As America marks its 250th year, we must ask ourselves: What does freedom look like today? One answer is clear — it looks like open access to public information. Yet in Pennsylvania, outdated laws continue to restrict how and where that information is shared, creating unnecessary costs and barriers for both citizens and local governments.
In a digital age, freedom must include the right to access public information without barriers — and without a price tag.
Should residents have to pay to learn about decisions that affect their neighborhoods? Should municipalities be forced to spend taxpayer dollars on print newspaper ads that few people read? The answer is no — especially in light of how dramatically news consumption has changed.
This isn’t just inefficient — it’s undemocratic.
A May 2024 Pew Research Center report found that only 4% of Americans prefer getting their local news from print newspapers. Meanwhile, more people are turning to township websites, community newsletters, and social media for updates. And the shift is accelerating: a June 2025 poll from Reuters and the University of Oxford revealed that 54% of Americans accessed news via social media and video platforms in the past week, surpassing TV (50%) and websites/apps (48%) for the first time.
Despite this clear trend, Pennsylvania law still mandates that key public notices be published in “newspapers of general circulation” — a term that feels increasingly disconnected from how people actually consume information. These requirements force municipalities to spend taxpayer dollars on print ads that reach only a small fraction of their communities.
This system doesn’t serve the public. It serves a narrow special interest group that benefits from maintaining a monopoly on legal advertising — at the public’s expense.
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 added 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.”
Transparency is the foundation of democracy — and transparency requires access. When public notices are locked behind paywalls or buried in print publications with dwindling readership, we undermine that foundation.
It’s time for Harrisburg to modernize. Local governments should have the legal option to publish notices on their websites, in community publications, and on digital platforms where residents actually look for information. This isn’t about eliminating newspapers — it’s about giving municipalities the flexibility to choose the most effective communication tools.
Imagine a Pennsylvania where civic engagement is boosted by accessibility. Residents already rely on township websites, social media pages, and digital newsletters for updates on road work, public meetings, and community events. Virtual access to meetings has already increased participation — expanding digital notice options is the next logical step.
Pennsylvania should be a model where residents can easily find out about public meetings, road closures, and local decisions — without needing a subscription or a trip to the library.
Let’s make public information truly public — free and accessible.
That’s not just common sense. That’s democracy in action.
If you agree with this opinion, please contact your state senator and state representative to urge their support of Senate Bill 194, which would give local governments flexibility to enhance public information options, increase readership, and reduce costs.
