Winners of research competition to present findings at 2021 FOI Summit – National Freedom of Information Coalition

Five research papers have been accepted to the third annual National Freedom of Information Coalition FOI research competition, to be presented online Sept. 28, 2021, at the FOI Summit.

In all, seven one-page proposals were entered and five selected through double-blind peer review for final consideration. Then, a team of eight expert judges rated the full manuscripts based on importance, relevance to practitioners, and strength of methodology. Three of the papers earned cash prizes for excellence, of $500, $300 and $200. Top papers are guaranteed publication in the University of Florida’s Journal of Civic Information, which welcomes submissions from all researchers.

The five papers will be presented by their authors 3-4 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, Sept. 28, at the summit:

1. Requiring a Response: Why Governments Should Have to Acknowledge Public Records Requests, by Amy Kristin Sanders, University of Texas – Austin, and Daxton “Chip” Stewart (First place, $500)Download

2. Determinants of Fiscal Transparency and Right to Information Reforms: An Exploratory Study of Provincial Governments in Argentina, by Julia Amerikaner, London School of Economics and Political Science (Second place, $300)Download

3. Whose Public Virtue? Exploring FOI Efficacy and Support, by A.Jay Wagner, Marquette University (Third place, $200)
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4. Eliminating a Barrier to Access: Waiving or Reducing Fees for Public Records in Florida, by Virginia Hamrick, Florida First Amendment Foundation
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5. United Kingdom Freedom of Information Act 2000, Local Government, and Everyday Regimes of Practice, by Lynn Wyeth, De Montfort University Download