Open Government News
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Housing board chairwoman responds to federal review; critic angry - MiamiHerald.com
22 Feb 2012 | 7:11 pmHousing board chairwoman responds to federal review; critic angryMiamiHerald.comJones also makes many accusations of violations of Florida's Government in the Sunshine law, which requires government board decisions to be made in public meetings, and other misdeeds, though she does not[…]
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He's Back: Sensing a Weakened Don Fleming, Jim Manfre Is Running for Sheriff a ... - FlaglerLive.com
22 Feb 2012 | 1:54 am
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FlaglerLive.comHe's Back: Sensing a Weakened Don Fleming, Jim Manfre Is Running for Sheriff a ...FlaglerLive.comNorman Wolfinger, a State Attorney for the 18th judicial Circuit, issued an opinion stating that the case was not “prosecutable,” though first amendment lawyers and the[…] -
Genshaft, Alexander meeting needed public information - The Oracle
21 Feb 2012 | 5:40 am
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Suncoast NewsGenshaft, Alexander meeting needed public informationThe OracleThe Florida Sunshine Law, which establishes a basic right to most governmental meetings, limits the number of senators allowed to attend private meetings to two. While the decision to not hold the discussion[…] -
Bill to protect lawmakers from testifying is dead - Orlando Sentinel
20 Feb 2012 | 9:58 pmBill to protect lawmakers from testifying is deadOrlando SentinelI am glad Speaker Cannon is going to pull the plug on the bill. The right thing to do," he tweeted. First Amendment Foundation President Barbara Petersen praised Gaetz' stance. "I think[…]
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Deltona considers enhancing public's right to speak at meetings - Daytona Beach News-Journal
20 Feb 2012 | 5:21 amDeltona considers enhancing public's right to speak at meetingsDaytona Beach News-Journal"If you're insinuating we were violating the Sunshine Law, I respect this government," she said, referring to the state Sunshine Law's requirement that any gathering of two or more members[…]
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Sheriff should clear the air in Palm Coast case - Daytona Beach News-Journal
19 Feb 2012 | 5:33 amSheriff should clear the air in Palm Coast caseDaytona Beach News-JournalBut if he received calls related to official business on that phone, the calls are the public's business, said attorney Jon Kaney, general counsel for the First Amendment Foundation. As[…]
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Editorial: Is there no end to it? - Pensacola News Journal
18 Feb 2012 | 7:10 amEditorial: Is there no end to it?Pensacola News JournalIt is this: A proposed committee bill was approved on Thursday by the House Judiciary Committee that would, according to the First Amendment Foundation, grant "legislators and legislative staff an ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE[…]
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Lawmakers want special exemption to avoid accountability - WTSP 10 News
17 Feb 2012 | 3:33 am
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WTSP 10 NewsLawmakers want special exemption to avoid accountabilityWTSP 10 NewsBarbara Peterson of the first amendment foundation says it is outrageous. "My first response was, 'oh my God what are they thinking?' At a time when the public trust in[…] -
Editorial: So far, Legislature, improvements don't go far enough. - Naples Daily News
16 Feb 2012 | 6:10 pmEditorial: So far, Legislature, improvements don't go far enough.Naples Daily NewsThe First Amendment Foundation, which monitors Florida's Government-in-the-Sunshine Laws and advocates for more open government, has accepted the bill as now written as possibly the best legislation on the issue[…]
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West Palm Beach commission holds unrecorded 'administrative' meeting - Palm Beach Post
16 Feb 2012 | 1:14 amWest Palm Beach commission holds unrecorded 'administrative' meetingPalm Beach PostFlorida's Sunshine law says that minutes must be taken of any gathering of two or more members of a board when they meet to discuss any matter where foreseeable action could[…]
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Sunshine Litigation Award
The James C. Adkins/Sunshine Litigation Award was created to recognize the importance and continuing value of Justice Adkins' open government opinions while on the Florida Supreme Court and is given to an attorney in Florida who has made a significant contribution to the cause of furthering open government through litigation. The award presentation takes place during the annual meeting of the Florida Press Association and Florida Society of Newspaper Editors .
2011

Jonathan Kaney
For his leadership in The Bert Fish Foundation, Inc. v. SE Volusia Hospital District
2009

Andrea Flynn Mogensen
For her leadership in Lorenzo v. City of Venice
Sunshine Week Awards
The Sunshine Award recognizes the best political cartoon, op-ed/editorial, and article on open government for Sunshine Week. Sunshine Week is a national initiative to open a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. An award will be granted for each of the three categories. There is no submission fee, and any article that is posted to the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors website (www.fsne.org) is automatically entered in the contest.
2011
The 2011 awards were judged by Lucy Dalglish, Executive Director of the Reporter's Committee for Freedom of the Press and incoming President of the National Freedom of Information Coalition Board of Directors. The Sunshine Awards were presented at the annual Florida Press Association and Florida Society of Newspaper Editors awards dinner on Friday, June 30 at The Vinoy in St. Petersburg.
- Best Article - Michael Bender, St. Petersburg Times
- Best Political Cartoon - Jeff Parker, Florida Today
- Best Editorial - The Palm Beach Post
- Best Column - Patsy Palmer, Esq., D’Alemberte & Palmer
2010
The 2010 awards were judged by Mitch Pearlman, former Executive Director and General Counsel of the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission, and currently a trustee of the National Freedom of Information Coalition. In picking this year's winners, Mitch noted that he "found all the entries interesting and illuminating and especially pertinent during Sunshine Week. Thus, it was a difficult task to select the winning entries."
- Best Article - Marty Merzer, Associated Press
- Best Editorial - St. Augustine Record
- Best Political Cartoon - Jeff Parker, Florida Today
2009
The 2009 awards were judged by Tom O'Hara, former managing editor of the Palm Beach Post and The Cleveland Plain-Dealer. Tom serves on the board of the National Freedom of Information Coalition and teaches in the communications program at Ohio State University. The Sunshine Awards were presented at the annual Florida Press Association and Florida Society of Newspaper Editors awards luncheon on Friday, July 10 at the Breakers hotel in West Palm Beach.
- Best Column - Jane Healy, Orlando Sentinel
- Best Editorial - Florida Today
- Best Political Cartoon - Rob Smith, Jr.
2008
The Sunshine awards were judged by Professor Charles Davis, professor of journalism at the University of Missouri/Columbia, and executive director of the National Freedom of Information Coalition. The Sunshine Awards were presented at the annual Florida Press Association and Florida Society of Newspaper Editors awards luncheon on Friday, June 6 at the Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista.
The 2008 Sunshine Award winners are: