[MNASIS-L] Minnesota COGI seeks nominees for the Freedom of Information Award

[Janet Arth]

January 11, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The <http://www.mncogi.org/>Minnesota Coalition 
on Government Information (MnCOGI) seeks nominees 
for the nineteenth annual John R. Finnegan 
Freedom of Information (FOI) Award.  The award 
honors those individuals and groups who, as noted 
in MnCOGI’s nomination criteria,  demonstrate 
“commitment to the idea that a popular and 
democratic government can never realize the 
aspirations of the founding fathers without the 
participation of an informed electorate” and that 
“an informed electorate  cannot exist without access to information.”

The 2008 FOI Award will be presented on Freedom 
of Information Day, Friday, March 14, 2008, at a 
special ceremony to be held at Noon at the Minneapolis Central Library.

The Award is named for John R. Finnegan Sr., one 
of the state’s strongest advocates for public 
access to government information and the public’s 
right to know.  Finnegan is retired editor of the 
St. Paul Pioneer Press and a member of the 
National Freedom of Information Act Hall of Fame.

Any individual or organization may submit a 
nomination ­ all nominations due March 3, 
2008.  Nominations may be mailed or emailed to 
mncogi at gmail.com.  Additional information about the award follows.


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John R. Finnegan Freedom of Information Award Criteria

The John R. Finnegan Freedom of Information award 
is given to those individuals and groups who 
demonstrate through expression and action 
commitment to the idea that a popular and 
democratic government can never realize the 
aspirations of the founding fathers without the 
participation of an informed electorate.  An 
informed electorate cannot exist without access to information.

John R. Finnegan Sr., for whom the award is 
named, is one of the state's strongest advocates 
for public access to government information and 
the public right to know.  His work on the part 
of the public’s right to know prepares an 
informed electorate to actively participate in a 
democratic society, to judge how a democratic 
government is functioning, and to determine 
whether duly elected officials have met their 
responsibilities in a manner consistent with the 
representative nature of our republic.

Recipients of the award consistently demonstrate 
leadership and commitment to the power of 
information to effect change.  Their activities 
will be diverse and may include: using technology 
and other means to facilitate access to 
information, advocating for legislative and other 
policies that maximize the public's right to 
know; educating the public on the importance of 
freedom of information; assuring that government 
and other institutions comply with policies that 
maximize transparency; operating libraries and 
other institutions in a manner that affords the 
greatest possible access to information; 
challenging any form of authority that would 
thwart the objective of assuring the existence of 
an informed electorate; and linking the idea of 
freedom of information to the Bill of Rights and 
especially to the First Amendment.