What is Sunshine Week?
Sunshine Week is an annual event that marks the importance of public access to government information. It was originally launched in 2002 by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors (FSNE) as “Sunshine Sunday.” On that day, newspapers across the state ran editorials, op-ed columns, editorial cartoons and news stories highlighting the importance of access to government information. FSNE estimates that some 300 exemptions to open government laws were defeated in the legislative sessions that followed the three Sunshine Sundays, many because of the increased public awareness that resulted. Building on the success of the Florida effort, Sunshine Sundays were then launched in other states, including Alabama and South Carolina.
