GFAF in the News
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. Photo above courtesy of Casey Sykes/AJC.
2022
May
Georgia Recorder: University system ends era of free-speech zones on Georgia’s college campuses
April
WSB-TV: IT problems hobble DeKalb County code enforcement
March
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Opinion: Georgians deserve variety of voices in their libraries
Valdosta Daily Times: Lawmakers want to take the ‘local’ out of our libraries
Georgia Recorder: Georgia lawmakers want to take the ‘local’ out of our libraries
State Affairs: Lack of Virtual Access to Public Meetings Denies Millions of Georgians a Voice
February
AJC: Ahmaud Arbery case: defense and prosecuting attorneys reflect on murder trial
Daily Report: Georgia Conference to Include AG Candidate Interviews, Arbery Panel
WMAZ-TV: When is it legal for Georgia government organizations to go into executive session?
January
Saporta Report: Public safety training center advisory committee responds to debate with ban on members talking to media
Saporta Report: Cityhood efforts, development authorities need more transparency, lawmakers say
Georgia Recorder: New Cobb city proposals gain momentum despite qualms of some leaders
Georgia Recorder: Critics say Georgia bill intended to ease school library book bans a ‘slippery slope’
AJC: Cobb students push to speak to school board without parent permission
AJC: By and for the people? Georgia lawmaking sometimes limits access
2021
December
Georgia Recorder: Georgia Secretary of State sues Justice Department over voting records delay
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
News
- 2021 Summit Agenda
- Transparency organizations raise concerns about Uniform Law Commission’s redaction initiative
- Save the dates for the 2022 FOI Summit, and watch this space for updates
- Deadline is extended to May 20 for NFOIC’s fourth annual FOI Research Competition
- Study finds more tax-subsidy transparency, but still ‘room for improvement’
- As he tries to save lives of those in recovery, Virginia advocate is denied the state data he needs
- New Jersey township backtracks, drops lawsuit against woman, 82, for filing records requests
- NFOIC begins transfer of admin duties to Virginia coalition, renews focus on members