Brechner Freedom of Information Project
@BrechnerFOI
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The Brechner FOI Project's research and ideas provide the public with information needed for informed, participatory citizenship.
Gainesville, FL
Joined December 2017
🌞 Celebrate 20 years of National Sunshine Week at Sunshine Fest 2025 in D.C.! 🏛️. 📅 March 19-20, 2025.📍 Hosted by @BrechnerFOI & @NFOIC .🎟️ Registration opens Jan. 2025 | $50/$25. Learn more: #SunshineFest25 #NationalSunshineWeek #Brechner #UFCJC
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A Wisconsin appeals court ruled July 29 that public officials can’t hide their government-related text messages on private cell phones. Midwest Environmental Advocates had sued the state Natural Resource Board in 2021 when a board member refused to provide government-related.
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🚨 Washington lawmakers are auto-deleting emails again. Under a new policy, emails not from a bill’s prime sponsor can be erased after 30 days, limiting the public's ability to track how laws are made. Via @seattletimes: . #FOIA #SunshineLaws.
brechner.org
Washington state House lawmakers have reinstated a controversial email auto-deletion policy, allowing most legislative emails, including those about bills and communications with lobbyists, to be...
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📞 A new FOI hotline just dropped in Indiana . Call 260-ASK-ICOG for help with public records, open meetings, or figuring out what to do if your request gets denied. Free. Volunteer-run. Here to help. 🔗 . #FOIA #Transparency #PublicAccess #Indiana.
indystar.com
The Indiana Coalition for Open Government started the hotline to help with questions about the Access to Public Records Act and the Open Door Law.
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FOI Tip: Find your quote machine . When records get denied, call someone who can speak on it. Think press association director, FOI professor, or a transparency advocate. A strong quote adds power to your story 💬 . #FOIA #PublicRecords #Transparency #JournalismTips
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📚 Study alert: Turns out even university officials are confused about FERPA 😬 . Richard Rainsberger found states applying it all kinds of ways and some are keeping basic info secret that FERPA actually allows. 🔗 . #FERPA #FOIA #PublicRecords.
brechner.org
A recent study reveals that confusion over the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) isn’t limited to students or parents. It extends to university officials themselves.
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This week: Brechner hits the road . 📍 Aug 6–10 . 🗂️ David Cuillier at AEJMC in SF leading FOI teaching panel . 📄 Sydney Sims at NABJ in Cleveland talking records request strategy . 📢 Follow us for resources and FOI news . 🔗 . #FOIA #PublicRecords.
jou.ufl.edu
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🗞️ New @BrechnerFOI study finds fewer newspapers per capita = more violations of public records laws. “Government transparency is never guaranteed.” – Brett Posner-Ferdman . 📖 #FOIA #Transparency.
brechner.org
A new study from the Brechner Freedom of Information Project finds that states with weaker newspaper environments are associated with greater government secrecy.
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🚨 Records expose $180 million in misspent public funds . Audit finds Sacramento’s Highlands Community Charter hired big names like a police chief and NBA player but failed on education basics. 🧾
sacbee.com
An audit probed a connection between a prominent Sacramento leader and Highlands Community Charter School.
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FOI Tip: Use patriotism. Public records belong to the people. Access is your right as an American. Transparency is the government’s duty. Remind agencies that open government isn’t just law. it’s freedom in action. #FOITip #FOIA #PublicRecords
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New study from @BrechnerFOI: Access to public records is dominated by the rich, white, male, and educated. Only 25% of Americans have a bachelor’s degree. Among the requesters? 88%. 🧾 #FOIA #DocumentDivide #Transparency.
brechner.org
A new study led by the Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Project indicates widening disparity of Americans acquiring government information through public record laws.
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The Atlanta Community Press Collective released documents about “Cop City” after winning a public records lawsuit. The records include a letter urging city officials to block a public vote on the project. More here: . #OpenRecords #Transparency.
wabe.org
The private nonprofit helps recruit and raise money for the Atlanta Police Department and was one of the groups behind the city's controversial police and firefighter training facility, widely known...
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Florida pulled contract details for its $250 million ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention camp after reporters started asking questions. 📰 Read more:
brechner.org
Brechner Freedom of Information Project director David Cuillier is questioning Florida’s decision to remove detailed contract records tied to its new $250 million detention camp from a public...
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240,000+ pages of FBI files on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. have been released. Originally sealed until 2027, the documents include records of surveillance and disinformation efforts. King’s children opposed the early release. . #FOI #FOIA.
pbs.org
Martin Luther King Jr.'s two living children are urging people to tread lightly with a newly released trove of records related to their father's assassination.
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🗂️ FOI Tip: Use people skills to get records. Let officials vent. Listen and repeat what you heard. Use “I” not “you” statements. Talk informally, side-by-side, to avoid creating opposition. #FOI #FOITips #PublicRecords
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📲 Ronald Capaldi’s new article in the Journal of the National Association of Administrative Law Judiciary urges mandated algorithmic audits and clearer FOIA trade secret rules to ensure transparency in government AI use. Read more:
brechner.org
As federal agencies increasingly use artificial intelligence to process public records requests, new research calls for stronger transparency requirements. In the Journal of the National Association...
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🚨 New Brechner Report out now!. This edition features a powerful new collab: @MuckRock, @NFOIC, @rcfp & the Brechner FOI Project are teaming up to support local journalists with legal help, AI tools & more. Read it here: #FOIA #opengov #transparency.
brechner.org
Read more
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🔔 Call for proposals! .Journal of Civic Information is seeking ideas for its special issue & research competition. 💰 Prizes + DC travel + publication .🗓️ 1-page proposals due 10/1/25 .Info:
brechner.org
The Journal of Civic Information is launching a Research Competition and Special Issue to mark the upcoming 60th anniversary of FOIA.
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📲 New @MuckRock guide on requesting text messages as public records. Learn what counts and how to request them. Read it here: . #FOI #FOIA #openrecords.
muckrock.com
Whether they appear in a yellow lined notebook or on white printer paper, government documents are government documents.
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