Brechner News

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is quoted in the editorial “‘The Post’ Urges OU to Re-Open Access to Title IX Records” published in The Post (Athens, Ohio) on Feb. 14. The Post staff editorial focuses on the lack…

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is quoted in “Denver Students Sharing Photos, Video with Media During Teachers Strike Say They’re Getting Pushback from Principals” published in The Denver Post on Feb. 12. The article focuses students who are…

In the latest legal skirmish over the ability of public universities to regulate what students post on social media pages, free-speech organizations are backing the appeal of a New Mexico medical student punished for a profane political rant on Facebook. The case presents a possible vehicle for the U.S. Supreme…

A Kentucky statute making it a crime punishable by a year in jail to speak to a school employee in a way that “interferes with” school functions faces a constitutional challenge that may end up before the U.S. Supreme Court. In a brief prepared by Brechner Center attorneys, the justices…

Public universities should release records showing how they punish students found liable for committing serious crimes on campus, a coalition of open-government advocates argues in a brief filed with the North Carolina Supreme Court. An amicus brief authored by Brechner Center attorneys and joined by the Student Press Law Center…

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information  director, is the author of “The Legislative Response to a Perceived ‘Free Speech Crisis’ on Campus” published in the American Bar Association’s Communications Lawyer Winter 2019 edition. In the article, LoMonte surveys recent legislative…

The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) today announced the launch of Fresh Take Florida, an effort to provide coverage of Florida state government at a time when state capitals are increasingly under-covered. Six student journalists, all graduating seniors, will be covering executive-branch agency operations as well…

Journalism Professor Clay Calvert, director of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Marion B. Brechner First Amendment Project, and Frank LoMonte, director of the College’s Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, co-authored “The Open Mic, Unplugged: Challenges to Viewpoint-Based Constraints on Public-Comment Periods” published in Case Western…

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, was quoted in “When Public Officials Fight on Facebook, Are They Breaking the Law?” published in the Miami Herald on Jan. 25. The article focuses on a proposed welcome sign at the entrance…

Attorneys for the Brechner Center and a coalition of open-government groups are urging Pennsylvania’s highest court to reaffirm that journalists are entitled to view video from school surveillance cameras that capture newsworthy information. A brief filed Wednesday with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court argues that footage from security cameras cannot be…

Even as new Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis implements sweeping goals for environmental accountability and transparency, creating an office by that name and appointing a chief science officer to prioritize data and research, key climate and other science remains out of reach to the public. Columbia University’s climate censorship tracker has…

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is quoted in “Florida Lawmakers Move to Restrict Teen Voter Information” published on wlrn.org on Jan. 18. The story focuses on two proposed bills in the Florida Legislature designed to restrict the publication…