Joe Adams is an editorial writer at The Florida Times-Union and author of The Florida Public Records Handbook published by the First Amendment Foundation in Tallahassee. Six state universities have used the book as a textbook, and more than 1,000 journalists have attended Joe's workshops on how to use public records for success. His 2007 workshops include custom sessions for the Miami Herald, Orlando Sentinel, Flagler College and WBBH-Channel 2 in Fort Myers. He is the recipient of the national 2007 Eugene S. Pulliam First Amendment Award sponsored by the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation and has earned two national Sunshine Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists.

As an editorial writer, Joe has received awards from the Florida Press Club, Florida Society of Newspaper Editors and the Society of Professional Journalists. His year of public records research of the Jacksonville City Council uncovered widespread open meetings abuses. The resulting work by Joe and news reporter Beth Kormanik inspired a grand jury probe and prompted the council to create the state's first known local ordinance to ensure better compliance with Florida's Sunshine Law. He is originator of the www.iDigAnswers.com Web site about Florida FOI news and public records use.