Press release
July 15, 2020
Contact:
Juli Bunting, WashCOG executive director, info@washingtoncog.org
George Erb, WashCOG secretary, geoerb@seanet.com
WashCOG recognizes Pullman Journalist with a Key Award
SEATTLE, July 15, 2020 – The Washington Coalition for Open Government will present a Key Award to Jacob Jones, reporter and publisher of Whitman County Watch, for repeatedly using the Public Records Act to reveal costly and impactful decisions by state and local agencies that would otherwise go unreported and unnoticed.
Working alone, Jones uses the tools of professional journalism, public records laws and regulatory reports to examine local government and inform citizens with his online news site, Whitman County Watch in Pullman.
He routinely uses public records laws to shed light on controversial or puzzling government actions that were not fully explained at the time.
When the city of Colfax settled a lawsuit with its former police chief, Jones circled back and filed a public records request for the settlement agreement. The disclosed document showed the police chief agreed to drop his lawsuit in exchange for $435,000.
In September 2019, WSU Provost Mitzi Montoya stepped down after less than two months on the job. Jones filed public records requests for WSU emails, which revealed Montoya’s concerns about internal power struggles and sexism. Jones kept digging and unearthed Montoya’s settlement agreement. It showed that WSU granted Montoya a “transition year” in Seattle with an office, $15,000 in discretionary funds, no teaching duties and a $460,000 salary. Montoya was expected to fill her time with research.
The coalition presents Key Awards throughout the year to people and organizations who do something notable for the cause of open government within the past 12 months.
The Washington Coalition for Open Government is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit advocate for public records, open meetings and informed citizens in Washington state. The coalition is at work in the courts as well as at legislative and executive agencies. It educates citizens and recognizes people and organizations for their work on behalf of open government.