For Sunshine Week 2022, The National Freedom of Information Coalition & Uncovered: A Cold Case Platform proudly present “Lighting the Way: Illuminating Information and Innovation.”
This year, the NFOIC examines freedom of information through the lens of technology — how technological solutions can help us, or in some cases hinder us, as we work to understand the world around us and to ensure government transparency.
2 p.m. Eastern, Monday, March 14 — “Igniting Inspiration: Bringing Data to Light and to Life,” presented by Lam Thuy Vo, data journalist in residence at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism.
3 p.m. Eastern, Wednesday, March 16 — “Sparking Discovery: Using FOI and Big Data to Tell Stories, Build Community, and Solve Problems,” presented by David Cuillier, NFOIC board president and University of Arizona associate professor; Grace Cheng, director of government practice, practical law, at Thomson Reuters; and Ashlee Fujawa, co-founder and head of community of Uncovered, a cold case platform, and NFOIC partner.
The NFOIC welcomes your attendance, regardless of your ability to pay. We are pleased to offer these sessions at no cost to you, but we absolutely welcome your donations, as you are able to give and no matter the amount.
Join us as we explore FOI and technology, and as we partner with the UCLA Institute for Technology Law & Policy and the Ziffren Institute for Media, Entertainment, Technology and Sports Law. Register for the "Privacy and Access Series: Transparency and Public Oversight," 3 p.m. Eastern/Noon Pacific, Wednesday, March 2.
Fourth annual NFOIC competition invites
research proposals focused on FOI, technology
The fourth annual National Freedom of Information Coalition research competition welcomes one-page proposals for papers that shed light on freedom of information, particularly those focusing on technology and FOI.
Top-three papers will earn cash prizes and will be guaranteed publication in the online Journal of Civic Information, published by the University of Florida’s Brechner Center for Freedom of Information.
JoAnn Kalenak, President of DCCR, said the organization is taking legal action alleging the county withheld public records on four occasions starting in 2019. On each occasion, DCCR asked for virtually the same information and was denied, charged an exorbitant fee, or provided misleading and irrelevant records by county record custodians.
Note: At a Nov. 29, 2021, meeting, the NFOIC Board voted to lift the cap on Knight FOI Litigation Fund grants, from $5,000 to $10,000. As of Dec. 1, 2021, the Litigation Fund balance stood at $595,123.
Looking at Legislation
Tracking transparency across the nation:
Monitoring bills of interest in state legislatures
Powered by Bill Track 50, the National Freedom of Information Coalition and its members monitor transparency-related legislation in state legislatures.
Sunshine Week, launched in 2005 by the American Society of News Editors — now News Leaders Association — has grown into an enduring initiative to promote open government.
A 2021 survey of state coalitions for open government showed that the
greatest threats to government transparency today are legal exemptions primarily focused on protecting individual privacy. Learn how NFOIC members protect the public's right to know. Click the image above to download a PDF
of "States of Denial."
NFOIC Newsletter Contacts
This newsletter is produced by Todd Fettig, NFOIC executive director, and Erika Benton, NFOIC external partnership coordinator and communications specialist. To contribute items or for more information, email nfoic@nfoic.org, tfettig@nfoic.org and ebenton@nfoic.org. To read regular FOI updates, visit our blog at nfoic.org and follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
