Sunshine Week
Encyclopedia
Sunshine Week is a national initiative spearheaded by the American Society of News Editors
to educate the public about the importance of open government and the dangers of excessive and unnecessary secrecy. It was established in March of 2005 with funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
's birthday and National Freedom of Information Day on the 16th.
During Sunshine Week, hundreds of media organizations, civic groups, libraries, nonprofits, schools and other participants engage public discussion on the importance of open government through news and feature articles and opinion columns; special Web pages and blogs; infographics; editorial cartoons; public service advertising; public seminars and forums.
summit.
In the planning stages, it was decided that the initiative needed to be more than a single Sunday, and Sunshine Week was born.
The first nationwide Sunshine Week took place March 13–19, 2005.
American Society of News Editors
The American Society of News Editors is a membership organization for editors, producers or directors in charge of journalistic organizations or departments, deans or faculty at university journalism schools, and leaders and faculty of media-related foundations and training organizations...
to educate the public about the importance of open government and the dangers of excessive and unnecessary secrecy. It was established in March of 2005 with funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is an American private, non-profit foundation dedicated to supporting transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts....
Overview
Sunshine Week occurs each year in mid-March, coinciding with James MadisonJames Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
's birthday and National Freedom of Information Day on the 16th.
During Sunshine Week, hundreds of media organizations, civic groups, libraries, nonprofits, schools and other participants engage public discussion on the importance of open government through news and feature articles and opinion columns; special Web pages and blogs; infographics; editorial cartoons; public service advertising; public seminars and forums.
History of Sunshine Week
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. The following year, the idea of a national Sunshine Sunday was raised at an ASNE Freedom of InformationFreedom of information
Freedom of information refers to the protection of the right to freedom of expression with regards to the Internet and information technology . Freedom of information may also concern censorship in an information technology context, i.e...
summit.
In the planning stages, it was decided that the initiative needed to be more than a single Sunday, and Sunshine Week was born.
The first nationwide Sunshine Week took place March 13–19, 2005.