Brechner Freedom of Information Project Archives

Brechner Freedom of Information Project

Ted Bridis and David Cuillier Comment on the Repercussions from Public Records Requests for an “Improper Purpose”

Tuesday September 3, 2024

Ted Bridis, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Michael and Linda Connelly Senior Lecturer in Investigative Reporting and David Cuillier, director of the Brechner Freedom of Information (FOI) Project, are quoted in “Jacksonville State Attorney Seeks $130K from Activist Who Lost Records Lawsuit, Citing a Rarely Used Legal Provision” published on jaxtrib.org on Aug. […]

David Cuillier Appointed to U.S. FOIA Advisory Committee

Thursday August 15, 2024

David Cuillier, director of the Brechner Freedom of Information (FOI) Project, has been appointed to a third term on the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Advisory Committee. The committee is charged with providing recommendations to the National Archivist and to Congress for improving the FOIA process. Cuillier served two previous […]

UFCJC Featured in Editor & Publisher Journalism School Profile

Friday August 2, 2024

University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications’ (UFCJC) award-winning programs and immersion experiences are featured in “From Classroom to Newsroom: UFCJC’s Path to Media Excellence” published in Editor & Publisher on July 30. The article highlights the vast array of academic and experiential opportunities for students, including: Four academic disciplines: Advertising, Journalism, Media Production, […]

David Cuillier Comments on Whether College Athlete Payments Are Considered Public Record

Tuesday June 4, 2024

David Cuillier, director of the Brechner Freedom of Information Project, is quoted in “Would Direct Payments to College Athletes be Public Records?” posted on deseret.com on May 31. The article focuses on direct payments that college athletes will be able to receive from Name Image Likeness endorsements (NIL). Under question is whether the players will now […]

Study: State Confidentiality Laws Threaten to Muzzle Legitimate Whistleblowers

Tuesday May 21, 2024

The spread of “confidentiality” laws throughout the states threatens to lock up government employees for potentially unconstitutional reasons, according to a new study by the Brechner Freedom of Information Project. The Brechner FOI Project is located at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. The paper, “Secrecy on Steroids: How Overzealous State Confidentiality […]

UFCJC and Democracy Fund Announce Grant to Support Research on Increased Volume of Public Record Requests

Thursday May 9, 2024

The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) and Democracy Fund today announced a $225,000 grant to support a multi-university research project that will aid government agencies in handling unduly burdensome public records requests without restricting the flow of civic information. In recent years, some state and local government agencies have been deluged […]

Daivd Cuillier Comments on City-Wide Employee Gag Order

Friday April 26, 2024

David Cuillier, director of the Brechner Freedom of Information Project, is quoted in “Lombardi Puts A Gag on City Employees” published in the Lockport (New York) Union-Sun & Journal on April 25. The story focuses on Lockport mayor John Lombardi III’s written directive to all city employees to refrain from contact with the press. Cuillier suggested […]

David Cuillier Comments on a Proposed Exemption to Louisiana’s Public Records Law

Monday April 22, 2024

David Cuillier, director of the Brechner Freedom of Information Project, is quoted in “Out-of-State Public Records Experts Weigh in on a Louisiana Bill that is Drawing Lots of Criticism” published on fox8live.com on April 19. The story focuses on a bill that would exempt Louisiana’s public records law of “any records reflecting advisory opinions, recommendations and […]

Study: Police Departments Illegally Gag Their Own Officers from Exposing Misconduct

Friday April 19, 2024

Most police departments in the United States employ constitutionally questionable policies prohibiting their officers from expressing concerns publicly on social media about misconduct, according to a new study by Frank D. LoMonte, former director of the Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida, and UF Levin College of Law alumna Jessica Terkovich. […]

Study: U.S. History Trashed as Photo Archives Disappear in Newspaper Closures

Thursday April 18, 2024

Photograph archives maintained by newspapers are disappearing as legacy media go out of business, eradicating valuable historical artifacts for communities throughout the United States, according to a new study by Frank D. LoMonte, former director of the Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, and […]

Study: Average Americans More Likely to be Shut Out of Government Records Process

Tuesday April 16, 2024

Journalists, average Americans, and others seeking government records in the public interest are more likely to be denied information than for-profit requesters, according to a new study titled “Tale of two requesters: How public records law experiences differ by requester types,” co-authored by David Cuillier, director of the Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Project […]

Knight Foundation Endowment to Help Expand Sunshine Week Under University of Florida Leadership

Monday March 25, 2024

The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation today announced the establishment of the Knight Sunshine Fund at the University of Florida, an endowment of $575,000 to help expand the reach and impact of Sunshine Week and increase public awareness of the importance of […]

David Cuillier Comments on Public Records Transparency Laws and Secrecy Creep

Monday March 18, 2024

David Cuillier, director of the Brechner Freedom of Information Project, is quoted in “South Dakota Lags in Public-Records Transparency Laws, Expert Says” published on South Dakota’s soiuxlandproud.com on March 17. According to Cuillier, South Dakota’s state laws providing public access to state and local government records are among the weakest in the U.S. Cuillier said exemptions […]

Miami Herald Wins Brechner FOI Award for “Shakedown City”

Monday March 18, 2024

The Miami Herald is the winner of the 2024 Brechner Freedom of Information Award for “Shakedown City,” an investigation into government corruption within the city of Miami that spawned a series of investigations by the FBI, Internal Revenue Service, Securities and Exchange Commission and state ethics commission. The award is administered by the Joseph L. […]

David Cuillier Comments on Florida’s Marsy’s Law

Friday March 15, 2024

David Cuillier, director of the Brechner Freedom of Information Project, is quoted in “Despite Marsy’s Law Ruling, TPD Won’t Release Information on Officer Involved in Shooting” published in the Tallahassee Democrat on March 15. The article focuses on Marsy’s Law, a constitutional amendment approved by Florida voters in 2018 that grants certain rights to crime victims […]