Awards

2021 Texas Gavel Award winners announced

FOIFT2022-05-03T14:43:13-05:00

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 Awards, hosted by the State Bar of Texas Public Affairs Committee, honor journalism that deepens public understanding of the legal system. An independent panel of out-of-state journalists, editors, and journalism professors [...]

2021 Texas Gavel Award winners announcedFOIFT2022-05-03T14:43:13-05:00

Journalist Karen Blumenthal receives James Madison Award for open records activism

FOIFT2020-11-10T20:26:22-06:00

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 open government. Blumenthal spent more than two decades with The Wall Street Journal, including eight years as its Dallas bureau chief, and wrote non-fiction books for young people in the final [...]

Journalist Karen Blumenthal receives James Madison Award for open records activismFOIFT2020-11-10T20:26:22-06:00

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

FOIFT2020-10-29T23:10:39-05:00

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 free speech and free press and promotes or uses open government laws such as the Texas Public Information Act. The winners – The Highlander of Marble Falls and The Dallas Morning [...]

The Highlander and The Dallas Morning News win 2020 Spirit of FOI AwardsFOIFT2020-10-29T23:10:39-05:00

FOI Foundation planning fall online conference series

FOIFT2020-08-12T19:14:00-05:00

The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, which is not holding an in-person state conference this year because of the coronavirus, instead is planning fall online programs to explore leading open government issues. These online discussions will focus on transparency matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic, modern-day challenges surrounding the Texas Public Information Act and other timely topics. An online awards celebration will honor the James Madison Award recipient, the Spirit of FOI Award winners and the State Bar's Texas Gavel Award winners. Detailed information on dates and times of the online programs will be coming soon. Stay tuned!

FOI Foundation planning fall online conference seriesFOIFT2020-08-12T19:14:00-05:00

Journalists: Entries sought for 2019 Texas Gavel Awards

FOIFT2019-01-16T18:54:23-06:00

The State Bar of Texas has announced that entries are being accepted for the 2019 Texas Gavel Awards, honoring outstanding journalism that fosters public understanding of the legal system. Award recipients will be honored at the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas state conference Sept. 20, 2019 in Austin. Click here for more information.

Journalists: Entries sought for 2019 Texas Gavel AwardsFOIFT2019-01-16T18:54:23-06:00

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