Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) and Lewis & Clark Law School are partnering to create the groundbreaking Public Records and Government Transparency Project. The Project, one of the first of its kind in the nation, will provide much-needed legal resources for journalists and media organizations throughout Oregon to access public records and to surmount obstacles to investigative reporting involving government agencies and elected officials.
Set to begin in Fall 2025, the program will offer classroom instruction and hands-on legal experience to law students who will work directly with journalists and media outlets seeking access to government documents.
Government transparency and access to public records are of increasing importance at all levels of government. Oregon law states, “Every person has a right to inspect any public record of a public body in this state.” Yet across the Northwest and beyond, individuals increasingly face long delays, high fees, and limited legal support when trying to access public records. Many media outlets and private citizens do not have legal representation to challenge these barriers—OPB is currently the only media organization in Oregon with in-house counsel dedicated to open records work.
“This partnership underscores the important role legal professionals play in ensuring access to public records,” said Dean Alicia Ouellette. “As a leader in training students for careers in public interest law, we are especially excited about this new offering.”
The course will be co-taught by OPB’s legal counsel Jon Bial and Nora Broker, with students receiving weekly seminars and casework supervision from pro bono attorneys. Students will assist with every stage of a public records request from legal research and government engagement to drafting petitions and working with the Oregon Attorney General’s Office or local district attorneys.
Journalists and media outlets reporting on local or state government in Oregon, or requesting materials under Oregon Public Records Law, will be eligible to receive legal support from the student teams.
Each student will build a portfolio of legal writing and gain practical skills in administrative law, dispute resolution, and public interest advocacy. Six students will be admitted each semester during the 2025–26 academic year.
Rachel Smolkin, president and CEO of OPB, emphasized that “OPB’s work is rooted in the relentless pursuit of truth and transparency,” adding that the partnership will benefit students, the journalism community, and the broader public. Shasta Kearns Moore, Vice Chair of Oregon’s Public Records Advisory Council, also praised the initiative, calling public records access “a major underpinning to a fair and democratic society.”
At a time when access to public records is increasingly challenged by fees, delays, and legal complexity, the project aims to strengthen transparency and prepare the next generation of lawyers to advocate for open government.
Learn more here.
