ADVISORY/50-Year Celebration of California's Open Government Law -- Ralph M. Brown Act.

News Editors

ADVISORY...for Wednesday (July 2)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

League of California Cities

    What: Hear from the experts how and why California passed its
          landmark Open Government law (the Ralph M. Brown Act) at a
          50-year Anniversary Celebration.

          A noontime forum sponsored by the California Newspaper
          Publishers Association, the California First Amendment
          Coalition and the League of California Cities. Speaker and
          Moderator: John Russo, President of the League of California
          Cities, and Oakland City Attorney

    Panel Discussion:

        --  Bud Carpenter, Former General Counsel, League of
            California Cities - Spearheaded League sponsorship &
            lobbying in support of passage

        --  Michael Harris, Former Reporter, San Francisco Chronicle -
            his articles led to introduction/passage of the act

        --  Former Senator Quentin Kopp (author of 1994 Brown Act
            revisions)

        --  Rich McKee, President, California First Amendment
            Coalition

    Time/Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2003, 11:15 - 1:00 p.m.

    Where: Eleanor McClatchy Memorial Hall Sacramento Bee: 2100 Q
           Street, Sacramento (The Eleanor McClatchy Memorial Hall is
           located directly across from The Bee on Q Street.)

    Who:

        --  Journalists representing over 30 California newspapers and
            invited guests from the California First Amendment
            Coalition, California Newspaper Publishers Association,
            League of California Cities, League of Women Voters of
            California and the California Society of Newspaper
            Editors.

        --  Senator Debra Bowen, co-author of SCA 1 (Burton), which
            passed out of the Senate today

Photo/Interview
Opportunities:

            Participants will be available to talk about the Brown
            Act, and SCA 1, expected to pass out of the Senate this
            week.