The Journal of Civic Information is launching a Research Competition and Special Issue to mark the upcoming 60th anniversary of FOIA. Scholars, journalists, practitioners, advocates, and students are invited to submit innovative proposals exploring the future of access to public information and what transparency, accountability, and civic information should look like 60 years from now. 

The competition seeks forward-looking research that rethinks FOIA’s legacy or proposes new systems for public access to government information. Selected proposals will result in full papers eligible for cash prizes ($1,000, $750, $250), presentation at the national Sunshine Fest in Washington, D.C. (March 16-17, 2026, with travel support), and publication in a special issue of the Journal of Civic Information in July 2026. 

Key topics of interest include: 

• The future of FOIA and potential alternatives 

• AI, automation, and algorithmic transparency in government 

• Public access to algorithms, datasets, and decision systems 

• FOIA’s role in digital governance, open data, and policy 

• Reforming fees, exemptions, and enforcement 

• Expanding FOIA to new sectors like Congress, corporations, or nonprofits 

• Global and comparative transparency models 

Proposals should be one page (single-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins) and include a title, overview, methodology, and potential impact. Email your proposal as a Word document to Associate Editor Ahmed Alrawi at ahmed.alrawi8889@gmail.com, including author name(s), affiliation, and contact information in the email by Oct. 1, 2025.
 

All scholarly methods are welcome- from historical and legal to quantitative and qualitative.  

Posted: July 22, 2025
Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Awards, FOI, FOIA, Journal of Civic Information, open records laws, public records