Sunshine Week, which celebrates open government and freedom of the press, set March 12-18

The American Society of News Editors has released a budget for this year's Sunshine Week, which will be observed March 12-18. The annual event, now in its 12th year, celebrates open government and freedom of the press. National Freedom of Information Day is March 16, the birthday of James Madison, father of the First Amendment.

ASNE and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press have worked with major news organizations, such as The Associated Press, Associated Press Media Editors, Gannett Co., The McClatchy Co., The Dallas Morning News and the Minneapolis Star Tribune on coverage and commentary that will be available for use for all newspapers. AP will distribute a full advisory of coverage March 6.

The Sunshine Week site will also provide other tools, including op-eds, editorial cartoons and Sunshine Week logos. The website also features freedom of information story ideas and past work from Sunshine Week, as well as a list of participants and a calendar of events.

Sunshine Week 2017 is made possible by an endowment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and by a donation from The Gridiron Club and Foundation of Washington, D.C.