2 weeks Ago
Sunshine Week has arrived, and it’s a time when media organizations and groups from the civic, government and private sectors work together to celebrate the importance of open government and public records. Our team of journalists at the Aiken Standard and Post and Courier North Augusta/The Star knows that shining a spotlight in dark places is a year-round occurrence. This year’s observance runs from March 16-22.
But keeping elected officials and local governments accountable takes money. And that’s one of the reasons we started the Aiken Communications Public Service and Investigative Reporting Fund. We use the fund to offset costs when we are pursuing Freedom of Information Act requests and other expenses associated with investigative journalism.
From New Ellenton to North Augusta, from Wagener to Williston — really, all of Aiken County — our team is on the lookout for stories to dig into. In recent years, we’ve unearthed some investigative stories ranging from Aiken’s downtown redevelopment efforts to the issues surrounding Wagener’s fire department. We’ve also investigated illegal bus searches along Interstate 20, allegations involving North Augusta’s former football coach and the trail of legal action involving a developer who was involved with two high-profile local projects.
Rest assured we have plenty more investigative work to do. For nearly 160 years, the Aiken Standard has been a trusted news source for Aiken County. For the Post and Courier North Augusta/The Star, it’s been on the scene for 70 years.
Having a healthy news-gathering organization is a vital part of the democratic process and helps make a difference in our communities. We will still be doing all of the “little” things that you have come to expect. But these deeper dives into investigative reporting and public service journalism are also an essential part of our mission.
In the end, we feel this type of work will help keep our elected officials accountable and put some sunshine where needed. Our goal is to raise $150,000 this year to help sustain our public service journalism. Our Public Service and Investigative Reporting Fund is set up through the Community Foundation of the Central Savannah River Area.
It’s better known for being the clearinghouse for the annual gift from the Masters Tournament, and the foundation then distributes funds to deserving groups throughout the area. Here’s a quick reminder on how you can make a tax-deductible contribution to the fund: To contribute online, visit aikenstandard.com/pledge and click on the “Learn More” tab.
A check also can be mailed to the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area, P.O. Box 31358, Augusta, Georgia, 30903.
Be sure to write “Aiken Standard Investigative Fund” on the memo line of the check. We appreciate the support. Thanks for reading.
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