Interesting comment from “Just Saying” over at Guarino’s under his post on JLF’s recent online transparency in local government report card:

The problem, as I see it, is three-fold:

1. A political ruling elite that views itself as being above the people. It’s the old textile mill mentality where you had a “big bossman” whose word was law. That’s how Jim Melvin ran Greensboro and its how things still get run, in large part.

2. The mainstream media is part of the elite. The News & Record should be the standard bearer for open government, as newspapers are in many cities. But the N&R is joined at the hip with Action Greensboro, the Guilford County School Board (Alan Duncan is their attorney, for crying out loud) and the City Council.

The Rhino tries to be a voice for open government, but they simply don’t have the clout that the large daily has.

I realize the JLF report was talking about online transparency, but the focus has shifted into a discussion of government transparency in general. If government isn’t being transparent, that leaves the media to clue citizens in on what’s going on. The catch is, it’s not really a matter of hardcore investigative journalism; I’m amazed at what local government bodies do in broad daylight that never gets reported in Greensboro’s paper of record. The Greensboro City Council’s decision to pull out of the Randleman pump station deal is perfect example.

Cone’s noticed the same thing. You want hard news on local government in Greensboro and Guilford County, you have to read the Rhino. By the way, anyone see this story in the N&R last week? If I missed it, let me know. You’d think with all the problems in Greensboro’s City Attorney’s office, you’d think this would be news. Again, this was done in broad daylight.

For what it’s worth, the Meck Deck is similarly frustrated with what goes unreported down in Charlotte.