|
The Better Government Association is a Chicago-based investigative journalism non-profit organization. BGA journalistic investigations are guided by the newly adopted BGA guidelines for investigations and oversight protocols. They work under the motto, “Shining a Light on Government”.〔(Better Government Organization )〕 The Association works under a board of directors and does not accept government funding. It functions off of the support of foundations, corporations, law firms, major donors, and individuals. ==Mission and History== The Better Government Association’s mission is to work for “integrity, transparency, and accountability in government by exposing corruption and inefficiency; identifying and advocating effective public policy; and engaging and mobilizing the electorate to achieve authentic and responsible reform”.〔 In May 1923, E. J. Davis, director of the Anti-Saloon League, along with a group of clergymen, lawyers, editors, and businessmen formed the Better Government Association to combat the corruption in the Prohibition-era government. They believed that “public officials under close scrutiny would serve the public better; that the best voter was an informed one and the best citizen was an involved one”.〔 After a merger with the Legislative Voter’s League, the BGA worked for the next 34 years. In 1957, new Executive Director George Mahin set out to evolve the role of the BGA.〔 In the 1960s, Mahin and Charles Percy, a board member, started a new program called Operation Watchdog, which allowed the BGA to become a media partner. This partnership put pressure on state politicians and public officials.〔 The first major investigation was conducted by ''Chicago Tribune'' reporter George Bliss, who uncovered corruption at the Metropolitan Sanitary District. After Richard Friedman’s brief tenure as executive director (1969–71), J. Terrence Brunner joined the BGA. By this time, the organization had earned a national reputation for its investigations.〔 In 1977, the BGA worked with CBS’ ''60 Minutes'' and ''Chicago Sun-Times'' to produce the Mirage Tavern Investigation, in which many bribe-seeking inspectors and employees were exposed. Brunner was also known for starting the investigative internship program. In 1979, the BGA opened new offices in Washington, D.C., and Springfield, Illinois; the D.C. office, however, was too expensive and was closed n 1984.〔 Through the 1980s and 1990s, the BGA exposed fraud in the Chicago Public Schools, lax security at the O'Hare International Airport, and corrupt secretary of state George Ryan, among other investigations.〔 After nearly 30 years as executive director, Brunner retired, and former BGA General Counsel Terrance Norton took his place.〔 Under his reign, the BGA compiled the Alper Integrity Index, the nation’s first comprehensive analysis and ranking of government transparency and accountability laws across 50 states. The study ranks states in laws about open records, whistleblower protection, campaign finance, open meetings, and conflicts of interest. The Index was published in the fall of 2002. In 2003, Sue Walker replaced Norton, and in 2004, former staff attorney Jay Stewart took her place.〔 In June 2009, Andy Shaw became the new executive director. Shaw was an education reporter and then the editorial director at NBC 5, where he won two local Emmys, prior to joining ABC 7, where he covers city, county, suburban, state, and national politics and government.〔(Andy Shaw | ABC Biography ) 〕 At this point, the BGA was in need of revitalization. There are now five working units that make up the organization: Investigations, Advocacy, Communications, Watchdog Training, and Reporting and Administration. In the fall of 2010, BGA launched a new website, and it continues to investigate misdeeds. Shaw also introduced a new idea to the non-profit, to propose new policies instead of just exposing problems.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Better Government Association」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|