From Jerome to your town: Time for every meeting on camera

Imagine being told you can’t record what your own government is doing. That’s exactly what happened in Jerome recently, when a reporter was told they couldn’t film a public school board meeting. Think about that: a school board, funded by taxpayers, making decisions that affect families, students, and teachers—telling the press and the public to put their cameras away.

That’s not transparency. That’s secrecy.

To his credit, Superintendent Brent Johnson admitted afterward that the policy was wrong and promised to change it. But here’s the real problem: this wasn’t a one-off. Public officials too often treat “open meetings” as if they’re doing citizens a favor by letting them in the room. That’s not how democracy works. Government belongs to the people, and the people have every right to see it in action—without barriers, excuses, or restrictions.

The Idaho Press Club got it right: banning recording is “beyond unreasonable.” The Constitution protects the right to report and record, and Idaho’s open meeting laws exist to prevent exactly this kind of closed-door behavior.

But let’s be honest—just allowing someone to sit in a room isn’t good enough anymore. In 2025, when nearly every citizen carries a high-definition video camera in their pocket, when businesses, churches, and even youth sports teams livestream their events, there’s no excuse for government meetings to be stuck in the 1950s.

Other states are moving forward. Montana passed a law requiring school boards, city councils, and county commissions to record and post their meetings online. They didn’t just talk about transparency—they made it the law. Idaho should do the same.

Why does this matter? Because families are busy. Parents are working jobs, shuttling kids to activities, and putting dinner on the table. Most people don’t have the luxury of sitting through a two-hour meeting on a Tuesday night. But they should still have the ability to see how decisions are made, how their tax dollars are spent, and whether their elected leaders are serving them—or themselves.

Livestreaming and archiving meetings is not complicated. It’s not expensive. In fact, it’s the cheapest insurance policy for trust in government. Put a $200 camera in the back of the room, hit “record,” and upload it to YouTube. Done. If a school or city claims they can’t afford it, they’re not being honest—they just don’t want the public watching too closely.

Here’s the plain truth: when government resists transparency, it’s usually because it has something to hide. And that’s exactly why every meeting should be recorded and shared. Transparency isn’t optional. It’s the foundation of trust.

The people of Idaho shouldn’t settle for vague promises of openness. We deserve laws that guarantee it. Montana got it right. Now it’s Idaho’s turn to step up.

If our kids’ soccer games can be streamed, why can’t our school board meetings? If churches and civic clubs can post recordings, why can’t city councils? The only reason is because some officials would rather you didn’t see what really happens when they think no one is watching.

Well, it’s time to start watching. No more excuses. Record every meeting. Livestream every meeting. Archive every meeting. Let the people see what their government is doing—because it’s their government, not the politicians’.

In a free state, the camera should always be rolling.