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Journalism, FOI leader Diana Fuentes remembered as force for free press, open government, optimism and compassion

2026-03-30T15:34:49-05:00

Updated March 29, 2026 DEL RIO, Texas - FOI Foundation of Texas board member and past president Diana "DeeDee" Fuentes, who died unexpectedly after an accidental fall in Washington, D.C., was remembered at her Texas memorial service March 28 as an ardent advocate for a free press and open government and for her compassion for others. "Each interaction mattered to her. You felt special in her presence," said Josh Hinkle, president of Investigative Reporters & Editors Inc., where Fuentes was executive director. "She was this tiny giant in Texas journalism." Fuentes knew that journalists must proceed without fear in doing their [...]

Journalism, FOI leader Diana Fuentes remembered as force for free press, open government, optimism and compassion2026-03-30T15:34:49-05:00

Jan Crawford of CBS News to speak at Sept. 26 FOI Foundation conference

2025-07-18T18:07:38-05:00

Jan Crawford, chief legal correspondent for CBS News and a recognized authority on the U.S. Supreme Court, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s FOI Foundation of Texas state conference on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Austin. Crawford's 2007 book “Supreme Conflict: The Inside Story of the Struggle for the Control of the United States Supreme Court” gained critical acclaim and became an instant New York Times bestseller. She has also reported on most of the major judicial appointments and confirmation hearings of the past 30 years. Stay tuned for more information on the day’s detailed agenda, which will feature [...]

Jan Crawford of CBS News to speak at Sept. 26 FOI Foundation conference2025-07-18T18:07:38-05:00

Athena Tseng to receive 2025-26 Ralph Langer Scholarship

2025-05-06T10:35:37-05:00

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 Scholarship2025-05-06T10:35:37-05:00

U.S. Supreme Court orders new look at case of arrested Texas journalist

2024-10-28T09:48:02-05:00

By The Associated Press Originally published Oct. 15, 2024 WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered a federal appeals court to take a new look at the lawsuit filed by a Texas-based online citizen journalist who said she was wrongly arrested in a case that drew attention from national media organizations and free speech advocates. The justices tossed out the ruling of a divided federal appeals court that found journalist Priscilla Villarreal, known online as La Gordiloca, could not sue police officers and other officials over her arrest for seeking and obtaining nonpublic information from police. Read the full story [...]

U.S. Supreme Court orders new look at case of arrested Texas journalist2024-10-28T09:48:02-05:00

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
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