by Guy Page
A state-funded “Public Truth-Telling Session” scheduled for Nov. 15 in St. Johnsbury will bar reporters from recording, photographing, or interviewing participants inside the event, according to guidelines released by organizers.
The session, part of an ongoing statewide process by the state-funded Vermont Truth & Reconciliation Commission examining harm caused by Vermont laws, policies, and institutions, will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Johnsbury Elementary School. Organizers say the gathering is intended primarily for people who have been harmed by state systems and who are willing to publicly share their stories in a “supported, public space.”
While the public is invited to attend as witnesses, media access will be tightly controlled. The rules state that no recording, photography, or interviews may take place inside the truth-telling space without explicit permission from both the Commission and the individuals involved. Reporters are advised to focus coverage on the “broader purpose and community impact,” rather than any individual accounts, unless written consent is obtained.
A press liaison will be on-site, but journalists will not be allowed to approach speakers for comment unless they receive both institutional and personal approval. Organizers say the restrictions are intended to protect participant “safety, dignity, and consent.”
The St. Johnsbury session is the final event in the series. Themes expected to emerge include family separation, barriers to choosing where to live, and experiences of isolation or exclusion tied to state systems. The Commission has circulated a media kit with guidelines, background information, and contact details for reporters seeking more context.
The event is open to the public, but members of the press will be allowed to participate only under the stated limitations.
The organization’s website does list the mission, commissioners and members of the Vermont Truth & Reconcilation Commission, which was established by state law.