Georgia First Amendment Foundation

"Still, the days leading up to the agency’s formal approval illustrate the lack of transparency and mistrust over whether the county is calling the shots, or the California-based tech firm is."

Anatomy of a secret Coastal Georgia data center deal - The Current Georgia Power brokered it. OpenAI and Effingham County officials negotiated in secret. Here's how they kept the $20 billion data center deal out of the public eye.

"Now, following countless battles between residents and their city government, the public wants to know how city council and the city manager determined that a newly established Maryland organization was the best choice to market College Park."

College Park transparency questions rile city attorney - SaportaReport Read College Park transparency questions rile city attorney by Adrianne Murchison for SaportaReport here.

“Study after study has shown that local homegrown reporting is essential to democracy" - the foundation's Nora Benevidez on new Georgia nonprofit newsrooms.

Georgia communities rally support to help convert local newspapers into nonprofits • Georgia Recorder While some Georgia newsrooms are shrinking or closing down, two of the state’s largest local publications are being reimagined as nonprofit newsrooms. The Georgia Trust for Local News announced Wednesday that they have acquired the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer and the Macon Telegraph to join its growi...

"Earlier this week, the Hepzibah City Commission closed its meeting to consider housing standards to all but 30 people." They had a good option to let the crowd in. Via The Augusta Press

Editorial: Hepzibah City Commission need to learn the law Sometimes local governments just make us scratch our heads in befuddlement. How is it possible that anyone serving as an elected or appointed government official doesn’t understand the legal requirements of their jobs?

The foundation's Richard T. Griffiths said the College Park City Council's decision to hold a meeting so far from home "cloaks" transparency and "shows a complete disrespect for the citizens of College Park."

Concerned about city transparency, 15 residents drive to Savannah for unusual College Park council meeting - SaportaReport Read Concerned about city transparency, 15 residents drive to Savannah for unusual College Park council meeting by Adrianne Murchison for SaportaReport here.

GFAF's Nora Benavidez talks to 11 Alive about how the ongoing special legislative session could affect Georgians' rights.

Issues to watch as lawmakers return to the Capitol Nora Benavidez, Georgia First Amendment Foundation senior counsel, ...

Journalists from around the world are in Atlanta and around the US to report on the FIFA World Cup. They face surveillance, visa complications and press freedom limits. Reporters Without Borders offers resources to journalists.

Covering the 2026 World Cup? Prepare for more than football The 2026 FIFA World Cup, taking place from June 11 to July 19, is expected to draw thousands of journalists to the United States, Mexico, and Canada to cover the world’s biggest sporting event of the year. Beyond the stadiums, fan zones, and celebrations, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urges medi...

“At a time when the public is concerned about transparency of the elections and the integrity of the elections process, the total activity of the elections board should be available to the public and that includes hirings" - Richard T. Griffiths, foundation board member.

Georgia Election Board hires election skeptic as investigator The Georgia State Election Board hired a rampant voter challenger to investigate allegations of wrongdoing in elections, independent of the secretary of state’s office.

Two bills with the potential to curb free speech were signed into law this week by Gov. Brian Kemp. Both were on our Legislative Watch list for their aim to criminalize protests in public spaces, and during religious services. https://gfaf.org/legislative-watch-2026/

“I find it appalling that the state health system hasn’t met since September,” said Richard T. Griffiths, former president of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation.

Georgia public health board goes seventh straight month without meeting For the seventh month in a row, the board of the Georgia Department of Public Health will not hold a meeting this month. The board last met in September 2025.