Awards
Sunshine Award
for important contributions in the area of open government
Deadline for nominations: March 23
The Sunshine Award recognizes individuals and groups for making important contributions in the area of open government.
The SPJ board of directors selects honorees for the Sunshine Award based on recommendations from the national SPJ Freedom of Information Committee. There is no predetermined number of honorees for selection.
Submit your nomination online
Sorry, the deadline to submit nominations has passed.
2022 Honorees
El Paso Matters
Insider
ProPublica
Jonathan Guyer
Read the press release
2021
THE CITY
Documenting COVID-19 project
ProPublica
Read the press release
2020
Read press release
R. Jeffrey Smith and the Center for Public Integrity
The Center for Public Integrity, USA TODAY and The Arizona Republic
Christina Jewett from Kaiser Health News
2019
Read press release
Jessica Huseman, ProPublica
Garance Burke and Martha Mendoza, Associated Press
CPI, Quartz and the Associated Press
2018
Read press release
Mary Ellen Klas, Miami Herald
Rachel La Corte, Associated Press
ProPublica
2017
Read press release
Nick Budnick, The Portland Tribune
Grace Rauh, NY1 News
Miranda Spivack, Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting
2016
Read press release
The Counted, The Guardian US
Donovan Slack
The Invisible Institute
2015
Read press release
Ed Timms and Kevin Krause
Brad Heath
Carolyn James
2014
Read press release
Center for Public Integrity
Robert Freeman
Kathryn Foxhall
2013
Read press release
Michael Donoghue
Seth Rosenfeld
Sunlight Foundation
2012
Read press release
Bloomberg News
Medill Innocence Project
Republican-American
2011
Read press release
Anne Geggis
Samantha Turley and Marcus Constantino
Wall Street Journal Staff
2010
Read press release
David Andreatta
Jill Riepenhoff and Todd Jones
Charlene Charlie Padilla
The Advocate
2009
Read press release
Project On Government Oversight
2008
Read press release
Robert Faturechi
Teri Henning
Laurie Roberts
2007
Read press release
Bill Chamberlin
Connecticut Network
The Seattle Times
2006
Read press release
Ryan Nees, Kokomo, Indiana
Nancy Conway, Salt Lake Tribune
John Hughes, The Deseret Morning News
2005
J.W. August, KGTV San Diego
Lisa Madigan, Illinois Attorney General
2004
Joe Adams, The Florida Times-Union/IDigAnswers.com
Megan Fromm, Mesa State College
The Montana FOI Hotline
2003
Marion Brechner Citizen Access Project
Roger Jewell
Chicago Headline Club
Gregory Korte, Ohio Project Sunshine Co-Chair
Society of Environmental Journalists
FOI-L Listserv
2002
California Newspaper Publishers Association
California First Amendment Coalition, Sacramento, CA
Joseph Tyrrell, Hillsborough, NJ
Pennsylvania First Amendment Coalition/Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, Harrisburg, PA
Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, Gainesville, FL
Florida Society of Newspaper Editors, Tallahassee, FL
Barbara Petersen, First Amendment Foundation, Tallahassee, FL
2001
SPJ Kansas Pro Chapter
Linda Lightfoot, executive editor of The Advocate in Baton Rouge, La.
FOIAdvocates, Eugene, Ore
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.
Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa
Chief Justice Robert A. Miller
The South Dakota Supreme Court
SPJ Queen City Pro Chapter, Cincinnati OH
Linda Tracy
Wyoming Attorney General Gay Woodhouse
Eligibility
Individuals/groups who have made a contribution to the area of open government. Nominations are not limited to journalists.
Nominations
Nomination form should be accompanied by a letter(s) of recommendation that addresses why the nominee is deserving of this national recognition. Self-nominations are permitted.
Winner Announcement and Presentation
Winners will be honored at the President's Installation Banquet at the SPJ Convention & National Journalism Conference. No specific number of awards is awarded each year.
Submit all nomination materials unbound on 8 1/2 x 11 paper. Additional supporting materials are welcomed and should be limited to 10 pages.
Deadlines
All entries should be submitted no later than March 23.
For More Information
Contact SPJ Headquarters at 317/927-8000 or e-mail: awards@spj.org