Jim Zachary, CNHI Deputy National Editor 

Everyone in Georgia who cares about accountable government should become familiar with the First Amendment Foundation. 

The Georgia First Amendment Foundation protects your right to know, defends your fundamental First Amendment rights, protects free speech and advocates for government transparency.

The foundation is nonpartisan, and the work it does benefits all the people of Georgia, regardless of party affiliation or ideology.

GFAF is not a media organization or a law firm though its leadership includes numerous First Amendment lawyers and journalists. It is a grassroots organization deserving wide support for the work it does to benefit the people of Georgia.

GFAF’s work over the past few years that has included:

— supporting a reporter’s fight to make local government meetings properly accessible to the public

— educating the public and elected officials on how to ensure public meetings remain open

— calling for increased transparency around public health data

— calling for greater transparency in law enforcement operations

— encouraging police departments across Georgia to adopt Citizens’ Right to Record policies

— collaborating with other nonprofits to develop transparency training for police officers in Georgia

— advocating for strong public access to Georgia State-wide Business Court proceedings

— partnering with other First Amendment advocates to provide resources for journalists covering protests

— publishing an updated, user-friendly citizen’s guide to Sunshine Laws in Georgia.

— calling for the Georgia attorney general to investigate Sunshine Law violations, leading to the first criminal prosecution under Georgia’s Open Records Act

— advocating in court to secure free speech protections in Georgia; expand public access to information about private entities performing functions for government and protect that expanded access; reinforce citizens’ right to record in public spaces; and empower government agencies to release public information otherwise exempted under the state Open Records Act.

— educating lawmakers and the public on the hazards of transparency-reducing proposals, such as the creation of a state-backed board to investigate and oversee the media and all-party consent for recordings

— working with First Amendment advocates and media organizations statewide to help usher through the Legislature a major expansion of free speech rights

— protesting the detention of journalists covering issues of public interest

— pushing for increased penalties for government entities that don’t allow access to public meetings, proceedings and records, as required by Georgia law

— writing letters of inquiry to help the public and journalists gain access to government meetings, court proceedings and public records

— conducting in-person and virtual workshops to train the public, elected and appointed officials, law enforcement officers and journalists about Georgia’s free speech and Sunshine Laws.

You can also get your own copies of the GFAF Guide to Open Government, Guide to Court Access in Georgia and Guide to Law Enforcement Transparency at gfaf.org. 

GFAF conducts numerous workshops for local government, nonprofit groups, libraries and others interested in learning more about the public’s right to know, with trainers ready to visit communities throughout Georgia, including Dalton and Whitfield County, upon request. 

Interim Dalton Daily Citizen Editor Jim Zachary is CNHI’s director of newsroom standards and practices and president emeritus of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation.