Brechner Awards

A hard-hitting investigative series by the Argus Leader was named the 2005 winner of the Joseph L. Brechner Center for Freedom of Information Award, according to Sandra F. Chance, executive director of the Brechner Center. The series uncovered the secret and illegal sealing of criminal pardons in South Dakota. The…

A groundbreaking series by the Daily Business Review was named the winner of the Joseph L. Brechner Center for Freedom of Information Award, according to Sandra F. Chance, executive Director of the Brechner Center. The articles, written by federal court reporter Dan Christensen, exposed how federal judges were suppressing civil…

A gripping freedom of information series by the San Francisco Chronicle was named the 2003 winner of the Joseph L. Brechner Center for Freedom of Information Award, according to Sandra F. Chance, executive director of the Brechner Center. The series, titled “The Campus Files: Reagan, Hoover and the UC Red Scare,”…

A compelling freedom of information series by The Burlington Free Press won this year’s Joseph L. Brechner Center for Freedom of Information award, according to Sandra Chance, director of the Brechner Center. The series, titled: “Code of Silence,” graphically demonstrates how a lack of public information about physicians in Vermont…

A five-month series of articles and editorials chronicling the battle between a juvenile court judge and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette received the 2001 Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Award. The announcement was made by Dr. Sandra F. Chance, PR 1977, MA 1985, director of the Brechner Center in the College,…

A revealing freedom of information series written by seven New Jersey newspapers won this year’s Joseph L. Brechner Center for Freedom of Information award, according to Sandra Chance, director of the Brechner Center. The series, titled “Public Access Denied,” detailed the abysmal compliance rate with the state’s public record law.…

A ground-breaking freedom of information series written by seven Indiana newspapers won this year’s Joseph L. Brechner Center for Freedom of Information award, according to Sandra Chance, director of the Brechner Center. The five-part series, titled “The State of Secrecy: Indiana flunks the test on access,” detailed the abysmal compliance…

The New Jersey Asbury Park Press won this year’s Joseph L. Brechner Center for Freedom of Information award for its series describing the problem with New Jersey’s public records law, titled “The Right to Know Nothing.” Asbury Park Press reporter Paul D’Ambrosio wrote the award-winning series and received the $3,000…

The Sun-Sentinel won this year’s Joseph L. Brechner Center for Freedom of Information Award for its series, “Quick Cash with Few Questions.” The series focused on Fort Lauderdale pawnshops that operate as fronts for criminals to convert stolen goods to quick cash. The articles shed light on Florida’s new pawnbroking…

The Times-Picayune newspaper won this year’s Joseph L. Brechner Center for Freedom of Information Award for its series uncovering Louisiana politicians’ abuse of legislative scholarships to Tulane University, according to Sandra F. Chance assistant director of the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information. The prestigious national award recognizes excellence in…