Freedom of Information Foundation Texas

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The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas is a nonprofit group that advocates for open records and open meetings in Texas. Over the years, the organization has successfully aided citizens in their search for access to government meetings and documents -- things FOIFT believes should be a matter of public record.[1] It "is the oldest and one of the largest state public information organizations in the country"[2] and has served as a model for like-minded organizations across the country.

Contents

[edit] Notable Campaigns

FOIFT has highlighted several bills in the 2009 session as the most needed, and the most in need of defeat. See the list here: The good, the bad and the ugly.

In early 2009, the organization helped spearhead the successful effort to pass the Free Flow of Information Act in the Texas legislature to create a reporter's shield law in that state.[3]

FOIFT oversees a number of projects geared toward government transparency. They include: Education for Freedom, The First Amendment Institute, The Light of Day Project, Open Government Seminars, Responsible Rights Seminars, State Conferences, and a Speakers Bureau[4]

[edit] Honorees

FOIFT gives out an annual James Madison Award to honor those who have worked to advocate for open government.

[edit] References

  1. ↑ Freedom of Information Foundation Texas's Mainpage
  2. ↑ Freedom of Information Foundation needs home
  3. ↑ Texas Watchdog, "Freedom of Information foundation’s new director ‘moving on all fronts’", April 20, 2009
  4. ↑ Main Page
  5. ↑ FOI Foundation presents James Madison Award to Sen. Wentworth, Oct. 11, 1999

[edit] Staff

  • Keith Elkins, a longtime Austin journalist, is FOIFT's current executive director. [1]
  • Sally Van Gee is FOIFT's current director of education.

[edit] Officials and board members

For FOIFT'S roster of directors, see here for more information. For a listing of FOIFT's Advisory Council, visit here.

[edit] History

FOIFT was founded in 1978 by members of the Dallas chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists [2] with the expressed goal of "ensuring that the public's business is conducted in public."

Due to a corporate restructuring in 2008 for the parent company of the Dallas Morning News, FOIFT lost the offices it had been given, rent-free, in Dallas for 20 years. The foundation moved its headquarters to Austin in early 2009.

[edit] FOIFT in the News

[edit] Concern Voiced Over Governor Perry's Transparency Implementation (June 2008)

Under Texas's Public Information Act, government records cannot be destroyed once they have been requested by a member of the general public. However, under Gov. Rick Perry's leadership, government officials have been ordered to delete all emails older than 7 days; prior to deletion, Perry has ordered that e-mails be printed and filed away. Joseph Larson, a First Amendment lawyer and a board member of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, had this to say about Perry's policy[3]

"There's simply no way that all the e-mails are being printed and filed. In addition to your daily work activity, you have to make sure you're printing out your e-mails so that it doesn't get deleted."

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ↑ Keith Elkins Hired, March 4, 2009 He replaced Katherine Garner, who served as executive director from 1994-2009.
  2. ↑ Freedom of Information Foundation needs home
  3. ↑ Governor's e-mail deletion rules raise concern
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