Press Releases

Press Releases2022-04-06T18:29:05-05:00
2909, 2023

Austin American-Statesman, KVUE and KRIS win 2023 Spirit of FOI Awards

By |September 29th, 2023|Categories: News release, Transparency|

For Immediate Release Sept. 28, 2023 Austin American-Statesman, KVUE and KRIS win 2023 Spirit of FOI Awards AUSTIN – Texas news organizations that exposed the truth about law enforcement’s response to the Uvalde school shooting and revealed a district attorney’s high rate of case dismissals have won this year’s Spirit of FOI Awards. The Austin American-Statesman, KVUE-TV of Austin and KRIS-TV of Corpus Christi received the awards at the Freedom [...]

809, 2023

Courthouse News Service editor Bill Girdner to receive James Madison Award

By |September 8th, 2023|Categories: Awards, First Amendment, News release|

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 8, 2023 Courthouse News Service editor Bill Girdner to receive James Madison Award AUSTIN – Bill Girdner, the editor of Courthouse News Service who has worked to require timely news media access to court filings in Texas and across the nation, will receive the prestigious James Madison Award. The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas bestows the award on those who demonstrate outstanding commitment to the [...]

2905, 2023

Texas Legislature approves open government bills in 2023 session’s final days

By |May 29th, 2023|Categories: Legislative Update, News release, PIA, Texas Legislature|

For Immediate Release May 29, 2023 Texas Legislature approves open government bills in session’s final days  AUSTIN – Major transparency initiatives shoring up the Texas Public Information Act won approval in the state Legislature before the session’s final day Monday. The legislation now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott. A measure by Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, that won final passage Sunday night would close a legal loophole used by some [...]

2704, 2023

FOI Foundation of Texas announces Ralph Langer Scholarship recipients

By |April 27th, 2023|Categories: News release, Uncategorized|

For Immediate Release April 27, 2023  AUSTIN – The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas has named Brianna Chavez, a journalism junior at Texas State University, as the recipient of the inaugural Ralph Langer Scholarship. Alongside her journalism studies, Chavez has worked as a life and arts reporter at the University Star, Texas State’s student-run newspaper. Some of her stories have been published by the Austin American-Statesmen. Chavez, who is [...]

2909, 2022

Scholarship honors Ralph Langer, longtime FOI Foundation president and news executive

By |September 29th, 2022|Categories: Events, News release, Programs|

For Immediate Release Sept. 29, 2022 Scholarship honors Ralph Langer, longtime FOI Foundation president and news executive AUSTIN – The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas announced Thursday the creation of a journalism scholarship honoring Ralph Langer, a guiding light as the foundation became the state’s leading voice on transparency and the First Amendment. The $5,000 scholarship will be awarded in early 2023 to a journalism or photojournalism undergraduate student [...]

2909, 2022

KXAN and Corpus Christi Caller-Times win 2022 Spirit of FOI Awards

By |September 29th, 2022|Categories: Awards, News release|

For Immediate Release Sept. 29, 2022 KXAN and Corpus Christi Caller-Times win 2022 Spirit of FOI Awards  AUSTIN – Two Texas news organizations that scrutinized government programs using transparency laws and in-depth analysis have won this year’s Spirit of FOI Awards presented by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. KXAN in Austin and the Corpus Christi Caller-Times were honored Thursday at the FOI Foundation’s state conference in Austin. The [...]

3008, 2022

Veteran journalist and FOI proponent Ross Ramsey to receive James Madison Award

By |August 30th, 2022|Categories: Awards, Events, News release|

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Aug. 30, 2022 Veteran journalist and FOI proponent Ross Ramsey to receive James Madison Award  AUSTIN – Ross Ramsey, a Texas journalist for more than 40 years and longtime champion of the people’s right to know, will be honored with the prestigious James Madison Award. The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas bestows the award on those who demonstrate outstanding commitment to the principles of the First [...]

2409, 2021

Odessa American, KXAN win Spirit of FOI Awards

By |September 24th, 2021|Categories: News release|

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESept. 24, 2021 AUSTIN – Two Texas news organizations that shined a spotlight on lack of public access to police records have won this year’s Spirit of FOI Awards presented by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. The Odessa American and KXAN in Austin, the award winners, were honored Friday at the FOI Foundation’s state conference in Austin. The Nancy Monson Spirit of FOI Award highlights journalism [...]

2608, 2021

Odessa American publisher, veteran journalist Patrick Canty to receive James Madison Award

By |August 26th, 2021|Categories: News release|

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAug. 26, 2021 AUSTIN – Odessa American publisher Patrick Canty, whose newspaper has waged a lengthy legal battle for access to local public records, will be honored with the prestigious James Madison Award. The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas bestows the award on those who demonstrate outstanding commitment to the principles of the First Amendment and open government. It will be presented at the foundation’s state conference [...]

2408, 2021

Time to register: FOI Foundation state conference coming up Sept. 24

By |August 24th, 2021|Categories: News release, Uncategorized|

Mark your calendars and register today for the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas state conference, to be held in person on Friday, Sept. 24, at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center on the University of Texas campus. Registration is also available for live virtual attendance for those who cannot make it in person. COVID-19 safety precautions, such as social distancing and other measures, will be in place. Among the [...]

707, 2021

2021 Texas Gavel Award winners announced

By |July 7th, 2021|Categories: Awards, News release|

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 6, 2021Contact: Amy StarnesPublic Information Director, State Bar of Texas800-204-2222, ext. 1706, or 512-427-1706 [email protected] AUSTIN—Stories that critically examined the Texas criminal justice system’s treatment of the mentally ill and inmates regarded as innocent are among the winners of the 2021 Texas Gavel Awards.  Journalists representing Texas Monthly, The Texas Tribune, San Antonio Express-News, and Austin’s KXAN-TV were selected as winners of the 2021 awards. The Texas Gavel [...]

3105, 2021

Legislative Update: 2021 session

By |May 31st, 2021|Categories: Legislative Update, News, News release, PIA, Texas Legislature, TOMA|

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUSTIN — Texas lawmakers approved two key transparency measures this session to ensure greater access to public records after some governments closed off information during the COVID-19 pandemic.   Gov. Greg Abbott signed both bills in the final days of the legislative session. The laws take effect Sept. 1.  Senate Bill 930 by Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, guarantees the public’s right to know about coronavirus and other communicable [...]

1011, 2020

Journalist Karen Blumenthal receives James Madison Award for open records activism

By |November 10th, 2020|Categories: Awards, Events, News release, PIA, Transparency|Tags: , |

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nov. 10, 2020 AUSTIN – The late journalist and author Karen Blumenthal, an ardent advocate for the people’s right to know who ensured public access to historic Texas records in the Roe v. Wade case, has been honored with the James Madison Award. The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas bestows the award on those who demonstrate outstanding commitment to the principles of the First Amendment and [...]

2910, 2020

The Highlander and The Dallas Morning News win 2020 Spirit of FOI Awards

By |October 29th, 2020|Categories: Awards, Events, News, News release, PIA, TOMA, Transparency|Tags: , |

October 28, 2020FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUSTIN – Two Texas news organizations have won Spirit of FOI Awards for reporting on a city’s potential free speech and open meetings violations and for waging a legal battle to obtain public records in a fatal police encounter. The Nancy Monson Spirit of FOI Award, presented by the non-profit Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, highlights journalism that upholds the First Amendment rights of [...]

1206, 2020

FOI Foundation of Texas joins more than 50 organizations in NFOIC-Brechner Center statement on police records transparency

By |June 12th, 2020|Categories: News, News release, PIA, Texas Legislature|Tags: , |

The National Freedom of Information Coalition and the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information issued a statement on law enforcement transparency and accountability in response to the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, and the following unrest and violence that erupted around the nation.  More than 50 organizations have signed on in support of the statement, which calls for states to enact reforms opening every aspect of the police misconduct [...]

2904, 2020

FOI Foundation calls on health officials to identify nursing homes where COVID-19 is confirmed

By |April 29th, 2020|Categories: News, News release, PIA, Transparency|Tags: , , , , |

April 29, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUSTIN – The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas called on state and local officials Wednesday to reveal the names and locations of nursing homes where cases and/or deaths from COVID-19 have been confirmed. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission and some local government health officials have refused to say which nursing homes have experienced coronavirus outbreaks, though they acknowledge numerous cases have [...]

1103, 2020

POSTPONED: FOI Foundation’s Open Government Seminar in San Antonio to be rescheduled

By |March 11th, 2020|Categories: Events, News release, PIA, TOMA, Transparency|Tags: , |

The FOI Foundation's Open Government Seminar in San Antonio, previously scheduled for April 8, has been postponed amid coronavirus concerns and stay-at-home orders. Please stay tuned for the reschedule date, tentatively planned for June. The Open Government Seminar is part of a series of regional educational sessions the non-profit Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas is hosting this year in cooperation with the Texas Attorney General’s Office.  It is open [...]

2502, 2019

Lawmakers file bill to repair Texas Public Information Act, help citizens track spending

By |February 25th, 2019|Categories: News, News release, PIA, Texas Legislature, Transparency|Tags: , , , , |

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 21, 2019 AUSTIN – Two Texas lawmakers filed bipartisan legislation Thursday to strengthen the state’s Public Information Act and give Texans the ability to once again track the spending of taxpayer money. Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, and Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, filed Senate Bill 943 and House Bill 2189, respectively. The identical pieces of legislation address citizens’ access to information contained in and surrounding state and [...]

2409, 2018

Austin American-Statesman, KBTX-TV receive Spirit of FOI Awards

By |September 24th, 2018|Categories: Events, News, News release, PIA, Transparency|Tags: , , , , |

For Immediate Release Sept. 21, 2018 Austin American-Statesman, KBTX-TV receive Spirit of FOI Awards for open government reporting AUSTIN - Two Texas news organizations have won the Spirit of FOI Award for reports exposing the secrecy behind Austin’s city manager selection process and the peculiar lack of information following the resignation of the Bryan Independent School District superintendent. The Nancy Monson Spirit of FOI Award, presented by the Freedom of [...]

1709, 2018

FOI Foundation joins media coalition brief on Texas anti-SLAPP law in federal court

By |September 17th, 2018|Categories: News, News release, Texas Legislature|Tags: , , , , |

Reporters Committee and media coalition argue Texas anti-SLAPP law should apply in federal court Evan Popp |  September 12, 2018 A Texas law aimed at making it easier to dismiss meritless lawsuits intended to chill speech should apply in federal court, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and 39 media organizations argued in a friend-of-the-court brief filed last week in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. In the brief filed [...]

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