The Spirit of FOI Award is sponsored by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and named after FOIFT’s former longtime executive director, Nancy Monson. The award recognizes journalists and news organizations for outstanding efforts that uphold First Amendment principles, increase public access to government and improve awareness of state open government laws. Winners are honored at the annual FOI Foundation of Texas state conference.
2023 (Awarded in 2024)
Class AA: The Texas Tribune
Class AA Honorable Mention: KVUE-TV (Austin)
Class A: Fort Bend Herald
2022 (Awarded in 2023)
Class AA: Austin American-Statesman and KVUE-TV (Austin)
Class A: KRIS 6 News (Corpus Christi)
Class AA Honorable Mention: El Paso Matters; The Dallas Morning News
Class A Honorable Mention: Odessa American; Corpus Christi Callas-Times
2021 (Awarded in 2022)
Class AA: KXAN (Austin)
Class A: Corpus Christi Caller-Times
Class AA, Honorable Mention: KXAS (Dallas-Fort Worth)
2020 (Awarded in 2021)
Class AA: KXAN (Austin)
Class A: Odessa American
Class AA: The Dallas Morning News
Class A: The Highlander (Marble Falls)
Class AA, Honorable Mention: KXAN (Austin)
Class AA: KXAN (Austin)
Class A: Victoria Advocate
Class AA, Honorable Mentions: Texas Observer; Houston Chronicle and Associated Press
Class AA: Austin American Statesman
Class A: KBTX-TV (Bryan-College Station)
Class AA: The Dallas Morning News
Class A: Corpus Christi Caller-Times
Class AA, Honorable Mention: The Texas Tribune
Class AA: KXAN-TV
Class A: Victoria Advocate
Class AA, Honorable Mention: The Dallas Morning News
Class AA: The Dallas Morning News and NBC affiliate KXAS
Class A: Temple Daily Telegram
Class A, Honorable Mention: Galveston County Daily News
Class AA: Staff, Temple Daily Telegram
Class A: Kathleen Holton, Alvin Sun
Class AAA: Reese Dunklin, Sue Goetinck Ambrose, The Dallas Morning News
Class AA: Rick Spruill, Corpus Christi Caller-Times
2011 (Awarded in 2012)
Daily: Kevin Krause and Ed Timms, The Dallas Morning News
Daily second place: John Tompkins, The Facts
Daily third place: Elaine Marsilio, Corpus Christi Caller-Times
Non-Daily: Jessica Goode, The Bandera Bulletin
Non-Daily, second place: Glen Rose Reporter
2010
Daily: Kevin Krause and Ed Timms, Dallas Morning News
Non-Daily: The Big Lake Wildcat and Publisher Randy Mankin
2009
Daily: The Victoria Advocate, Victoria
Non-Daily: The Facts, Clute
2008
Daily: The Facts, Clute
Weekly: Lori Ann Lilley, The Times Tribune, Brookshire
2007
Daily: The Galveston County Daily News
2006
Daily: The Galveston Daily News
Non-Daily: The Muleshoe Journal
2005
Daily: Andy Alford and Erik Rodriguez, Austin American-Statesman
Non-Daily/Web: Edward Looby, Alvin Sun-Advertiser
2004
Daily: Gazette-Enterprise, Seguin
2003
Daily: Times Record News, Wichita Falls
Non-Daily: Texas Journalist, University of Texas College of Journalism
2002
Daily: The Galveston County Daily News
Non-Daily: Vince Leibowitz, Canton Herald