Dark Deserts: Dwindling newspapers associated with greater government secrecy

Friday August 1, 2025

A new study from the Brechner Freedom of Information (FOI) Project at the University of Florida finds that states with weaker newspaper environments are associated with greater government secrecy. The study, published in the July 2025 News Research Journal, …

David Cuillier Comments on Continued Delays for Public Records Requests

Wednesday July 16, 2025

David Cuillier, director of the Brechner Freedom of Information (FOI) Project, was quoted in “It’s Not Just the Epstein Files. The Trump Administration is Withholding All Kinds of Public Records” published on msnbc.com on July 15. The story focuses on …

Brechner FOI Project to Assist Transparency Groups with $1.25 Million Press Forward Grant to Help Journalists Obtain Government Records

Wednesday July 16, 2025

A new partnership led by MuckRock and involving the National Freedom of Information Coalition (NFOIC), the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the Brechner Freedom of Information Project is working to help journalists acquire the information they …

Brechner FOI Project to Lead National FOIA Hall of Fame

Monday April 21, 2025

The National Freedom of Information Act Hall of Fame is back, under the leadership of the Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. The Hall of Fame was created in 1996 by the …

David Cuillier Comments on How the Current Political Climate is Affecting Sunshine Week Activities

Wednesday March 19, 2025

David Cuillier, director of the Brechner Freedom of Information (FOI) Project, was quoted in “Sunshine Week Comes Amid Darkening Clouds for Open Gov Advocates” published in Federal News Network on March 17. The article focuses on the Office of …

David Cuillier Comments on Utah’s Handling of Public Records and Appeals

Friday February 7, 2025

David Cuillier, director of the Brechner Freedom of Information (FOI) Project, was quoted in “Will Disbanding Utah’s Public Records Committee Streamline the Appeals Process?” published in The Salt Lake Tribune on Jan. 30. The article focuses on how …

Brechner FOI Project Launches National Secrecy Tracker to Monitor Transparency Legislation

Thursday January 30, 2025

The Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) has launched a national Secrecy Tracker to help identify legislation that threatens the public’s access to government records …

Study Exposes Systemic Failures in FOI Laws Meant to Protect Democracy

Monday December 16, 2024

Freedom of Information laws were created to provide the public and journalists with the tools to pull back the curtain on government operations. New research, however, reveals corporate interests now dominate FOI requests to the detriment of petitions from the citizens and journalists they were meant to empower.

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Brechner Freedom of Information Project Launching Sunshine Fest for March 19-20, in Washington, D.C.

Wednesday December 11, 2024

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Sunshine Week and identify solutions to the most pressing problems in government transparency, the Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information (FOI) Project at the University of Florida College of Journalism and …

David Cuillier speaks at National Freedom of Information Act Conference

Monday November 4, 2024

David Cuillier, director of the Brechner Freedom of Information (FOI) Project, spoke about the importance of government transparency at a conference recognizing the 50th anniversary of the 1974 amendments to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) on Nov. 1 in …