Founder of new jersey's online public truth finding website opramachine passes the torch

LACEY TOWNSHIP, NJ – OPRAmachine is an online platform dedicated to improving the accessibility of public records in New Jersey, USA. The platform was founded by Gavin Rozzi in 2017 as a proof of concept and has since grown to become a tool for individuals to request and access public information from government entities under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA).

Users can submit requests for public documents, and the platform facilitates the release and sharing of these documents, making them available to the wider community.

The platform has a mission to promote government accountability and transparency by making it easier for individuals to access public records and thereby enabling them to hold government institutions accountable.

Over the years, OPRAmachine has facilitated the release of a substantial amount of public information, making a significant impact on access to information in New Jersey, especially on a limited budget and against adversarial forces.

Gavin Rozzi has recently announced his decision to step down as the leader of OPRAmachine, although the platform will continue to operate under new leadership.

He reflects on the platform’s achievements, including standing up against wrongful obstructions to requests, turning the dataset into a peer-reviewed academic journal article, receiving recognition from media and legal bodies, and aiding journalists and community activists in unearthing crucial public information.

Throughout his tenure, Rozzi, along with his team, has confronted various challenges, including legal threats and technical issues, with resolve and dedication to the platform’s mission.

As he steps down, Rozzi expressed his confidence in the successor who will continue to drive the platform’s vision forward, ensuring that OPRAmachine remains a pioneering tool for public information access in New Jersey.

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Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.