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.

Past Winners:

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

2019 (Awarded in 2020)

Class AA: The Dallas Morning News

Class A: The Highlander (Marble Falls)

Class AA, Honorable Mention: KXAN (Austin)

2018 (Awarded in 2019)

Class AA: KXAN (Austin)

Class A: Victoria Advocate

Class AA, Honorable Mentions: Texas Observer; Houston Chronicle and Associated Press

2017 (Awarded in 2018)

Class AA: Austin American Statesman

Class A: KBTX-TV (Bryan-College Station)

2016 (Awarded in 2017)

Class AA: The Dallas Morning News

Class A: Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Class AA, Honorable Mention: The Texas Tribune

2015 (Awarded in 2016)

Class AA: KXAN-TV

Class A: Victoria Advocate

Class AA, Honorable Mention: The Dallas Morning News

2014 (Awarded in 2015)

Class AA: The Dallas Morning News and NBC affiliate KXAS

Class A: Temple Daily Telegram

Class A, Honorable Mention: Galveston County Daily News

2013 (Awarded in 2014)

Class AA: Staff, Temple Daily Telegram

Class A: Kathleen Holton, Alvin Sun

2012 (Awarded in 2013)

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