Wyoming governor asks media for ideas to ensure transparency

Wyoming’s governor tells representatives of the news media he wants to ensure transparency in state government.

Gov. Mark Gordon convened a group of news reporters, editors and publishers from around the state Friday to discuss government transparency.

One outcome could be a committee of journalists, state legislators and others who would work with a new state public records ombudsman to review state officials’ responses to public-records requests. The ombudsman job was created in a bill recently passed by the Wyoming Legislature and signed into law by Gordon.

Gordon convened the meeting in Cheyenne during Sunshine Week, which recognizes the public’s right to access government information in the U.S.

Participants included representatives of the Casper Star Tribune, Wyoming Tribune Eagle, Wyoming Public Radio and The Associated Press.