Plainfield's Board of Ed would do well to note the anger in the online forums. At the same time, interested folks should inform themselves about what 'editorial board meetings' (EBMs) are all about so as to avoid unrealistic expectations (see the Page 1 story in the Courier today here).
In the first place, the Plainfield beat reporter is not in charge of GRANTING them, SCHEDULING them, or DECIDING what will be said about them.
As someone who has endured many EBMs while I was the City's public information officer, let me share a few points.
WHO SETS THEM UP?
Editorial board meetings can be set up either by the newspaper's editorial leadership or an interested party who has an issue to advocate or discuss with the editorial team. I have been involved with both sorts: for instance, the Courier typically schedules EBMs with political candidates during the election season; on the other hand, the McWilliams administration asked for an EBM with regard to the Park-Madison office building development when the project was coming together.
WHAT ARE THEY FOR?
Organizations of all types have reasons to advocate for their point of view to be put forward by newspapers, and to hope for an editorial endorsement of same. Here are some fine examples of how to request, prepare for, and follow up on EBMs: from the American Library Association (see here), Physicians for Human Rights (see here), GW Associates (specializing in nonprofits) has useful advice on setting up an EBM (see here), and there is an excellent EBM planning worksheet on DocStoc, a website that provides all sorts of online documents (see here).
WHO TAKES PART?
There are two sides to an EBM. The newspaper will have its editorial board (is that why it's called an EBM?), usually several persons, and the reporter who covers the beat. Those advocating before the Editorial Board will assemble a group, usually including the responsible executive (the Mayor, in my experience), and perhaps a number of others who can provide detailed answers to policy questions if needed.
As for Dr. Gallon's EBM, the newspaper account does not make it clear who requested it, but it seems possible that Dr. Gallon wanted to do some damage control.
Why was Ms. Barksdale there? Dr. Gallon can speak for the District as the chief administrator, but he cannot speak for the Board of Ed, of which he is an employee. While one might expect the Board president to be present, it is perfectly acceptable for another Board member to be delegated to answer questions if the president cannot be present (for reasons of work, say). In any event, the Board member is not there on their own behalf but only to present the Board's perspective on any questions that may arise. No more, no less.
HOW LONG DO THEY LAST?
An EBM usually, in my experience, lasts a couple of hours. Ample time is allowed for the guests to present and then there is an extended Q&A period, where the editors probe for facts and clarity. To go on for nearly three hours may be on the longish side, but my guess is that in the give-and-take Dr. Gallon's answers to questions were more florid than succinct. (Sometimes the best answers are 'yes' and 'no', more often than not honored in the breach, as I can attest.)
WHAT IS A REPORTER'S ROLE?
The beat reporter is present because they will be covering the issue from a NEWS PERSPECTIVE in an ongoing fashion. Often, they are delegated to write up a news story about the EBM itself. They may also be given future news assignments based on lines of questioning developed between the editors and the guests during the EBM. These may play out over weeks, or even months, if the issues discussed continue to be newsworthy.
WHAT CAN THE OUTCOME(S) BE?
Organizations advocate for their position on matters of concern to the general public and hope that one result of an EBM will be an editorial in support -- more or less -- of the points for which they have advocated. They may also hope that their issue will receive more detailed and/or sympathetic coverage in the newspaper's ongoing news reporting.
That's on the plus side. If those who press for an EBM are ill-prepared; lack documentation for their arguments; or come across as arrogant, evasive, or abusive of the public trust, they can come to rue having asked for the EBM in the first place.
What we see in today's Courier is the first installment in the outcome of the EBM. We ought to expect an editorial, written by one of the editors after discussion among themselves, to appear in the next few days.
Since the issues surrounding Dr. Gallon's tenure continue, we can also expect further, more detailed probing as the several strands come under closer public scrutiny.
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