Brechner News

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…

Journalism published or broadcast during 2018 that highlights the importance of open government in advancing the public’s right to know is eligible for a $3,000 cash prize offered through the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information at the University of Florida. The Brechner award recognizes excellence in explanatory and investigative…

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is the author of “Private Employers: You Can’t Forbid Your Workers from Talking to Journalists” published on Poynter.org on Jan. 14. In the article, LoMonte states that many employees believe they forfeit their…

In a newly published white paper, lawyers with the University of Florida’s Brechner Center for Freedom of Information explain that federal labor law forbids private-sector employers from barring their employees from speaking to the news media without supervisory approval. The First Amendment does not apply to decisions made by private…

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is the author of the opinion column “UMD Owes Public Transparent Presidential Search” published in The Baltimore Sun on Jan. 10. According to LoMonte, higher education has never been more mismanaged and more…