This week marks National Sunshine Week, observed March 15-21, 2026, a nonpartisan initiative that highlights the vital role of open government and public access to information in American democracy. Timed to James Madison’s birthday on March 16 — the “father of the Constitution” who championed transparency — the observance reminds citizens that sunlight, as Justice Louis Brandeis famously said, is the best disinfectant for government.
In an era of rapid information flow from social media and digital sources, the week underscores the enduring need for reliable, verifiable facts from official records and professional journalism.
Supporters of open government and a free press argue that these principles are essential to self-governance. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), enacted in 1966, and similar state laws allow citizens and journalists to request government records, promoting accountability. A free press provides context, multiple perspectives and impartial reporting, helping the public make informed decisions. Without it, misinformation flourishes, and government overreach goes unchecked. Recent examples during Sunshine Week show ongoing investigations using public records to demand accountability from federal operations.
Critics point to practical burdens and risks from excessive openness. FOIA processing faces chronic backlogs, with hundreds of thousands of requests delayed — sometimes for years — due to underfunding, staffing shortages, and complex reviews. Agencies incur high costs with little fee recovery, straining resources that could address other priorities. In national security and privacy contexts, broad disclosure can endanger operations, expose sensitive sources or violate individual privacy rights. Some argue that unrestricted access invites frivolous requests driven by curiosity rather than public interest, overwhelming government and diluting focus on legitimate needs.
These challenges highlight flaws in execution, not in the core idea of transparency. Persistent delays and resource strains weaken accountability more than they protect it, while exemptions already safeguard national security and privacy. A free press, guided by professional standards, bridges gaps by interpreting records responsibly. This online news source firmly supports robust freedom of information laws and a vigorous free press as cornerstones of democracy. Citizens deserve timely access to truthful information to hold power accountable.
Transparency in Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s Open Records Law (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39), often referred to as the state’s Sunshine Law alongside its companion Open Meetings Law, embodies one of the nation’s strongest presumptions in favor of public access to government information. Enacted with roots in transparency principles and significantly shaped by 1970s reforms, the law declares that all persons are entitled to the greatest possible information regarding government affairs and the official acts of public officers and employees.
It mandates that every record is presumed open to inspection and copying, with denial allowed only in exceptional cases where a specific exemption applies or a balancing test shows a stronger public interest in secrecy. Records include any material — paper, electronic, emails, or other formats — created or kept by a government authority in connection with official business. Authorities must respond without unreasonable delay, often within days for simple requests, and provide written reasons for any denial or redaction, including notice of review options such as mandamus action or appeal to the attorney general or district attorney.
This framework supports journalism and citizen oversight by ensuring broad, practical access to records on topics from policy decisions to local operations.
In a time when trust in institutions is tested, let us renew our commitment to the sunshine that illuminates government and sustains self-rule.
