Brechner News

Posted: August 27, 2019

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is quoted in “Universal Orlando, OUC Shield Records After Electrical Shocking of Volcano Bay Visitors, Staff in June” published in the Orlando Sentinel on Aug. 26. On June 3, visitors and employees at Volcano Bay, a Universal attraction, were mysteriously shocked by an electric current at the water park.  According to the Orlando Sentinel, “For nearly three months, Universal Orlando and city-owned [Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC)] have worked in tandem to withhold records that might shed more light on what happened.” “It’s probably…

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

Posted: August 26, 2019

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is quoted in “Secret Searches and Faculty Fury” published in Inside Higher Ed on Aug. 23. The article focuses on university presidential searches conducted in private by outside firms. This process can often be a point of contention for faculty. According to LoMonte, in states that have legal requirements to reveal finalists before selecting a president, the selection of a sole finalist meets the letter of the law but not the spirit. “Unfortunately, it seems that the prevailing structure these days is that…

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

Posted: August 22, 2019

Jasmine McNealy, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) Telecommunication associate professor, and Frank LoMonte, UFCJC  Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, are quoted in “Manatee School Board’s Public Meeting Rules Raise Constitutional Concerns, Experts Say” published in the Bradenton (Florida) Herald on Aug. 17. The article questions the fine line between maintaining order and muzzling citizens at school board meetings. McNealy and LoMonte were asked to review the guidelines and share their concerns. According to McNealy, “The guidelines provide no guidance about what is considered an attack and has potential of being a way to restrict…

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

Posted: August 7, 2019

Imani Jackson, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information legal fellow, is the author of “Fish Island Victory Reflects Interest Convergence” published in the St. Augustine Record on Aug. 3. Jackson focuses on recently approved Florida Forever preservation funding for Fish Island, an undeveloped waterfront property on Anastasia Island where the El Vergel plantation once operated. A luxury home development planned for the area may have buried the human remains, graves and other artifacts of enslaved African people who lived, labored and died on the island. Jackson calls the funding a victory to…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Imani Jackson

Posted: July 25, 2019

Sara Ganim, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) Brechner Center for Freedom of Information Hearst Journalism fellow, was part of a nine-person CNN team nominated for a National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Emmy Award for “Deadly Haze: Inside the Fraternity Crisis.” The CNN Special Report is one of six nominees in the Outstanding Arts, Culture or Entertainment Report category. Ganim served as an investigative correspondent. The report takes an in-depth look at what happened to 19-year-old Penn State University sophomore Timothy Piazza, who died inside the walls of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house, and…

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

Posted: July 24, 2019

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is quoted in “NC State and Highway Patrol Withhold Report on Trooper Promotions” published in The Charlotte Observer on July 24. The article features a decision by North Carolina State University (NCSU) to deny access to a report on what went wrong with a promotion test for state troopers. NCSU cited the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal privacy law protecting student education records, as the basis for the refusal. According to LoMonte, this is the first time he has…

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

Posted: July 18, 2019

Imani Jackson, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information legal fellow, is the author of “Nicki Minaj Takes Stand for Human Rights, Pulls Out of Saudi Arabia Music Festival” published in Essence on July 12. Jackson writes about the hip hop and pop singer’s decision to cancel her appearance at the Jeddah World Fest in Saudi Arabia after human rights advocates applied pressure. The Human Rights Foundation published a letter listing Saudi human rights violations, arbitrary law enforcement practices and the targeting of women and minorities. The letter prompted Minaj to rescind her…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Imani Jackson

Posted: June 20, 2019

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is quoted in “Bombshell Ruling Against Leading Florida Environmentalist; is State Supreme Court Next Stop?” published in The Palm Beach Post on June 19. The article focuses on the Florida 4th District Court of Appeal’s ruling against an environmental activist, Maggie Hurchalla, who was sued by Lake Point Restoration for lobbying her county commissioners in opposition to a development project. “It’s very disappointing on several levels,” said LoMonte. “The concern is it will cause citizen activists to censor themselves and second guess every choice of…

Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Frank LoMonte, The Palm Beach Post

Posted: June 18, 2019

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is quoted in “Florida Universities Have Turned Athletics Departments into Quasi-Private Arms. What Does that Mean for Public Accountability?” published in The Chronicle of Higher Education on June 17. The article addresses Florida’s open-record exemption for athletic associations. At UF, the University of Central Florida and now Florida State University, athletic associations have become direct-support organizations (DSO). DSOs have a quasi-private status that limits public oversight while granting the department sovereign immunity as a governmental entity. “If you picked out the two areas…

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

Posted: June 14, 2019

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is the author of “Whistleblowers’ Rights Could Be at Risk Under Trump’s New Labor Board” published in CNN Business Perspective on cnn.com. LoMonte writes about the Trump administration’s appointment of new National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) members and the replacement of top staffers, signaling a directional shift in interpreting workers’ rights laws. According to LoMonte, for the last 85 years the National Labor Relations Act has protected the rights of private-sector workers to discuss job-related concerns among themselves, and with outsiders, including the…

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

Posted: June 11, 2019

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is quoted in “When Student Press is Up for a Vote” published in Inside Higher Ed on June 10. The article features the Rutgers student newspaper that was denied funding in a student vote. A civil liberties watchdog organization, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, is investigating whether the process violated the First Amendment. According to LoMonte, funding for a campus newspaper from student fees would ideally be distributed to them directly without a need for a vote. Athletic departments often receive…

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

Posted: June 11, 2019

The Brechner Center for Freedom of Information announced today that Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and former CNN correspondent Sara Ganim will join the Center on July 1 as its first Hearst Journalism Fellow. In April, the Brechner Center, which is housed at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC), announced a grant from the Hearst Foundations for the Hearst Data Deserts Project. The project is intended to improve the quality of civic data by spotlighting the deficiencies in information-gathering and by developing public-policy solutions. The grant includes funding for two visiting fellows for one-year engagements. As part of…

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