CFOG is now accepting nominations for the fifth annual Mitchell W. Pearlman Freedom of Information Award, to be presented in October.

Submitted

The Connecticut Foundation for Open Government (CFOG) is now accepting nominations for its fifth annual Mitchell W. Pearlman Freedom of Information Award for 2026.

CFOG is seeking nominations of a Connecticut journalist, a member of the public or a state or local official who has made significant efforts to foster transparency in government, disclose information vital to the public or otherwise ensure that residents can see their government at work.

Nominees can be local or state officials who have been champions of open access to public information or journalists or residents of the state who have used the state Freedom of Information (FOI) Act to obtain government information and inform the public or their communities about government action.

Pearlman, the first executive director of Connecticut’s Freedom of Information Commission, is a name synonymous with open government and press freedom in the state.

Pearlman, who served as the Connecticut FOIC’s executive director for 30 years, has been recognized as an international expert on government transparency, information policy, electronic information issues, privacy and data protection and freedom of the press.

Nominations can be submitted through this link. The form below can also be printed, filled out, scanned and emailed to [email protected]. The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, Aug. 14. People can nominate themselves or others.

A committee of members of the CFOG board of directors will be the sole group deciding who will be honored with the Pearlman FOI Award. The committee will select winners in each category to be honored at a reception on Oct. 7 at the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford. For more information, email [email protected].

Download: 2026 Pearlman Nomination Form

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