Deadline Extended: Jan 17 – We had some technical issues on our end, which means you get an extra week! Pls submit your nominations by Friday, Jan 17 (midnight PT).
Know an individual or organization who has made a significant contribution to advancing freedom of information in 2013? They don’t even have to be a journalist. The annual SPJ-Northern California James Madison Freedom of Information Awards recognize everyone from non-profits, to public officials, to journalists–and others–who have promoted the public’s right to know in the previous calendar year.
Submit nominations here. (There is no entry fee.)
Deadline: January 11 17, 2o14.
Complete details are below.
About the 2014 James Madison FOI Awards
The James Madison Freedom of Information Awards recognize Northern California organizations and individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing freedom of information and expression in the spirit of James Madison, the creative force behind the First Amendment.
Eligible for nomination for the 2014 awards are Northern California journalists, lay citizens, public officials, attorneys, educators, librarians, students, news organizations and community groups who have defended public access to meetings, public records or court proceedings or otherwise promoted the public’s right to know, publish and speak freely about issues of public concern during the 2013 calendar year.
SPJ-NorCal presents the awards during National Freedom of Information Week, which takes place around Madison’s birthday, March 16. The 2014 awards will be presented at a dinner on March 20, 2014 in San Francisco.
Categories
Nominations may be submitted in the following categories:
- Professional Journalist (recognizes a journalist or journalists who have fought for access to records, http://www.propecia-finasteride-buy.com meetings or court proceedings, who have made exceptional use of public records in their reporting or who have promoted education on FOI issues through stories, editorials or other advocacy)
- Nonprofit Organization
- Source/Whistleblower
- Career Achievement (The Norwin S. Yoffie Career Achievement Award is named in honor of Norwin Yoffie, a stalwart supporter of the chapter’s Freedom of Information Committee. Mr. Yoffie died in November 2000 after many years of distinguished service to SPJ and the cause of freedom of information)
- Citizen
- Public Official (given to a governmental official who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to keeping public records or meetings public, or otherwise has taken exemplary leadership on FOI or First Amendment issues)
- Educator (The Beverly Kees Educator Award recognizes extraordinary efforts by educators to cultivate a devotion to the values of freedom of information)
- Cartoonist
- Legal Counsel
- Student Journalist (recognizes a student journalist or journalists who have fought for access to records, http://www.propecia-finasteride-buy.com meetings or court proceedings, who have made exceptional use of public records in their reporting or who have promoted education on FOI issues through stories, editorials or other advocacy)
- Electronic Access
- News Media
Notes:
- Suggestions may be made for categories not listed here.
- Awards are not necessarily presented in every category every year.
Submission Form
Individuals and organizations may be nominated for awards here.
Fee
There is no fee to nominate an individual or organization for an award.
Contacts
SPJ-NorCal FOI Committee: spjnorcalfoi@gmail.com
Committee Co-Chairs
Geoffrey King: Geoffwking@gmail.com
Thomas Peele: Thomaspeele@thomaspeele.com