Editor's Note: Sunshine Fest Research Ideas

Abstract

The Journal of Civic Information team collected research ideas from practitioners at the first Sunshine Fest, held March 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C., in recognition of the 20th anniversary of national Sunshine Week. About 160 experts from a variety of geographies and disciplines converged to discuss the most pressing issues in freedom of information. Research ideas included technological solutions, more state-level research, tracking of exemptions, examining the nature of requests, studying the dynamics of populism and transparency, enforcement, and studying agency rules regarding public records dissemination.