Awards and Competitions
- Online master’s students: Tampa Bay Times Kerlin Freedom of Information Scholarship ($17,500)
- Journalists: Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Award ($5,000)
- Students: Freedom of Information Award (high school $1,000, college $2,000)
- Researchers: NFOIC-Brechner Freedom of Information Research Award (cash prizes)
- Advocates: National FOIA Hall of Fame
See details below for each prize.
For prospective master’s students:
Tampa Bay Times Kerlin Freedom of Information Scholarship
Apply any time
The Brechner FOI Project invites applications for a scholarship that covers tuition and fees for the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications online master’s program. The intent of the award is to promote the education and research of a graduate student interested in communications law or freedom of information.
The award will cover tuition and fees for the online master’s program, about $1,500 per class, or a total of up to $17,500 for up to three years, with funds disbursed each semester for either part-time or full-time attendance (no minimum or maximum credits per semester). Fellows are encouraged to take a 3-credit internship with the Brechner FOI Project for research and outreach in freedom of information.
Applications are accepted any time of year. To apply, please fill out the online form at https://tinyurl.com/BrechnerApprentice and email Brechner FOI Project Director David Cuillier at cuillierd@ufl.edu. Applicants must still apply to and be accepted to the online master’s program through the normal admissions process.
This special opportunity is funded by the Tampa Bay Times James P. Kerlin Fellowship endowment. The endowment was established in 1992 by the St. Petersburg Times (name changed to the Tampa Bay Times in 2011) and Marjorie Kerlin, whose husband was an Associated Press photographer for 43 years and principal photographer of Cape Canaveral space shots. The fund supports a graduate student pursuing studies in communications law or freedom of information.
The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications offers online Master of Arts degrees with concentrations in digital journalism, digital strategy, social media, web design, public relations, public interest communication and global strategic communication. For more information, see https://onlinemasters.jou.ufl.edu/.
For journalists:
Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Award
Deadline: Jan. 7, 2027
Brechner FOI Award for excellence in reporting that centers on the public’s right to know and draws on government documents and data that uncover official secrecy. The award comes with a $5,000 prize. The winner for 2026 was Jason Leopold, senior reporter at Bloomberg News.
Successful entries showcase top-notch journalism and shine a light on the status of freedom of information laws and access to government-held information – and even go beyond to help educate the public in their right to know.
The deadline for 2027 entries is Jan. 7, 2027. Entries will be judged by an expert panel, and the winner announced before Sunshine Week in March 2027.
Stories or a series of stories published in 2026 in a general circulation (non-academic) news medium (online, print or broadcast), anywhere in the world, 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 English:
- 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.
- The print versions of the stories, integrated as part of the PDF, if possible. If not, provide links to the website. If it is behind a paywall, include a login and password.
- Links to any multimedia or video work. If it is behind a paywall, include a login and password.
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:
2026 Student Freedom of Information Award
Entries were due 11:59 p.m. Eastern, June 30, 2026
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.
Entries for 2026 were due June 30, and will be awarded in fall 2026.
For Researchers:
2026 NFOIC-Brechner Freedom of Information Research Competition
One-page proposals were due June 8, 2026
The eighth 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, honors excellent research in access to government information.
The top three papers will earn cash prizes ($1,000 for first, $600 for second, and $400 for third) 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.
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.
Proposals for 2026 were due June 8, 2026, and winners will be announced in late 2026. To see previous papers presented, go to https://www.nfoic.org/nfoic-sponsored-research/
Winners of the 2025 NFOIC-Brechner Freedom of Information Research Competition presented their findings at the March 15-17, 2026, Sunshine Fest conference in Washington, D.C.
For advocates:
2026 National FOIA Hall of Fame inductees honored
The Brechner Freedom of Information Project inducted 16 new members into the National FOIA Hall of Fame March 15-17, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
Honorees have significantly contributed to the advancement of U.S. federal FOIA. A total of 37 people were nominated in fall 2025, and judged by a four-person panel of experts. Inductees were announced in late January, 2026.
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. A class is honored every five years (with the exception of 2021).
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.
Watch for the call for nominations for the next class of inductees in 2031.