Editorial: Transparency Is a Necessity
By • May 14, 2025 0 216
“The very word ‘secrecy’ is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths and to secret proceedings,” President John F. Kennedy told a group of newspaper publishers in 1961.
“We decided long ago that the dangers of excessive and unwarranted concealment of pertinent facts far outweighed the dangers which are cited to justify it.”
JFK was speaking mostly about the president and the press, specifically government screening of decisions, negotiations and budgets from reporters’ queries. Today, journalists and commentators continue to focus on illuminating the workings of government.
That’s why we oppose the District Council’s recent decision to close some previously open meetings to the public and the press. We must protest: Transparency is a necessity. This position applies to all other publicly funded groups across the District.
Openness maintains accountability — and helps citizens better and more fully participate in their government and in the public arena.
Likewise, the press has its own responsibility to maintain distinctions between its news departments and advertising. These days, the boundaries of journalism have been severely tested, as citizens display weaker newspaper literacy and the internet expands mindlessly.
News outlets must be transparent, revealing how they arrived at their stories. If anything is not a news product, it must be clearly identified as “sponsored content,” as in advertising.
The Georgetowner’s advertisers and stakeholders help keep our newspaper and website financially afloat, enabling us to bring you news articles and features in what we hope is an appealing format. We welcome their — and your — support and reaffirm our commitment to being transparent about the sources of the content we share.
