Brechner News

Posted: November 8, 2018

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, was quoted in “University of Northern Colorado Won’t Release Records Related to Suspended Fraternity” published in the Greeley (Colo.) Tribune on Nov. 7. The article focuses on the University of Northern Colorado’s refusal to release records on a fraternity suspension for numerous violations of the student code of conduct including sexual harassment and use of controlled substances. The University cited several exemptions including a Colorado exemption to releasing records related to sexual harassment, as well as the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Frank LoMonte

Posted: October 12, 2018

“Saving Student Newsrooms,” a resolution for support proposed by Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, was approved at the annual Excellence in Journalism 2018 conference from Sept. 27-29 in Baltimore. Excellence in Journalism, a joint effort between the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), features presentations that are critical to the future of journalism. Resolution number 4 features the #SaveStudentNewsrooms movement created by 2018 CJC graduates Melissa Gomez, Caitlin Ostroff and Jimena Tavel. The movement highlights the urgency of supporting imperiled news…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: #SaveStudentNewsrooms, Excellence in Journalism 2018, Frank LoMonte

Posted: October 12, 2018

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, offers a “pro” position on the First Amendment and conspiracy theories in “Conspiracy Theories” published in CQ Researcher. LoMonte states that the numbing bombardment of hateful speech polluting our public discourse understandably tempts people to waver in their commitment to the First Amendment, but it shouldn’t. “Yes, it’s disturbing that manipulative people can attract a following with unhinged demagoguery. But the First Amendment is ultimately about line-drawing. If it is impossible to come up with a clear line that protects useful speech while…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: CQ Researcher, Frank LoMonte, Marion B. Brechner Center for Freedom of Information

Posted: August 16, 2018

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director,  is the author of “Mitch Daniels’ Dystopian Nightmare” published in Medium on Aug. 15.​ LoMonte responded to an Aug. 13 Washington Post opinion column written by Purdue University President Mitch Daniels. In the column, Daniels claims that America’s obsession with transparency has resulted in a government that has been rendered less nimble, less talented and less effective. LoMonte says that higher-education leaders “talk incessantly about their enthusiasm for civic engagement” until citizens try to participate in government decision-making. LoMonte cites several examples of…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Frank LoMonte, Medium

Posted: August 9, 2018

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, was quoted in “#317 – Making Access to Public Records a Public Priority” published on itsalljournalism.com on Aug. 2. The article focuses on how to get the average person to care about open government laws and the daunting task journalists encounter when trying to access public records. “In my years of doing this work, I’ve become increasingly convinced you can’t sue your way to success,” he said. “I’ve worked on the opposing side with government agencies that will lose a lawsuit and will…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Frank LoMonte, public records

Posted: August 2, 2018

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, was quoted in “Campus Newsrooms Rethink Their Approach to Race” published in The Christian Science Monitor on July 25. The article focuses on how student newspapers are now leading the effort to bring more diversity to the industry due to heightened racial awareness and debate on college campuses. “The heightened dialogue about the underrepresentation of people of color in media is very much making itself felt in the college newsroom,” said LoMonte. “We’re at a moment where people of color are standing up…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Christian Science Monitor, Frank LoMonte

Posted: July 2, 2018

University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, under the direction of Frank LoMonte, was recognized in the editorial, “Clear Communication from Law Enforcement is Crucial,” published in the Seattle Times on June 26. The editorial focuses on the criticism the King County (Wash.) Sheriff’s Office received after sharing inaccurate information about a fatal shooting by a deputy and not correcting it in a timely manner. LoMonte and the Brechner Center took the lead to offer recommendations for law enforcement to initiate transparent communication.  Suggestions included immediately informing the public on social media and…

Category: College News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Frank LoMonte, Seattle Times

Posted: June 14, 2018

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is the author of the opinion piece, “Who’s Willing to Bet that State Lotteries are Free of Manipulation?,” published in The Washington Post on June 12. In the article, LoMonte raises the concern that there is a growing national push to remove the names of lottery winners from the public record. He says that there is a tendency to view publishing the names of lottery winners as voyeurism but, in fact there are compelling justifications for the public to know who’s winning. Lotteries…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Frank LoMonte, The Washington Post

Posted: May 31, 2018

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, was the quoted in “Does Morgan Freeman Have a Defamation Case Against CNN for Misconduct Story?” published on TheWrap on May 30. The article focuses on Morgan Freeman’s claim that CNN committed “journalistic malpractice” and defamed him in a story about eight women accusing him of inappropriate behavior. “A public figure like a movie star is going to have an especially difficult time because they have to prove a high level of recklessness in doing this story,” said LoMonte. “They’re almost going to have…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, CNN, Frank LoMonte

Posted: May 9, 2018

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, was the co-author of “Don’t Expect Professors to Get Fired When They Say Something You Don’t Like” published in The Conversation on May 7. In the article, LoMonte and co-author David Jadon, a student at the UF Levin College of Law, discuss the workplace and the First Amendment. They focus on how government agencies – including states that run many universities and community colleges – cannot restrict the content of citizens’ speech, or punish them after the fact for what they say. When…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, David Jadon, Frank LoMonte, The Conversation

Posted: May 3, 2018

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, was the author of “Beyond the Hashtag: Saving Student Newsrooms” published on Medium on April 25. LoMonte discusses the UF-born #SaveStudentNewsrooms awareness campaign created in response to First Amendment issues at U.S. colleges and universities. Currently, 129 college media organizations are participating in the movement through editorials, social media posts, videos and more. LoMonte says that the First Amendment is under regular attack by campus authority figures fixated on cultivating a positive image for donors and legislators. “The impact of colleges’ obsession with…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: , #SaveStudentNewsrooms, Frank LoMonte, Medium

Posted: May 3, 2018

Frank LoMonte, director of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, is the author of “The Law That Made Facebook What It Is Today,” published in The Conversation on April 11. In the article, LoMonte discusses the impact of the Communications Decency Act and focuses on Facebook. He comments on the recent testimony by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg before Congress about a data scraping scandal. LoMonte says that “Facebook is facing a reckoning in the court of public opinion for how the social media giant and its partners handle customer data. In…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Facebook, Frank LoMonte, The Conversation