The Opees Awards are given in six categories: Popee, Mopee, Copee, Scoopee, Nopee, and Whistleblower of the Year
Tag: Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council
Posted inNews about Wisconsin Watch
Openness champions celebrated at 9th annual Wisconsin Watchdog Awards
The 2019 Wisconsin Watchdog Awards recognize outstanding efforts to protect the state’s tradition of open government, and highlight some of the threats.
Posted inNews about Wisconsin Watch
Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council names 2019 Openness Award winners
The Opee awards recognize outstanding efforts to protect the state’s tradition of open government, and highlight some of the threats.
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: Are officials giving out too much information?
The nonprofit group I belong to is called the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council. Our mission is to protect and expand access to public records.
Usually this entails pushing state and local government officials to be as open as possible. But lately, a number of developments raise a peculiar concern: Are officials being too open?
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: Officials shouldn’t block social media users
In an age where major public policies are announced and debated through platforms like Facebook and Twitter, the courts are increasingly barring public officials from limiting people’s access to social media. In late July, a Virginia judge ruled that public officials do not have the right to block people who disagree with their views from […]
Posted inWisWatch Blog
Wisconsin Watchdog Awards honor veteran radio reporter, whistleblowers, journalists
Journalists and advocates for open government gathered at the seventh annual Wisconsin Watchdog Awards to celebrate efforts to keep the public informed while vowing to remain vigilant in the face of pushback from politicians.
Posted inWisWatch Blog
Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council names ‘Opee’ winners
Two citizens, two journalists, one fired government worker and one small but gutsy Wisconsin newspaper are among the recipients of the 2016-17 Openness Awards, or Opees, bestowed annually by the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council. The awards, announced in advance of national Sunshine Week (sunshineweek.org), March 12-18, recognize extraordinary achievement in the cause of open government.
Posted inWisWatch Blog
Wisconsin open government advocates hit the road to boost public’s understanding and use of open records laws
Residents across Wisconsin are invited to free events exploring the importance of open records laws, and how to use them to obtain critical information about the actions of government.
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: A tough year for transparency
In 2015, Wisconsin advocates for open government faced a disquieting truth: If we want to preserve our state’s tradition of transparency and accountability, we must fight for it, against powerful players who will be fighting back.
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: Bill would make it harder to follow the money
It might be about to get tougher—a lot tougher—to follow the money in Wisconsin politics.
Posted inOpinion
Your Right to Know: Back open government? Prove it!
On July 9, the members of the Wisconsin state Assembly collectively affirmed their support for open government. They passed a resolution stating that the Assembly “remains committed to our state’s open record and open government laws and policies, and will take all necessary steps to ensure that these laws and policies are preserved without modification or degradation.” They vowed to “continue to work to uphold these principles and protections.”
Posted inWisWatch Blog
Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council names ‘Opee’ winners
“Most people in Wisconsin, including public officials, have grown to appreciate the state’s traditions of open government,” said Bill Lueders, council president. “These awards are meant to encourage this trend.”