MuckRock and the Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Project are teaming up to launch a contest to celebrate Sunshine Fest 2025 in conjunction with Sunshine Week, which takes place March 16-22, 2025. We’re on the hunt for the best logos and slogans that promote freedom of information—something creative that can emblazon merchandise for this national event! 

Here’s your chance to win cash prizes: 

• First place: $500 

• Second place: $300 

• Third place: $200 

So, get your creative juices flowing and design something that celebrates transparency and public access. You might take inspiration from MuckRock’s famous “Got Docs?” T-shirts or their popular shirt listing various public records laws like Utah’s GRAMA. Or, maybe you’ve got your own clever idea, like Hannah Beckler’s “FOIA & Find Out” slogan. 

Beckler, senior editor of investigations at Business Insider, was accustomed to getting questions from colleagues about how to get information about government agencies, and her go-to response was “FOIA and find out,” a play on “F— around and find out.” She said it so much that, in 2022, her husband gave her a custom-made sweatshirt with the phrase for Christmas. 

“I wore it in the newsroom and a colleague tweeted a picture, and it unexpectedly resonated,” Beckler recalls. 

Merchandise company Raygun saw the tweet and reached out to see if they could print it on T-shirts, and she said that would be great. The company gives proceeds of its sales to the National Freedom of Information Coalition. 

That’s the kind of creativity we’re looking for! 

Entries will be judged based on creativity, originality, and how well they promote freedom of information. The deadline is Jan. 15, 2025. Winners will be announced on Feb. 1. Designs will also be featured on official Sunshine Fest merchandise.

To apply and submit your design, use this submission form.

MuckRock will also be accepting submissions for logo ideas for Data Liberation Project merchandise, with the prize winner receiving $300.  

Posted: December 18, 2024
Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Brechner FOI Project, Brechner Freedom of Information Project, Sunshine Week