News release

Austin American-Statesman, KVUE and KRIS win 2023 Spirit of FOI Awards

2023-09-29T12:16:47-05:00

For Immediate Release Sept. 28, 2023 Austin American-Statesman, KVUE and KRIS win 2023 Spirit of FOI Awards AUSTIN – Texas news organizations that exposed the truth about law enforcement’s response to the Uvalde school shooting and revealed a district attorney’s high rate of case dismissals have won this year’s Spirit of FOI Awards. The Austin American-Statesman, KVUE-TV of Austin and KRIS-TV of Corpus Christi received the awards at the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas state conference Thursday. The Nancy Monson Spirit of FOI Award honors journalism that upholds First Amendment rights and promotes or uses open government laws. “When governments [...]

Austin American-Statesman, KVUE and KRIS win 2023 Spirit of FOI Awards2023-09-29T12:16:47-05:00

Courthouse News Service editor Bill Girdner to receive James Madison Award

2023-09-08T10:12:45-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 8, 2023 Courthouse News Service editor Bill Girdner to receive James Madison Award AUSTIN – Bill Girdner, the editor of Courthouse News Service who has worked to require timely news media access to court filings in Texas and across the nation, will receive the prestigious 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. The foundation will present the award to Girdner at its state conference Sept. 28 in Austin during the John Henry Faulk Awards Luncheon. [...]

Courthouse News Service editor Bill Girdner to receive James Madison Award2023-09-08T10:12:45-05:00

Texas Legislature approves open government bills in 2023 session’s final days

2023-07-07T14:11:12-05:00

For Immediate Release May 29, 2023 Texas Legislature approves open government bills in session’s final days  AUSTIN – Major transparency initiatives shoring up the Texas Public Information Act won approval in the state Legislature before the session’s final day Monday. The legislation now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott. A measure by Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, that won final passage Sunday night would close a legal loophole used by some police departments to withhold records when a person dies in police custody or in other interactions with law enforcement. House Bill 30, which had been debated in previous sessions, took on [...]

Texas Legislature approves open government bills in 2023 session’s final days2023-07-07T14:11:12-05:00

FOI Foundation of Texas announces Ralph Langer Scholarship recipients

2023-04-27T15:15:49-05:00

For Immediate Release April 27, 2023  AUSTIN – The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas has named Brianna Chavez, a journalism junior at Texas State University, as the recipient of the inaugural Ralph Langer Scholarship. Alongside her journalism studies, Chavez has worked as a life and arts reporter at the University Star, Texas State’s student-run newspaper. Some of her stories have been published by the Austin American-Statesmen. Chavez, who is in the first generation of her family to attend college, will receive a $6,000 scholarship for the 2023-24 academic year. The scholarship was created in memory of Ralph Langer, a guiding [...]

FOI Foundation of Texas announces Ralph Langer Scholarship recipients2023-04-27T15:15:49-05:00

Scholarship honors Ralph Langer, longtime FOI Foundation president and news executive

2022-11-30T20:59:54-06:00

For Immediate Release Sept. 29, 2022 Scholarship honors Ralph Langer, longtime FOI Foundation president and news executive AUSTIN – The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas announced Thursday the creation of a journalism scholarship honoring Ralph Langer, a guiding light as the foundation became the state’s leading voice on transparency and the First Amendment. The $5,000 scholarship will be awarded in early 2023 to a journalism or photojournalism undergraduate student at a Texas college or university for the 2023-24 academic year. Applications will be accepted beginning in December 2022. Langer, who died in August 2021 at age 84, was editor and [...]

Scholarship honors Ralph Langer, longtime FOI Foundation president and news executive2022-11-30T20:59:54-06:00
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