There&8217;s a trend here:

Why does the Tribune push the Albert Lea City Council to get rid of its preagenda meetings? Why does the Tribune push the Albert Lea School District Board of Education to get rid of its pre-meeting workshops? Why does the Tribune push for the publication of legal notices? Why does the Tribune push for local governments to air meetings on public-access cable television? Why does the Tribune want minutes kept for tax-levying entities whenever a quorum is present? Why does the Tribune cry foul when government documents are kept hidden from our reporters or from citizens?

It is because this newspaper cares about its readers being able to access government. Citizens pay for the cost of government and therefore have a right to know what government does. They have rights to open meetings, open records and open courts.

This week is Sunshine Week, a week when newspapers across the country make known to readers the access efforts newspapers do on behalf of their readers.

Readers get more than the news when they subscribe to a newspaper. They get an industry willing to go to bat for them whenever citizens wish to access government? Not only do newspapers lobby local school boards and city councils, they push for openness at the state and federal levels, too. Newspaper don&8217;t ask for special privileges either. They ask for accessibility for every citizen.

Newspapers more than any other form of media carry the torch for keeping government accountable and accessible to ordinary citizens. We fight for your rights. We believe you have a right to know. We believe government operates best in the broad daylight of public scrutiny.

If you, as a citizen, ever have a problem getting a copy of a government document, attending a government meeting or even watching a court proceeding, feel free to contact Tim Engstrom, the editor of the Tribune. His number is (507) 379-3433. He and his staff can help.