The Society of Professional Journalists has named the State of Massachusetts recipient of its 2026 Black Hole Award, an annual dishonor recognizing government entities that demonstrate a troubling lack of transparency and disregard for the public’s right to know. The SPJ Freedom of Information Committee selected Massachusetts for deficiencies in the state’s public records law, including broad exemptions, weak enforcement mechanisms and persistent delays that limit access to government information. “Access to public records is not optional – it is a cornerstone of a functioning democracy,” said FOI Committee Chair Michael Morisy. “When broad swaths of government operate outside public records laws, or when compliance is routinely delayed or obstructed, the public’s right to know is fundamentally compromised.”
