Freedom of information

During National Sunshine Week, we celebrate freedom of information (FOI) laws and efforts to use and ensure the effectiveness of those laws to get the information we need as self-governing citizens.

Over a century ago, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, stated that “Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.”

The Florida Society of Newspaper Editors launched Sunshine Sunday in 2002 in response to efforts by some Florida legislators to create scores of new exemptions to the state’s public records law.

It was decided that the initiative needed to be more than a single day and Sunshine Week was launched 2005 by The American Society of News Editors with support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

National Freedom of Information Day falls on March 16, with the purpose of educating the public about the importance of open government and the dangers of excessive and unnecessary secrecy.

Participants included in ensuring the public’s right to know include journalists, news media organizations, civic groups, libraries, watchdog organizations, schools, FOI advocacy groups and others.

We would like to think that the public appreciates our reporting on government issues and the right to access public records and information, and this week is good time to remind us all of the importance of transparency.

It is your right to know.