Awards

Texas news leader, free press advocate Diana Fuentes recipient of James Madison Award

FOIFT2026-07-22T11:56:37-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 22, 2026 News leader Diana Fuentes named posthumous recipient of James Madison Award AUSTIN – Diana R. Fuentes, a veteran Texas journalist and news industry leader who was an ardent advocate for a free press and open government, is the posthumous recipient of this year’s James Madison Award. Bestowed by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, the honor recognizes those who demonstrate their commitment to government transparency and First Amendment rights. The award will be presented to Fuentes’ family at the organization’s state conference Sept. 18 in Austin. Fuentes, known to many as “DeeDee,” was respected [...]

Texas news leader, free press advocate Diana Fuentes recipient of James Madison AwardFOIFT2026-07-22T11:56:37-05:00

FOI scholarship deadline for law students extended to March 6

FOIFT2026-02-25T14:55:43-06:00

UPDATE: The Joel White Scholarship application deadline is extended to March 6. The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas soon will award scholarships to journalism, photojournalism and law students for the 2026-27 academic year. The Ralph Langer Scholarship is a $6,000 award presented to an undergraduate journalism or photojournalism student attending a Texas college or university. It honors Ralph Langer, who was executive editor and vice president of The Dallas Morning News and a leader of the FOI Foundation of Texas in its early years. His wife, Kathy Langer, created the scholarship. The deadline to apply was Feb. 13. The Joel [...]

FOI scholarship deadline for law students extended to March 6FOIFT2026-02-25T14:55:43-06:00

FOIFT Conference 2025 Videos

FOIFT2025-10-02T09:36:38-05:00

The FOI Foundation of Texas state conference Sept. 26 featured a lineup of impactful speakers and discussions addressing a range of open government and free speech topics. Thanks to all the conference participants, planners and attendees. Video recordings of each panel session and the luncheon speeches are now available on our website at https://foift.org/about/video/

FOIFT Conference 2025 VideosFOIFT2025-10-02T09:36:38-05:00

Austin American-Statesman, KVUE and Odessa American win 2025 Spirit of FOI Awards

FOIFT2025-09-29T17:07:01-05:00

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 [...]

Austin American-Statesman, KVUE and Odessa American win 2025 Spirit of FOI AwardsFOIFT2025-09-29T17:07:01-05:00

Athena Tseng to receive 2025-26 Ralph Langer Scholarship

FOIFT2025-05-06T10:35:37-05:00

For Immediate Release April 30, 2025 FOI Foundation announces Athena Tseng is recipient of Ralph Langer Scholarship AUSTIN – Journalism student Athena Tseng of the University of Texas at Austin has beenselected to receive the 2025 Ralph Langer Scholarship awarded by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. Tseng will receive a $6,000 scholarship for the 2025-26 academic year. She is currently director of digital strategy for The Daily Texan at UT-Austin; a marketing and communications intern in the university’s Department of Computer Science; an engagement fellow for Texas Monthly; and editor of BurntxOrange, an alternative news site and digital-first student [...]

Athena Tseng to receive 2025-26 Ralph Langer ScholarshipFOIFT2025-05-06T10:35:37-05:00

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