Brechner Freedom of Information Project Launching Sunshine Fest for March 19-20, in Washington, D.C.
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 Communications is coordinating the first in-person “Sunshine Fest” March 19-20, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
The gathering will focus on solutions to pressing problems in freedom of information across geographic boundaries – local, state, federal and global – including journalists, record custodians, policy makers, historians, librarians, researchers, commercial data providers, and all other constituencies who care about transparency.
Attendees will produce an action plan to be implemented post-conference and beyond. Topic ideas could include the latest technologies to improve searches/redactions, how to handle voluminous requests, educating the public, effective dispute resolution outside of litigation, funding freedom of information, research needs and improving the overall system.
“Too often we work in our own silos and don’t realize there is a huge network of interests who care about access to information,” Brechner FOI Project Director David Cuillier said. “It’s time to come together to share experiences, concerns, and big ideas, and work toward solutions that will improve communities and democracy.”
National Sunshine Week was founded in 2005, coordinated then by the American Society of Newspaper Editors to educate the public on their right to know. The non-partisan Brechner FOI Project, which has provided research and education in government transparency since 1977, assumed coordination of the event a year ago as part of its mission to serve journalists and other members of the public.
The event will be hosted by Johns Hopkins University Communication Graduate Program, 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW (the former Newseum building), and registration will be limited to 175 participants. The gathering will be co-hosted with the National Freedom of Information Coalition, and likely cross-promoted with events planned by the District of Columbia Open Government Coalition and National Archives and Records Administration.
Conference registration – $50 for individuals and $25 for students – will open in January, and will include a reception, continental breakfast and lunch. More information can be found at the Sunshine Week website and by contacting Brechner FOI Project senior adviser Diana Mitsu Klos at consultdmk@gmail.com.
Posted: December 11, 2024
Category: Brechner Center, College News
Tagged as: Brechner Freeedom of Information Project, David Cuillier, Sunshine Fest
