Sunshine Week was launched in 2005 by the American Society of News Editors — now News Leaders Association — and has grown into an enduring initiative to promote open government.

Join News Leaders Association in the annual nationwide celebration of access to public information and what it means for you and your community. It’s your right to know.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED:

• Share your stories: Please share your experiences, success stories, FOIA battles, new laws and other efforts on behalf of open government. Tweet to us @SunshineWeek or use #SunshineWeek to share.

• If your organization is holding an event to highlight this year’s Sunshine Week, and you would like to have it considered for submission on our events calendar, fill out the event form here.

• News Organizations: If you would like to submit stories, editorials, columns, cartoons or graphics for public use during Sunshine week, email your content links to sunshineweek@newsleaders.org. Please include a brief description and/or headlines suitable for posting on our Sunshine Week web page.

• If you are in the world of journalism, you can highlight the importance of openness through stories, editorials, columns, cartoons or graphics.

• If you are part of a civic group, you can organize local forums, sponsor essay contests or press elected officials to pass proclamations on the importance of open access.

• If you are an educator, you can use Sunshine Week to teach your students about how government transparency improves our lives and makes our communities stronger.

• If you are an elected official, you can pass a resolution supporting openness, introduce legislation improving public access or encourage training of government employees to ensure compliance with existing laws mandating open records and meetings.

• If you are a private citizen, you can write a letter to the editor or spread the word to friends through social media.