IRE nomination call for most secretive government agency or individual

Investigative Reporters and Editors is now welcoming nominations for its third annual Golden Padlock award recognizing the most secretive government agency in the United States.

"Governments have elevated secrecy into a form of high art," said Robert Cribb, chair of the Golden Padlock committee. "We seek to honor those who have excelled in the practice of undermining the public’s right to know."

Nominations should be emailed to goldenpadlock@ire.org including the name of the government department or individual along with reasons and/or media coverage detailing the intransigence. Entries must be submitted to IRE by May 1.

Last year’s Golden Padlock winners were the U.S. Navy FOIA office for its commitment to keep documents and images from a navy yard massacre from public view and the governors of Oklahoma and Missouri for their dedication to secrecy around execution records. The U.S. Border Patrol won the inaugural Golden Padlock award in 2013 for refusing to make public the details of use-of-force incidents involving its agents.