About the Center

For journalists:
Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Award
due Jan. 12, 2026

The Brechner Freedom of Information Project sponsors an annual $3,000 award recognizing excellence in reporting that centers on the public’s right to know and draws on government documents and data that uncover official secrecy.

Successful entries showcase top-notch journalism and shine a light on the status of freedom of information laws and access to government-held information.

The deadline for entries is Jan. 12, 2026. Entries are currently being judged and the winner will be announced during Sunshine Week March 15-21, 2026.

Stories or a series of stories published in 2025 in a general circulation (non-academic) news medium (online, print or broadcast) are eligible. Joint or collaborative efforts among new organizations are welcome. The prize money is made possible by an endowment created by the Brechner family. The award has been presented annually since 1986.

To apply, email to the Brechner FOI Project (brechnerreport@jou.ufl.edu) one PDF that includes, in order: 

1. A cover letter explaining the inception of the story, how it was produced, use of records, and how it led to more transparency using government documents and data. 
2. Links to any multimedia or video work. If it is behind a paywall, include a login and password. 
3. The print versions of the stories. 

Please submit entries to brechnerreport@jou.ufl.edu.

The award recipient/s will be invited to the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications in Gainesville for a day of dialogue with students, faculty and the community (travel expenses covered). Read more about the past winners.

For students:
2025 Student Freedom of Information Award

Nominations closed for the 2024-2025 Student Freedom of Information Award for high school and college journalists using public records in their reporting. Winners will be announced this fall.

The high school winner will be awarded $1,000 and the college winner $2,000.

The most recent awards were presented at the 2024 fall conventions in New Orleans (college) and Philadelphia (high school).

The Student Freedom of Information Awards, in partnership with the Student Press Law Center, recognizes a student journalist or team of journalists from a high school and from a college for outstanding and tenacious use of public records in reporting that promotes transparency and brings important issues to light in their school or community.

High School: The award comes with a $1,000 prize, sponsored by the Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida. It will be presented at the fall National High School Journalism Convention. The cash prize will be split between the student(s) and the student news organization or reporting program and, if applicable, between multiple winners. View prior recipients.

College: The award comes with a $2,000 prize, sponsored by the Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida. It will be presented at the Fall National College Media Convention. The cash prize will be split between the student(s) and the student news organization or reporting program and, if applicable, between multiple winners. View prior recipients.

For Researchers:
2025 NFOIC-Brechner Freedom of Information Research Competition

The seventh annual Freedom of Information Research Competition, sponsored by the National Freedom of Information Coalition and University of Florida Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Project, is under way (proposals were due June 5, 2025).

The top three papers will earn cash prizes and will be published (if the author desires) in the online Journal of Civic Information, published by the University of Florida’s Brechner Freedom of Information Project.

Start working on your research for 2026 submission! Authors are invited to submit a one-page paper proposal, which will be reviewed by a panel of expert freedom of information researchers. Proposals should include a title, one-paragraph abstract/summary, a paragraph outlining the proposed methodology, and a paragraph explaining the relevance of the potential findings for government agencies, FOI advocates, and access practitioners (e.g., journalists, citizens, record custodians).

Proposals may encompass any research methodological approach (legal, survey, experimental, content analysis, etc.), and should provide insights of practical value for those who work day-to-day in access to government information. Topics can include anything regarding FOI, such as access to public records, court transparency, open meetings, access to public employees, open data, and other related matters. Proposals should focus on civic information at the state/local levels, but topics regarding U.S. FOIA and international access also will be considered if they have relevancy or application to state coalitions for open government (e.g., the spreading of the “Glomar response” from federal agencies to state/local agencies, or the effects of technology or policies on agency transparency in a federal agency or other country that can be applied to any government agency). Because the primary purpose of the Journal is to furnish actionable information to professionals, an article’s usefulness to a lay audience will weigh in the publication decision; we encourage authors to consider audience accessibility in decisions of presentation style and depth of treatment.

The top three papers will be published (if desired) in the online Journal of Civic Information. Graduate students are especially encouraged to submit their work. To see previous papers presented, go to https://www.nfoic.org/nfoic-sponsored-research/

Winners of the 2024 NFOIC-Brechner Freedom of Information Research Competition presented their findings at the Nov. 14, 2024, National Freedom of Information Coalition online summit.

For advocates:
National FOIA Hall of Fame nominations due Sept. 1

The Brechner Freedom of Information Project is accepting nominations for the next inductees to the National FOIA Hall of Fame.

Honorees will have significantly contributed to the advancement of U.S. federal FOIA. Complete the online form by Sept. 1, 2025. Self-nominations are welcome. A committee will select the winners, who will be honored at Sunshine Fest in mid-March 2026 in Washington, D.C.

A coalition of media organizations joined in 1996 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of FOIA, led by Freedom Forum’s First Amendment Center and the Society of Professional Journalists. The Hall of Fame has recognized key individuals who have demonstrated strong leadership in improving FOIA. In 2025, the Hall of Fame was transferred to the Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida, which coordinates national Sunshine Week. The Hall of Fame complements the Heroes of the States: The State Open Government Hall of Fame, coordinated by the National Freedom of Information Coalition and Society of Professional Journalists to recognize those at the state level advancing government transparency.