EducationFAF has a number of publications that provide much-needed information on public records law, sunshine law, and First Amendment issues. In addition, we offer a number of trainings for our supporters looking to widen their Florida First Amendment knowledge. Each publication is offered in digital and print format; please see our products below. If you prefer to pay by check, please complete this form and include your check and any other required information. Note: Orders paid by check may take up to 20 days to arrive. For faster delivery, consider ordering through the links below. If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected]. Government-in-the-Sunshine ManualThe Manual is a comprehensive guide to Florida’s Open Meetings and Public Records Laws and is published by the First Amendment Foundation each year in cooperation with the Attorney General’s Office. The Sunshine Manual provides public officials, citizen activists, and journalists with up-to-date information, including recent case law and Attorney General opinions. Delivery for the 2024 edition will begin in April. Order a Physical Copy Here
Pocket GuideThe Pocket Guide is a small booklet designed to fit in a notebook or back pocket for handy access. It includes a review of the most frequently asked questions about open government laws. It also contains a list of open government resources when immediate help with an access issue is necessary. Order a Physical Copy Here
Banned Books: A Florida Citizen's Guide to Legal Rights and PushbackThe First Amendment Foundation, Florida’s defender of open government and free expression for nearly 40 years, proudly announced the release of Banned Books: A Florida Citizen’s Guide to Legal Rights and Pushback in December 2023 to help people fight against the removal of books from public schools and libraries. Drawn up in partnership with Foundation 451 and the Florida Freedom to Read project, the guidebook aims to help individuals and communities navigate the laws that protect free speech and are created to challenge titles around the state. “It’s a practical and pragmatic guide, written in simple language to help people understand the law and resist efforts to remove books from our schools,” said Bobby Block, Executive Director of the First Amendment Foundation. “Controlling what people read, no matter how well-intentioned, ultimately harms us as a society.” Order Physical Copy Here
A Guide for Newsrooms Facing a Police RaidAs we’ve seen from recent law enforcement raids on the Marion County Record in Kansas and the home office of Timothy Burke in Tampa, local police and federal agents seem all too willing to brush aside the law when it comes to executing search warrants on journalists that lead to seizures of documents and equipment like computers, hard drives, and phones. So, what should reporters and newsrooms do to prepare for the unthinkable? How should you and your colleagues behave if officers arrive on your doorstep? What do you say? To help answer that, Florida’s First Amendment Foundation and Freedom of the Press Foundation, building on previous efforts of others in earlier years, including the law offices of McGuire Woods, Thomas and LoCicero, as well as the Student Press Law Center, have created this short guide to help you if you ever find yourself staring at a warrant. Click here to download A Guide for Newsrooms Facing a Police Raid.
Sunshine Certification Program - Coming soon!!Open government is a longstanding tradition in Florida, whose Sunshine Laws are among the strongest in the United States. The First Amendment Foundation believes that government openness and transparency are critical elements of democratic government and fostering citizens’ trust and involvement in governance. Certificates available for:
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