The attached set of Model Guidelines was created by a task force representing the League of Oregon Cities, the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association, City of Lake Oswego, Oregon Association of Broadcasters and Open Oregon: A Freedom of Information Coalition to help cities, counties and other public bodies draft policies regarding access to executive sessions of local governing bodies and their advisory bodies. This model was developed by using as a starting point a policy adopted by Columbia County. The advent of new media such as internet blogging and websites devoted to local public affairs reporting has created situations that were not contemplated in Oregon’s Public Meetings law (ORS 192.610 to 192.690) and its interpretation in the Attorney General’s Public Records and Meetings Manual. A number of local governments in Oregon have faced new media persons asking to attend executive sessions as “media representatives” under the law. Some governing bodies have been reluctant to allow new-media reporters into executive sessions because they have not developed a sufficient level of trust in new-media reporters and writers nor the institutions they represent. While we recognize that access to such sessions ultimately requires a basic level of mutual trust between media and local officials to be successful, we also recognize that Oregon law entitles the public to know how the public’s business is conducted at all levels of government. We hope this model policy will recognize the government’s need to keep some matters, defined in the Oregon Public Records and Public Meetings laws, from improper disclosure, and recognize that the definition of news media is changing and may include more than just the local newspapers and broadcast stations. This model policy may well need further refinement and may not fit each situation perfectly. It may also be that local governments may find no policy changes are necessary. But if they are, we feel that this proposal allows both government and media to pursue their legitimate duties without undue interference. Sincerely, David Powell – City Attorney for Lake Oswego & representative for League of Oregon Cities Steven Lounsbury – County Counsel, Clackamas County Judie Hammerstad – Former Mayor, City of Lake Oswego Bill Johnstone – President & CEO of Oregon Association of Broadcasters Dominic Monahan – Counsel for Oregon Association of Broadcasters Laurie Hieb – Executive Director of Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association Bob Caldwell - Editorial Page Editor of The Oregonian Judson Randall – President of Open Oregon