There is no denying that public trust in institutions has reached a new sobering low in the last decade.

This unfortunate reality has been exacerbated by polarized political posturing, profit-driven media conglomerates pushing partisan talking points to capture attention and far too many examples of government officials treating their responsibility to be transparent and open to the public with an air of inconvenienced contempt rather than a pillar of their democratically granted power.

There exists no media entity in the world that flawlessly carries out their mission to provide news to their audience in a manner that is sanitized of all imperfection. News gathering, and reporting, is (at least for now) a very human process, beholden to the same imperfections that all humans possess innately. Although we certainly try our best to rise above them.

And while this disclaimer holds true for our own outlet, we also try to implore time and time again within these pages that the ultimate arbiter of the success of our local communities is you.
This is why it is so critically important for citizens to not simply take a back seat — whether when participating in the political processes of their community or in how they digest their news.

We are encouraged by the overflow turnout seen at a recent informational meeting held in Cranston by the Rhode Island ACLU, which sought to teach Rhode Islanders how to be active advocates in their communities through the legislative process. It also provided updated information to those who were wary of the uncertainties about ongoing efforts at the federal level to find and deport illegal immigrants – which brings with it a host of legal and moral issues. Seeing a strong desire by so many to become more informed by these big-picture topics was reassuring and heartening.

It is also our sincere hope to see reform pass at the State House this year that would simplify the process for members of the public to access public records from local governments. The current state of public-records law provides too much inherent cover for those who benefit from keeping information hidden from the media and the people of Rhode Island in general. Likewise, the fees that can be incurred for accessing such documents should be reduced.
We all benefit from a more informed public and a more open, transparent and accountable government, regardless of our political leanings. Let’s strive to see more of that in the weeks and months ahead.