Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
 
Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 
Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council