Your Right to Know
The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council is a non-profit group founded in 1978 and made up of members of the media and the public who are dedicated to promoting and defending access to public records and public meetings so citizens have the information they are entitled to in a free and democratic society. Democracy Campaign research director Michael Buelow is a member of the council.
Your Right to Know is a monthly column distributed by the council to educate people about their rights under the state’s open meetings and open records laws and inform the public about media censorship issues. Past columns can be found below. The most recent column can be found here.
2013
Child-care, elder records easier to get
April 2013
Don't hike cost of public records
March 2013
Legislature oversteps with new rules
February 2013
Keep DNR enforcement sessions open
January 2013
2012
City leads the way on openness
December 2012
Public’s business shouldn’t be ‘private’
November 2012
Rulings prompt records guide update
October 2012
Lawmakers exploit loophole to hide ALEC ties
September 2012
Stop treating photography as a crime
August 2012
Court: You can't charge a lot for this record
July 2012
Gov rivals imperfect on open records
June 2012
National convo brings together access advocates
May 2012
Dick Wheeler, knower-in-chief
April 2012
Let the sunshine in . . . please
March 2012
Work rules can’t be hashed out in secret
February 2012
Gun permit secrecy shields law's impact
January 2012
2011
Walker has mixed record on openness
December 2011
End lawmakers’ ability to purge records
November 2011
Photojournalist's arrest is troubling
October 2011
Contacts with lawmakers should be public
September 2011
Redistricting should be more transparent
August 2011
Legislature should be subject to Open Meetings Law
July 2011
Judge gives open meetings law vital support
June 2011
Lawmakers shouldn’t meet in secret
May 2011
Open meetings case presents tough issues
April 2011
In Madison’s memory, let the sunshine in
March 2011
Opee awards toast open government
March 2011
Keep electronic communications open
February 2011
2010
How open will Walker be?
December 2010
Open up complaints against lawyers
November 2010
Let the sunshine in on contracts
October 2010
Ask candidates about openness
September 2010
Email ruling a blow to openness
August 2010
Public info belongs on the internet
July 2010
State shield law a step forward
May 2010
Don’t end access to 911 calls
April 2010
Guest column for Sunshine Week
March 2010
Don’t erode access to court records
February 2010
State needs rules for sealed warrants
January 2010
2009
Bring transparency to state spending
December 2009
WIAA needs greater transparency
November 2009
Keep court records system open
October 2009
What record requesters want -- a top ten list
September 2009
Open records delay common, enforcement lax
August 2009
Court keeps state labor info open to you
July 2009
Attorney General’s office plays vital openness role
June 2009
Public notice change should be stopped in its tracks
May 2009
Support lawmakers’ effort to end secret meetings
April 2009
Openness group doles out the honors
March 2009
911 tapes: Public access helps assess emergency response
February 2009
2008
Signed, sealed, delivered -- but not yours
December 2008
State employees: Public servants, not secret agents
November 2008
Openness watchdog turns 30
October 2008
Ask candidates for office about open government issues
September 2008
Respect the rights of news photographers
August 2008
Supreme Court rulings impact open government
July 2008
Crandon shooting: Secrecy leaves questions unanswered
June 2008
Police should share basic crime information
May 2008
Is it time to modernize public records law?
April 2008
Openness group doles out the honors
March 2008
Does Wisconsin need a shield law?
February 2008
Don’t erase criminal charges from online records
January 2008
2007
Early case sheds light on records
December 2007
Make electronic campaign data easier to understand
November 2007
Close court records, open can of worms
October 2007
Court shapes open government in key cases
September 2007
Judge slams door on integrity of Legislature
August 2007
Preserve public access to police reports
June 2007
Police should provide basic information
May 2007
’Sunshine’ law victories enforce openness
April 2007
Openness group awards cheers and jeers
March 2007
Lawmaking: What’s open to one should be open to all
February 2007
What’s on the agenda? It’s anyone’s guess
January 2007
2006
Law inhibits tax policy discussion
December 2006
How open to openness will new AG be?
October 2006
Keep court records open and online
August 2006
Attorney General Candidate Questionnaire
July 2006
Secret development deals flout open meetings law
June 2006
Attorney General defends secrecy
May 2006
State senators exclude public from tax hearing
April 2006
Silent treatment: Denials were worse than refusals
March 2006
Local officials expand power to keep secrets
February 2006
How to use the Open Records Law
January 2006
2005
Concealed carry permits should be open
November 2005
Lawmakers should release bill drafts
October 2005
Ruling could wreak records havoc
August 2005
Officials should make e-mail public
June 2005
Open Government Problem Areas
May 2005
When officials become "draft" dodgers
March 2005
Shine light on contract process
February 2005
Lautenschlager champions open government
January 2005
2004
Records custodians hide behind the lawyers
December 2004
Court ruling a victory for openness
November 2004
Keep public notices law intact
October 2004
Make bank tax settlements public
September 2004
’Quasi-public’ does not mean ’private’
August 2004
It’s time to end closed caucuses
July 2004
Hotline helps media gain access
June 2004
Officials concoct ways to thwart records access
May 2004
New law improves records access
April 2004
Limiting records access invites abuse
March 2004
Inmates should have access to newspaper clippings
February 2004
Government secrecy gets caught on candid camera
January 2004
2003
Medical privacy rules go too far
December 2003
Weapons carriers’ names should not be concealed
November 2003
The public needs access to health info
October 2003
Zoning board decisions do not merit secrecy
September 2003
Records fix shows system can work
August 2003
