Contending that Georgia’s new voting law “has imposed new and dangerous restrictions on news gathering that threaten the ability of the public and press to remain informed about Georgia elections,” GFAF in late June filed a friend-of-the-court brief in a case examining the law. In an order issued Aug. 20, a federal judge in Atlanta ruled the law’s ban on photographing ballots was unconstitutional. The judge allowed other parts of the law to stand, despite First Amendment arguments. Read news coverage of the ruling in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Photo courtesy of Casey Sykes/AJC.
The Georgia First Amendment Foundation is a resource to media organizations throughout Georgia. Here are some of the latest news stories featuring GFAF sources. To request information or an interview, please contact us at info@gfaf.org.
2021
November
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia election officials required to improve public records compliance
October
Georgia Recorder: Ga. Supreme Court gets case challenging lawmakers’ arrests at state Capitol
Reason: No heckler’s veto: Georgia Supreme Court won’t rehear case rejecting nuisance verdict
Georgia Public Broadcasting: Atlanta mayoral candidates who tout transparency have disclosure problems of their own
September
AJC: DeKalb audit raises questions about transparency
WSB-TV: DeKalb County not releasing findings on security of employee information
The Current: Glynn commissioners flout open meetings law to push manager pick
August
WMAZ-TV: The public needs to know what’s happening in the courts
July
Georgia Recorder: Ga. lawmakers study ways to balance ‘Big Tech’ bans vs. business rights
Associated Press: Judge to hear arguments in Georgia election law challenge
June
Saporta Report: Atlanta city clerk to halt removal of candidates’ info from documents after legal questions
Marietta Daily Journal: After violating Sunshine Laws, Cobb school board calls for special meeting
AJC: Cobb County schools budget hearing beset by ‘technical difficulties’
AJC: Court throws out $1.4 million verdict against Marietta abortion clinic
Daily Report: Court of Appeals tosses ‘nuisance’ verdict against abortion clinic
May
AJC: As pandemic raged, Georgia public health advisory board failed to meet
April
WMAZ-TV: Macon District Attorney’s Office promises records on 63 ‘released’ inmates
March
AJC: Pandemic changes public meetings for good
Gainesville Times: Two cybersecurity bills could mean the public knows less about cyberattacks
Georgia Recorder: Will knowing less about cyberattacks really make Georgians safer?
WSB-TV: Experts say bills will make it easier for government to hide cyberattack details
Flagpole: Open Records Complaint Filed Against CCSD
Athens Banner-Herald: Parent complaint against Clarke County School District filed, requests more COVID-19 data
WSB-TV: 3 Johns Creek officers off the job for allegedly leaking information to metro reporter
February
WSB-TV: State complaint filed against school system over COVID-19 data request
Georgia Recorder: Melton to step down after leading Georgia courts through COVID crisis
AJC: Fulton elections board makes ‘invalid’ vote to fire elections director
January
AJC: Ga. health officials won’t say where UK coronavirus variant has surfaced in state
AJC: Metro area schools weigh burden of reopening policies amid COVID-19
Atlanta Magazine: Yes, it’s legal to record a phone call in Georgia without telling the other person
2020
December
WSB-TV: City of Atlanta refuses to answer whether it was impacted by massive computer attack
Clayton Crescent: Forest Park council, boards vote to upgrade meeting livestreams
- See GFAF’s letter of support for greater public access to Forest Park government meetings.
November
Reporter Newspapers: As Civic Dinners booms, some question diversity, open meetings issues
Washington Post: Robin Kemp lost her news job in Clayton County — but she kept reporting the news. It paid off on election week.
October
East Cobb News: Cobb school board returns to in-person meetings
Center Square Georgia: Cost can be high to obtain public records in Georgia
September
AJC: Public comment cut from live Cobb school board meeting again
AJC: Georgia demands $22,434 for COVID-19 records, says they’ll be ready next spring
August
Augusta Chronicle: Augusta officials call, cancel CARES Act meeting
WSB-TV: Texts suggest former Johns Creek police chief held out for larger settlement to leave department
AJC: Cobb schools cut public comments from live, virtual meeting
AJC: Georgia keeps key virus information from public
AJC: With few details, DeKalb Schools approves contract to ease crowding
July
Reporter Newspapers: Buckhead Coalition rethinks its mission
Valdosta Daily Times: County hides behind closed doors
Georgia Health News: Health agency stalling on requests for COVID-19 emails, critics say
Publication of commentary First Amendment rights spark justice and seed change in Georgia
June
Augusta Chronicle: Augusta attorney ‘frustrated’ release of husband’s deleted emails seeking city work
Valdosta Daily Times: Disclose health data clearly
Athens Banner-Herald: State COVID data ‘opaque’ as infections rise in Georgia
Georgia Public Broadcasting: Experts say Georgia’s data on COVID-19 seems lacking
Valdosta Daily Times: Law enforcement detains two journalists covering Atlanta protests
May
Georgia Recorder: Middle Georgia federal court affirms right to record in public spaces
WMAZ: Citizen journalist says he was arrested for filming in city hall lobby
- See the U.S. District Court order and GFAF’s friend-of-the-court brief supporting citizens’ and journalists’ right to film peacefully in public spaces without interference by law enforcement.
April
Publication of commentary Recalibrating the balance: Increasing transparency around COVID-19 while still respecting privacy
In Georgia:
Around the nation:
- Cumberland Times-News
- Daily Item
- Joplin Globe
- Lockport Union-Sun & Journal
- Niagara Gazette
- Press-Republican
- Stillwater News Press
- Weatherford Democrat
March
Marietta Daily Journal: A pandemic doesn’t mean the end of open government, experts agree
Valdosta Daily Times: Experts address how to comply with open meetings laws amid pandemic
Insider Advantage: Legislature should be covered by Open Records Act
AJC: Municipalities weighing public access, safety at government meetings
Valdosta Daily Times: Transparency town hall set for Monday: How to keep public meetings open in an emergency
Georgia Recorder: Government transparency in the time of coronavirus; virtual meeting tips
AJC: State of emergency: Coronavirus changes how local governments meet
Reporter Newspapers: Sandy Springs Council halts most ‘non-essential’ city decision-making during pandemic
Valdosta Daily Times: It’s always your right to know
Reporter Newspapers: New Sandy Springs police shooting details revealed; AG says city was wrong to withhold reports
February
Rome News-Tribune: Bills pushed to give Georgians with criminal histories a second chance
January
Valdosta Daily Times: Bill may broaden sealing records
Valdosta Daily Times: First Amendment advocates warn of media oversight
AJC: Atlanta audit committee’s private meetings an apparent violation of law
Valdosta Daily Times: Zachary: Lawmakers can show First Amendment support
2019
December
AJC: Atlanta mayor orders restriction of access to pot conviction records
The Center Square: Former Atlanta mayor’s staffer to stand trial for violating Georgia’s Open Records Act
Valdosta Daily Times: Zachary First Amendment Foundation president
Atlanta Magazine: Flashback: The Georgia Representative who gave up Congress to oppose segregation
WSB-TV: Trial for former press secretary set to begin soon
November
Reporter Newspapers: First DeKalb airport meeting after fatal crash lacked public notice, may have violated Open Meetings Act
October
Daily Report: First Amendment group honors late Chief Justice Hines
Georgia Recorder: Ga First Amendment group honors late Chief Justice Harris Hines
Union Recorder: Red Book catalogs Georgia open government laws
AJC: Atlanta unveils new policy to improve compliance with open records laws
September
Marietta Daily Journal: Chastain: Comment ban stemmed from increasing partisanship
Daily Report: First Amendment Foundation to honor late Chief Justice Hines
August
Moultrie Observer: Open government, better government
July
AJC: Media group sues Roswell for full access to crime reports
The New York Times: “Drag this out as long as possible”: Former official faces rare criminal charges under open-records law
WSB-TV: Mayor Reed’s former press secretary will not accept plea bargain
June
Valdosta Daily Times: Don’t be caught without your Red Book
May
WSB-TV: Every public agency in the state must follow open records law — except one
The Marietta Daily Journal: Cobb BoE strikes down Howard’s move to include public comment in minutes
April
The Guardian: Georgia lawmakers consider bill that takes aim at state’s journalists
Washington Post: A board to oversee Georgia journalists sounds like Orwellian fiction. The proposal is all too real.
Valdosta Daily Times: Fettered press not a free press
AJC: Georgia House Republicans file bill to create state Journalism Ethics Board
March
Valdosta Daily Times: First Amendment Foundation promotes transparency with newly elected officials
Chattanooga Times Free Press: These Georgia bills could ban secret recordings, severely restrict abortions, allow the state to take over the airport and more. Are they still alive?
February
WABE: Former Reed aide accused of open records violations: A talk with 1st Amendment attorney
Daily Report: Kasim Reed’s former spokeswoman charged with open records violations
Augusta Chronicle: Attorney General prosecuting Atlanta employee over open records requests could have Augusta implications
WSB-TV: Mayor Reed’s former press secretary criminally charged with open records violations
The Union-Recorder: Secret recordings can protect public right to know
Chattanooga Times Free Press: Georgia Senator’s proposed secret recordings ban draws questions, public response
AJC: Georgia bill would have barred taping that helped sink Cagle campaign
Forsyth County News: Why the Forsyth County fire department has decided to encrypt its radios, and why that concerns First Amendment expert
Reporter Newspapers: Fear rises as GDOT eyes back yards, houses for toll lanes
January
Savannah Morning News: Editorial – Legislature should open records, meetings
WSB-TV: The First Amendment Foundation says a school system shouldn’t hide info from the public
AJC: Nonprofit hospitals under pressure over transparency, charity
2018
December
AJC: Public’s access to records still a challenge for metro Atlanta agencies
Valdosta Daily Times: EDITORIAL: Public must be notified of called meetings
Brechner Center: “Big [expletive] problem”: a battle over open records in Atlanta
November
Georgia State Signal: From the Editor: Why and how to request public records
AJC: Banned No More: Georgia city backs down on lifetime banishment for two
AJC: CNN sues White House to regain Jim Acosta’s press credentials
AJC: Can a city ban a woman it deems a nuisance? One in Georgia is trying
October
Georgia Health News: Northside suffers another legal setback in fight over its records
WSB-TV: WSB, AJC donate legal fees won from suit against city to Georgia First Amendment Foundation
Daily Report: First Amendment group honors judge for transparency
AJC: AJC, Channel 2 donate $80,000 to support government transparency
WSB-TV: City of Atlanta settles abuse of open records claims with AJC, WSB-TV
September
AJC: Opinion: Welcome moves toward transparency
WSB-TV: Group dedicated to easy access to open records approves of new law
Daily Report: Judge Bodiford honored for open courtrooms
Marietta Daily Journal: Cobb Superior Court judge wins freedom of information award
August
AJC: Buford schools apologizes over slurs in tape
AJC: Bottoms releases summary of investigation into disputed $40k payment
July
AJC: Watchdogs: Atlanta skirting records law in probe of $40,000 payment
June
AJC: Payday lending group loses lawsuit over record release
WSB-TV: Atlanta City Hall does not face criminal charges in records probe
May
AJC: Were Rosanne Barr’s free speech rights violated when Disney fired her?
AJC: Failure to release subpoena may have broken Georgia records law
April
WSB-TV: Texts show top Reed aide pressured officials to delay records release
AJC: Two AGs known for transparency hired in Atlanta open records case
GSU Signal: Will governor sign campus speech bill?
AJC: Georgia’s top candidates: Make harassment complaints publicly available
March
Daily Report: First Amendment group seeks fix to e-filing legislation as it nears a vote
AJC: Torpy at Large: The stench of Atlanta City Hall’s “POO” strategy
Chattanooga Times Free Press: Catoosa County’s use of executive session questionable
AJC: Federal lawsuit targets Georgia policy blocking gun control protest
Dalton Daily Citizen-News: Jim Zachary: Open government is the best government
WSB-TV: “Drag this out”: Texts reveal Reed administration’s effort to keep public records from WSB
WALB News 10: GA Supreme Court vacates Grinstead gag order
February
Milledgeville Union-Recorder: EDITORIAL: Keep lottery transparent
Daily Report: Bar tackles sex harassment, fake news and gun control
KSU Sentinel: Georgia Supreme Court case involving KSU study could have impact on open record laws
AJC: Court hears arguments about open records in payday loans case
AJC: Georgia Senate passes bill that would give lottery winners anonymity
The Brunswick News: News groups’ petition to court is right
January
AJC: The Jolt 1/29
Decaturish: Open government advocates question alteration of Avondale City Manager’s contract