The Opee Awards, now in their 19th consecutive year, recognize outstanding efforts to protect the state’s tradition of open government as well as highlight some threats to it. They are being announced in advance of national Sunshine Week (sunshineweek.org), March 16-22. Winners were invited to appear at the Wisconsin Openness Awards Dinner in Madison on March 6, part of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association’s annual convention.
The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council is a nonprofit, nonpartisan group that seeks to promote open government. It consists of about two dozen members representing media and other public interests. Sponsoring organizations include the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, Wisconsin Broadcasters Association and Wisconsin Associated Press.
The judging committee for this year consisted of Lueders, council Vice President Christa Westerberg (who recused herself from several categories in which she had connections with nominees), former La Crosse Tribune editor and publisher Rusty Cunningham, Wisconsin Newspaper Association executive director Beth Bennett, and WMTV 15 news director Jessica Laszewski.
