David Sanko: Why public information must be free and accessible
As we celebrate America’s 250th, we should take a moment to reflect on the meaning of freedom today. The many freedoms we enjoy make America special. A fundamental freedom is the right to access public information. Yet, in Pennsylvania, outdated laws continue to obstruct the free flow of this essential information, creating unnecessary hurdles and costs for both citizens and their local governments.
In this digital age, freedom must encompass the right to access public information without artificial barriers, and certainly without a price tag. Should citizens be forced to pay to understand the decisions that shape their neighborhoods? Should our municipalities be compelled to expend taxpayer dollars on print newspaper advertisements that many people never see? The answer, unequivocally, is no. This outdated approach is not only inefficient, but it is also profoundly undemocratic.
The way we consume news has transformed. A May 2024 Pew Research Center report revealed that a mere four percent of Americans prefer getting their local news from print newspapers. Conversely, more and more people are turning to township websites, community newsletters, and social media for vital updates. This shift is accelerating: a June 2025 poll from Reuters and the University of Oxford found that 54 percent of Americans accessed news via social media and video platforms in the past week, surpassing TV and traditional news websites for the first time.
Despite this undeniable trend, Pennsylvania law still mandates that crucial public notices be published in “newspapers of general circulation.” This term feels increasingly out of touch with how information is actually consumed. These requirements force municipalities to funnel scarce taxpayer dollars into print ads that reach a constantly smaller fraction of their communities. This system does not serve the public; it primarily serves a narrow special interest group that profits from maintaining a monopoly on legal advertising, at the expense of the very taxpayers it claims to inform.
Our founding fathers understood that transparency is the bedrock of a functioning democracy. Patrick Henry warned that “the liberties of people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them.” James Madison echoed this sentiment, stating that “a popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy or perhaps both.” When public notices are buried in print publications with diminishing readership, we weaken the very foundation of our democratic system.
This is why local governments should be granted the legal flexibility to publish notices on their official websites, within community publications, and on the digital platforms where residents actively seek local information. This isn’t about sidelining newspapers; it’s about providing municipalities with the freedom to choose the most effective and far-reaching communication tools available today.
The way we access information has evolved dramatically. If you want to know a store’s hours, you check its website. To renew your driver’s license, you go to PennDOT’s site. For world news, you visit a news website. So, why should finding your trash pickup schedule or the agenda for a township meeting be any different? You’d go to the township’s website, of course.
It’s time for Harrisburg to embrace this modernization. Imagine a Pennsylvania where local governments can connect with more residents than ever before. People already rely on township websites, social media, and digital newsletters for updates on everything from road work to public meetings. We’ve seen how virtual access to meetings has boosted participation; expanding digital notice options is the clear, logical next step to truly open government.
Pennsylvania should stand as a beacon where residents can effortlessly discover public meetings, road closures, and local decisions, without needing a subscription or a trip to the library. Let’s ensure public information is truly public, free, and accessible to all. This isn’t just about common sense; it’s about upholding the principles of democracy itself.
David M. Sanko is the executive director of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors.
