Brechner News

Posted: August 26, 2020

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, was quoted in “Will Weekend Parties Have Effect on COVID-19 Cases at ASU? School Won’t Release Data” published in azcentral.com on Aug. 24. The article focuses on the lack of disclosure by Arizona State University (ASU) officials on the number of COVID cases among students and employees on campus. ASU will also not reveal the locations of any cases or exposures to the general public citing “privacy issues.” According to LoMonte, not only can the number of cases be disclosed, but the university…

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

Posted: August 11, 2020

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is quoted in “Despite Federal Guidance, Schools Cite Privacy Laws to Withhold Info About COVID-19 Cases” published in the Detroit Free Press on Aug. 9. The article focuses on the lack of consistency by school districts, health departments and state agencies in reporting information on coronavirus cases. Neither HIPAA or FERPA bars schools from releasing such information about school employees. LoMonte lauded parts of the federal guidance as an appropriate balance between personal privacy and the public’s right to know how their governments…

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

Posted: August 4, 2020

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, and Sara Ganim, Brechner Hearst Journalism fellow, were interviewed for episode 20 of “The Intercollegiate” on Aug. 3. The interview featured the new Brechner podcast, “Why Don’t We Know,” and the first installment, “More Than a Code of Silence,” that focused on the rights of college athletes to speak with the news media and the unconstitutionality of restrictions that keep them from giving interviews without permission. According to LoMonte, the interview also included a mention of a forthcoming episode about concussions in college…

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

Posted: August 3, 2020

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is quoted in “How Many Healthcare Workers Has COVID Killed? Fla. Says it Has No Data. False, Ex-Data Guru Says” published in the Miami Herald on July 30. The article addresses the state’s failure to disclose the rate of COVID-19 infections of healthcare workers during the pandemic. The Florida Department of Health (DOH) claims that no reports were available. According to LoMonte, “It may be literally right that they haven’t run a report. But if they have a database from which you could…

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

Posted: July 28, 2020

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, comments in “The Government’s PR Barrier: When Access to Experts is Limited or Banned” published on the National Press Club Journalism Institute’s website on July 27. The article focuses on the directive by U.S. federal agencies and departments mandating that all contacts with news reporters be coordinated through their respective public affairs offices. Journalist advocates believe this practice creates political “spin” and gags policy experts. LoMonte has written about efforts to silence or control the ability of public employees to speak freely. “It’s…

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

Posted: July 16, 2020

Miranda Spivack, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information Journalism fellow and veteran Washington Post journalist, will be one of two instructors for the National Press Club Journalism Institute’s “Keeping Public Records Public: Strategies for Getting Access During the Pandemic” session on Aug. 5. The session will address the delays and redactions that journalists often encounter when trying to get the information they need to inform the public about significant issues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for journalists to be strategic when seeking government records has become essential. Session participants will learn…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Miranda Spivack

Posted: July 7, 2020

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is the author of  “Everybody Out of the Pool: Recognizing a First Amendment Claim for the Retaliatory Closure of (Real or Virtual) Public Forums” published in the University of Florida Journal of Law and Public Policy, Volume 30. LoMonte writes about the importance of allowing speakers who are excluded from public property an opportunity to challenge the exclusion under the First Amendment. It criticizes recent federal court rulings that suggest that the government can freely close off a piece of public property to…

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

Posted: July 7, 2020

Sara Ganim, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information Hearst Journalism fellow, is the recipient of the Best Documentary Feature award from the June 2020 Festigious International Film Festival for her film “No Defense: The U.S. Government’s War on Water.” The film examines contamination by PFAS (a broad group of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) emanating from the old Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan, and how a government’s conflict of interest has led to inaction and a growing water crisis in the area. Tori Whidden, B.S. Journalism 2019, served as associate producer…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Sara Ganim

Posted: July 2, 2020

The Brechner Center for Freedom of Information today launched a new podcast series, “Why Don’t We Know,” focusing on the ways that government agencies fail to gather and share information essential for public safety and welfare. The podcast is produced by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sara Ganim, currently Hearst Journalism Fellow at the Center. The newly debuted preview episode, “More Than Just a Code of Silence,” features Ramogi Huma, the executive director of the National College Players Association, and Brechner Center Director Frank LoMonte, discussing how college athletic departments restrain athletes from speaking to the public and press, and the First…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Frank LoMonte, Sara Ganim, Why Don't We Know

Posted: July 1, 2020

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is quoted in “Snapchatting Cheerleader Wins Free-Speech Case at 3rd Circuit” published in courthousenews.com on June 30. The article focuses on a Philadelphia Third Circuit Court ruling that a school violated a cheerleader’s First Amendment rights when it kicked her off the squad over a profane Snapchat post done off-campus. According to LoMonte, this decision is enormously important for the safety and welfare of young people everywhere. He adds that the ruling is especially important given today’s climate. “For years, schools have been…

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

Posted: June 30, 2020

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is quoted in “’Not a Stretch:’ Reality Dictates COVID-19 May Hit College Football Programs” published in The Buffalo News on June 29. The article focuses on the possible effects COVID-19 may have on college football programs across the U.S. and the disclosure of health data. “There’s nothing in any federal privacy law that would prevent a college or a team from giving out the number of positive COVID tests,” LoMonte said. “Privacy laws apply only to ‘personally identifiable information’ from people’s academic or…

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

Posted: June 17, 2020

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, comments in “As Jacksonville Faces Police Shootings and Coronavirus, Protesters Call for Transparency” posted on firstcoastnews.com on June 14. The article focuses on how daily protests show the importance of transparency from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to the community in the wake of police shooting deaths and COVID-19 pandemic. Public records requests are often difficult to get filled and names of the accused have not been shared due to a state law exemption. According to LoMonte, there is a real misuse of that…

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