The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group that works to protect access to public meetings and records, is now accepting nominations for its annual Openness in Government Awards, or Opees.
Awards are given in six categories:
Popee (public 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.
Whoopee (Whistleblower of the year): Recognizes an individual or group who (which) has come forward to help expose wrongdoing.
Nopee (no friend of openness): For an individual or institution who (which) has disregarded or denigrated the state’s traditions of openness.
Nominations should be submitted with any supporting documentation by Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, 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.
Winners will be notified in advance and invited to attend the Opee Awards dinner sponsored by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association on March 6, 2025; their names will be announced publicly thereafter, prior to National Sunshine Week, March 16-22. Event details and registration information will be forthcoming.
Past winners:
The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council seeks to safeguard access to information that citizens must have to act responsibly in a free and democratic society; learn more at https://wisfoic.org/.
