For Immediate Release
Sept. 26, 2025
AUSTIN – Reporting on a secret decision to spend public money on a Travis County official’s home security system and a series of editorials and news stories about questionable ethics by Odessa city leaders have won this year’s Spirit of FOI Awards.
The Austin American-Statesman and KVUE-TV in a joint reporting effort won the Class AA large market award, and the Odessa American won in the Class A smaller market category. The news outlets were honored at the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas state conference Friday.
KXAN and The Texas Newsroom each received an honorable mention.
The Spirit of FOI Award goes to news organizations that use or highlight open government laws and uphold First Amendment rights in producing outstanding journalism.
“These journalists exposed the truth about public officials’ actions, keeping the citizens of their communities informed by using our transparency laws and exercising their First Amendment rights. We applaud their efforts as we all stand up for free press and free speech,” said Kelley Shannon, executive director of the FOI Foundation of Texas.
The Austin American-Statesman and KVUE won for spotlighting the secretive decision by Travis County to spend $115,000 in taxpayer money on District Attorney Jose Garza, including for his home security system. The contest judge said: “The reporting led to the release of records and held government officials accountable, and serves as an example how a strong free press should operate.”
The Odessa American won for its use of public records to produce what the contest judge called “a series of well-written editorials and reports putting the spotlight on the questionable politics and ethics” of a group of politicians who controlled city government until voters unseated them. “It’s the type of unflinching coverage that takes courage and persistence and uses facts to uncover the truth,” the judge said.
KXAN received an honorable mention for its report showing the lack of information required as a result of changes in the state truancy law makes it impossible to know whether it’s working.
The Texas Newsroom, a statewide collaboration of NPR member stations, received an honorable mention for its use of public records to show Attorney General Ken Paxton’s failure to disclose personal properties he has acquired in recent years.
The Nancy Monson Spirit of FOI Award is named for the FOI Foundation’s first executive director. The contest is open to Texas newspaper, broadcast and online journalism outlets. Founded in 1978, the nonprofit FOI Foundation promotes open government and protects the First Amendment rights of free speech and free press.
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Contact:
Kelley Shannon
Executive Director, FOI Foundation of Texas
Cell 512-914-9222
[email protected]