetings and Open Records laws were designed to protect citizens' access to the workings of government, but are rife with exemptions that perpetuate a culture of secrecy. Private citizens, organizations and media outlets have long pushed for more open government, but the Legislature has largely ignored these appeals.

Bills are being filed this year to try to tighten some of the exemptions and to give people a better chance to see the workings of their local and state governments – the governments that taxpayers support with their hard-earned dollars.

The series will appear over eight days in daily member newspapers. Non-dailies and weeklies are encouraged to run as much material as their newshole allows over consecutive issues. It is set for release to non-daily members via mspress.org beginning the week of February 4. The package will include columns and glances, a series logo and photographs. For more information on the project, contact: Layne Bruce, executive director, 601-981-3060, or via email, lbruce@mspress.org.