Entries accepted for national FOI awards offering cash prizes

Nominations are open for the First Amendment Coalition’s Free Speech & Open Government Award, given each year to recognize significant achievement in advancing freedom of information and expression. The award recognizes outstanding accomplishment, service or other contributions to the advancement of free expression or the people’s right to know about their government. The winner could be a journalist, activist, blogger, lawyer, news organization, software developer or whistleblower, or any combination thereof, including work by teams. It is a national contest, and there is no fee to enter. The award comes with a $1,000 prize. Deadline: Jan. 15, 2021. DETAILS

For more, contact Ginny LaRoe at the First Amendment Coalition, fac@firstamendmentcoalition.org, 415-460-5060​.

The Brechner Center sponsors an annual $3,000 cash award recognizing excellence in reporting about freedom of information, access to government-held information or the First Amendment. The deadline for entries is Feb. 28. Stories or a series of stories related to these topics and published in a general circulation (nonacademic) news medium (print, online or broadcast) will meet contest eligibility. There is no entry form. Entries (links or PDF files are acceptable, so long as the links will lead directly to the article without a login or subscription) may be submitted electronically to flomonte@ufl.edu. DETAILS 

For more, call the Brechner Center at (352) 392-2273.