Brechner News

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, comments in “As Jacksonville Faces Police Shootings and Coronavirus, Protesters Call for Transparency” posted on firstcoastnews.com on June 14. The article focuses on how daily protests show the importance of transparency from the…

Under a newly enacted state law, long-secret police personnel files and misconduct complaints are now a matter of public record in New York, home to the nation’s largest police force. The Brechner Center is partnering with MuckRock, a nonprofit transparency and investigative-reporting organization, to secure as many of those records…

Ten journalists from across the country have been awarded grants to pursue in-depth reporting projects about government secrecy through the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information at the University of Florida. The inaugural Brechner Reporting Fellowships were created to benefit journalists who have lost jobs or experienced furloughs resulting from…

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, is the author of “The ‘Social Media Discount’ and First Amendment Exceptionalism” published in the University of Memphis Law Review, Volume 50, Book 1. In the article, LoMonte argues that speech that would…

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, was quoted in “A Clearwater Law Firm and a Pinellas Retiree Spar Again Over Public Records” published in the Tampa Bay Times on June 1. The article focuses on Madeira Beach retiree Bill…

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, was quoted in “Why Trump Can’t Claim Twitter is Violating His Free Speech” published in Adweek on May 27. The article discusses President Trump’s accusations that Twitter was interfering with the 2020 election…

College students cannot be disciplined for “uncivil” political speech on social media, free-speech organizations told the U.S. Supreme Court in a brief filed Monday. The brief, prepared by attorneys with the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, asks the justices to accept the case of New Mexico medical student Paul…

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, was quoted in “Alabama Utility Commission to Consider Ban on Recording Meeting” posted on Birmingham, Alabama public radio station WBHM-FM’s website. The article features restrictions that the Alabama Public Service Commission has established…

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, was quoted in “Don’t Expect to See Joe Biden’s Papers” published in Huffington Post on May 11. LoMonte comments on the inaccessibility of Biden’s papers from his time in the Senate. The National…

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, will be one of three presenters during a Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) webinar, “Censorship: Getting Past Reporting Roadblocks in the Time of COVID-19.” Access will be available via Zoom on May 5…

Frank LoMonte, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Brechner Center for Freedom of Information director, was quoted in “Authoritarian Governments Crack Down on Press Freedoms Amid COVID-19 Pandemic: Report” featured on ABC News on April 28. The story focuses on how the coronavirus is compounding existing threats to…

The Brechner Center for Freedom of Information announced today the launch of Brechner Reporting Fellows, 10 fellowships for professional journalists experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19.