The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, a nonprofit group that works to protect access to public meetings and records (and of which the WNA is a member), is accepting nominations for its annual Openness in Government Awards, or Opees. Awards are given in six categories:
- Popee (political openness award): Recognizes extraordinary service to the cause of open government by an elected or appointed official, agency, or group of officials.
- Mopee (media openness award): Recognizes extraordinary service to the cause of open government by a media member or organization.
- Copee (citizen openness award): Recognizes extraordinary service to the cause of open government by a member of the public or public group.
- Scoopee (open records scoop of the year): For a journalist or media organization who (which) has used public records to highlight an issue or expose wrongdoing.
- Nopee (no friend of openness): For an individual or institution who (which) has disregarded or denigrated the state’s traditions of openness.
- Whistleblower of the year: Recognizes an individual who has come forward to help expose wrongdoing.
Please submit nominations with any supporting documentation by Friday, Feb. 14, to: blueders@gmail.com. The winners will be selected by a Council committee, as in past years. The Council reserves the right to issue special awards or to not give an award in a particular category.
The awards will be announced just prior to national Sunshine Week, March 16-21, and presented at the annual Watchdog Awards Dinner in Madison on Tuesday, April 21.
