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In recognition of Sunshine Week, the University of Florida Brechner Freedom of Information Project, MuckRock, and the National Freedom of Information Coalition are organizing the second-annual in-person conference to find solutions to pressing problems in freedom of information across all disciplinary and geographic boundaries – local, state, federal and global!
We are bringing together journalists, record custodians, policy makers, historians, state FOI coalitions, librarians, academics, civil society nonprofit groups, commercial data providers, and all other constituencies who care about government transparency. Check out 2025’s Sunshine Fest here.
See a schedule, with topics (to be updated as more speakers are confirmed).
To register, visit our EventBrite page! Cost is $50, limited to 200 people.
From National Day Calendar
HOW TO OBSERVE HUG A NEWSPERSON DAY
- Hug a newsperson. (Ask for permission first.)
- If you aren’t able to hug your newsperson, you can send them a virtual one.
- You can also download our coloring page. When you’re finished coloring it, send it to your favorite newsperson to show them how much you appreciate them.
- Or solve the word search puzzle we created for the day using common news words.
- Use #HugANewspersonDay to post on social media.
From Days of the Year
How to Celebrate National Hug a Newsperson Day
Looking for ideas on how to celebrate National Hug a Newsperson Day? Get creative with various ways to enjoy the day, including getting started with some of these plans:
Hug a Newsperson
Those who have friends or family members who work in the news industry might want to take National Hug a Newsperson Day as an opportunity to give them an extra big bear hug in celebration of the day.
Of course, any time there is a day based around hugging someone, it is important to get their permission first. So don’t think it’s a good idea to be waiting outside the news channel office to attack a random newsperson with a hug!
It’s best just hug the ones you already know, and perhaps offer a handshake or a wave when coming across a newsperson you don’t know.
Watch a News Show
Perhaps it has been quite some time since turning on the television (or heading to a news website) to simply watch a classic news program.
National Hug a Newsperson Day might be just the right time to show support to the news stations and the people who work for them.
Catch some news that comes straight from a TV presenter, whether it is someone who is a local or it’s a nationally-known news personality.
With more than fifty free-to-air television news stations in the United States, and many more available through paid networks, there’s certainly no shortage of newspeople to watch!
Thank a Newsperson
Some folks who don’t run in the personal circles of newspeople may not have an opportunity to thank them in person. But that’s okay!
Perhaps National Hug a Newsperson Day would be a good time to write into a favorite news station or make a comment on a social media page, thanking a newsperson for their contribution to the world.
Or, just for fun, go a little bit old school and send them a card through the postal service!
Watch Some Comedies About Newspeople
One way to have some fun and be entertained in honor of National Hug a Newsperson Day might be to watch (or re-watch) some classic shows and movies that feature the comedic side of newspeople. Check out a few of these in celebration of the day:
- Anchorman (2004). This comedy film starring Will Ferrell shows the absurd side of being a newsperson.
- SNL Weekend Update (1975-present). Part of the Saturday Night Live weekly comedy show on NBC.
- News Radio (1995-1999). Dave Foley, Phil Hartman, Maura Tierney and Vicki Lewis lead out in this sit-com about a radio news show.
- Broadcast News (1987). This film is a satire about American television news, starring Holly Hunter, William Hurt and Albert Brooks.
.
And for a bit of music to celebrate, have a listen to The Morning Papers by Johann Strauss II
For details – https://www.unesco.org/en/days/press-freedom
Details coming Soon!
From National Day Calendar
HOW TO OBSERVE HUG A NEWSPERSON DAY
- Hug a newsperson. (Ask for permission first.)
- If you aren’t able to hug your newsperson, you can send them a virtual one.
- You can also download our coloring page. When you’re finished coloring it, send it to your favorite newsperson to show them how much you appreciate them.
- Or solve the word search puzzle we created for the day using common news words.
- Use #HugANewspersonDay to post on social media.
From Days of the Year
How to Celebrate National Hug a Newsperson Day
Looking for ideas on how to celebrate National Hug a Newsperson Day? Get creative with various ways to enjoy the day, including getting started with some of these plans:
Hug a Newsperson
Those who have friends or family members who work in the news industry might want to take National Hug a Newsperson Day as an opportunity to give them an extra big bear hug in celebration of the day.
Of course, any time there is a day based around hugging someone, it is important to get their permission first. So don’t think it’s a good idea to be waiting outside the news channel office to attack a random newsperson with a hug!
It’s best just hug the ones you already know, and perhaps offer a handshake or a wave when coming across a newsperson you don’t know.
Watch a News Show
Perhaps it has been quite some time since turning on the television (or heading to a news website) to simply watch a classic news program.
National Hug a Newsperson Day might be just the right time to show support to the news stations and the people who work for them.
Catch some news that comes straight from a TV presenter, whether it is someone who is a local or it’s a nationally-known news personality.
With more than fifty free-to-air television news stations in the United States, and many more available through paid networks, there’s certainly no shortage of newspeople to watch!
Thank a Newsperson
Some folks who don’t run in the personal circles of newspeople may not have an opportunity to thank them in person. But that’s okay!
Perhaps National Hug a Newsperson Day would be a good time to write into a favorite news station or make a comment on a social media page, thanking a newsperson for their contribution to the world.
Or, just for fun, go a little bit old school and send them a card through the postal service!
Watch Some Comedies About Newspeople
One way to have some fun and be entertained in honor of National Hug a Newsperson Day might be to watch (or re-watch) some classic shows and movies that feature the comedic side of newspeople. Check out a few of these in celebration of the day:
- Anchorman (2004). This comedy film starring Will Ferrell shows the absurd side of being a newsperson.
- SNL Weekend Update (1975-present). Part of the Saturday Night Live weekly comedy show on NBC.
- News Radio (1995-1999). Dave Foley, Phil Hartman, Maura Tierney and Vicki Lewis lead out in this sit-com about a radio news show.
- Broadcast News (1987). This film is a satire about American television news, starring Holly Hunter, William Hurt and Albert Brooks.
.
And for a bit of music to celebrate, have a listen to The Morning Papers by Johann Strauss II
For details – https://www.unesco.org/en/days/press-freedom
From National Day Calendar
HOW TO OBSERVE HUG A NEWSPERSON DAY
- Hug a newsperson. (Ask for permission first.)
- If you aren’t able to hug your newsperson, you can send them a virtual one.
- You can also download our coloring page. When you’re finished coloring it, send it to your favorite newsperson to show them how much you appreciate them.
- Or solve the word search puzzle we created for the day using common news words.
- Use #HugANewspersonDay to post on social media.
From Days of the Year
How to Celebrate National Hug a Newsperson Day
Looking for ideas on how to celebrate National Hug a Newsperson Day? Get creative with various ways to enjoy the day, including getting started with some of these plans:
Hug a Newsperson
Those who have friends or family members who work in the news industry might want to take National Hug a Newsperson Day as an opportunity to give them an extra big bear hug in celebration of the day.
Of course, any time there is a day based around hugging someone, it is important to get their permission first. So don’t think it’s a good idea to be waiting outside the news channel office to attack a random newsperson with a hug!
It’s best just hug the ones you already know, and perhaps offer a handshake or a wave when coming across a newsperson you don’t know.
Watch a News Show
Perhaps it has been quite some time since turning on the television (or heading to a news website) to simply watch a classic news program.
National Hug a Newsperson Day might be just the right time to show support to the news stations and the people who work for them.
Catch some news that comes straight from a TV presenter, whether it is someone who is a local or it’s a nationally-known news personality.
With more than fifty free-to-air television news stations in the United States, and many more available through paid networks, there’s certainly no shortage of newspeople to watch!
Thank a Newsperson
Some folks who don’t run in the personal circles of newspeople may not have an opportunity to thank them in person. But that’s okay!
Perhaps National Hug a Newsperson Day would be a good time to write into a favorite news station or make a comment on a social media page, thanking a newsperson for their contribution to the world.
Or, just for fun, go a little bit old school and send them a card through the postal service!
Watch Some Comedies About Newspeople
One way to have some fun and be entertained in honor of National Hug a Newsperson Day might be to watch (or re-watch) some classic shows and movies that feature the comedic side of newspeople. Check out a few of these in celebration of the day:
- Anchorman (2004). This comedy film starring Will Ferrell shows the absurd side of being a newsperson.
- SNL Weekend Update (1975-present). Part of the Saturday Night Live weekly comedy show on NBC.
- News Radio (1995-1999). Dave Foley, Phil Hartman, Maura Tierney and Vicki Lewis lead out in this sit-com about a radio news show.
- Broadcast News (1987). This film is a satire about American television news, starring Holly Hunter, William Hurt and Albert Brooks.
.
And for a bit of music to celebrate, have a listen to The Morning Papers by Johann Strauss II
For details – https://www.unesco.org/en/days/press-freedom
NATIONAL HUG A NEWSPERSON DAY
National Hug a Newsperson Day (formerly National Hug a Newsman Day) on April 4th encourages appreciation for the people reporting the news.
#HugANewspersonDay
Read more HERE.
And for a bit of music to celebrate, have a listen to The Morning Papers by Johann Strauss II.
From National Day Calendar
HOW TO OBSERVE HUG A NEWSPERSON DAY
- Hug a newsperson. (Ask for permission first.)
- If you aren’t able to hug your newsperson, you can send them a virtual one.
- You can also download our coloring page. When you’re finished coloring it, send it to your favorite newsperson to show them how much you appreciate them.
- Or solve the word search puzzle we created for the day using common news words.
- Use #HugANewspersonDay to post on social media.
From Days of the Year
How to Celebrate National Hug a Newsperson Day
Looking for ideas on how to celebrate National Hug a Newsperson Day? Get creative with various ways to enjoy the day, including getting started with some of these plans:
Hug a Newsperson
Those who have friends or family members who work in the news industry might want to take National Hug a Newsperson Day as an opportunity to give them an extra big bear hug in celebration of the day.
Of course, any time there is a day based around hugging someone, it is important to get their permission first. So don’t think it’s a good idea to be waiting outside the news channel office to attack a random newsperson with a hug!
It’s best just hug the ones you already know, and perhaps offer a handshake or a wave when coming across a newsperson you don’t know.
Watch a News Show
Perhaps it has been quite some time since turning on the television (or heading to a news website) to simply watch a classic news program.
National Hug a Newsperson Day might be just the right time to show support to the news stations and the people who work for them.
Catch some news that comes straight from a TV presenter, whether it is someone who is a local or it’s a nationally-known news personality.
With more than fifty free-to-air television news stations in the United States, and many more available through paid networks, there’s certainly no shortage of newspeople to watch!
Thank a Newsperson
Some folks who don’t run in the personal circles of newspeople may not have an opportunity to thank them in person. But that’s okay!
Perhaps National Hug a Newsperson Day would be a good time to write into a favorite news station or make a comment on a social media page, thanking a newsperson for their contribution to the world.
Or, just for fun, go a little bit old school and send them a card through the postal service!
Watch Some Comedies About Newspeople
One way to have some fun and be entertained in honor of National Hug a Newsperson Day might be to watch (or re-watch) some classic shows and movies that feature the comedic side of newspeople. Check out a few of these in celebration of the day:
- Anchorman (2004). This comedy film starring Will Ferrell shows the absurd side of being a newsperson.
- SNL Weekend Update (1975-present). Part of the Saturday Night Live weekly comedy show on NBC.
- News Radio (1995-1999). Dave Foley, Phil Hartman, Maura Tierney and Vicki Lewis lead out in this sit-com about a radio news show.
- Broadcast News (1987). This film is a satire about American television news, starring Holly Hunter, William Hurt and Albert Brooks.
.
And for a bit of music to celebrate, have a listen to The Morning Papers by Johann Strauss II