Photo submitted to the Times Observer Journalist and author Josh Cotton will discuss trust, transparency, and civic engagement at a League of Women Voters event in Warren County during Sunshine Week.

A former Times Observer reporter will speak about the importance of Sunshine Week on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Jefferson DeFrees Family Center.

Josh Cotton will explore the challenges of maintaining trust and civility in today’s society.

Cotton began his writing career at the Times Observer in 2009. He spent over a decade covering topics that informed and engaged the community. His reporting often focused on Warren County history, culminating in a weekly column dedicated to local heritage.

In October 2024, he transitioned to a role as a grant writer for Warren County, where he continues his service to the community by securing funding for local projects. Cotton is also the author of the book Servant of Light.

He lives in North Warren with his wife, Mindy, and their two children, Jay and Emily.

“The last several years have been a challenging period to live in community with others. COVID-19. Contentious presidential elections,” Cotton said. “Economic challenges. Sagging trust in a host of institutions. Is our historical moment particularly unique? Some of these trends are national. How have those challenges impacted us here in Warren County? And what does any of that have to do with Sunshine Week? If we hope to see the temperature turn down and some semblance of civility take its place, we have to understand how we got here and what we can do about it.”

Sunshine Week, a national initiative dedicated to promoting open government and transparency will be recognized from March 16-22. The initiative, launched in 2005 by the American Society of News Editors, aims to educate the public on the importance of access to government information and the risks associated with excessive secrecy.