Finnegan FOI Award
Freedom of Information Day (press release) is celebrated on March 16, the anniversary of the birth of James Madison, fourth President of the United States and principal author of the Bill of Rights. Each year, the Minnesota Coalition of Government Information (COGI) presents the John R. Finnegan FOI Award - named in honor of the former editor of the St. Paul Pioneer Press for his lifelong commitment to openness in government and the public's right to know. The award honors a Minnesotan or Minnesota institution whose work demonstrates leadership and commitment to the power of information to effect change.
Past Recipients of the John R. Finnegan FOI Award
Each year on Freedom of Information Day, the Minnesota Coalition on Government Information presents the John R. Finnegan FOI Award - named in honor of the former editor of the St. Paul Pioneer Press for his lifelong commitment to openness in government and the public's right to know. The award honors a Minnesotan or Minnesota institution whose work demonstrates leadership and commitment to the power of information to effect change.
| 2009 | Citizen lobbyist and relentless advocate for the public’s interest Richard (Rich) Neumeister is the 2009 recipient of the John R. Finnegan FOI Award conferred by the Minnesota Coalition on Government Information (MNCOGI) for 20 years. (Press release) |
| 2008 | Martiga Lonn and Brian Bakst, Associated Press |
2007 |
Gary Hill, long-time journalist (press release) |
2006 |
Colleen Coghlan, Librarian and Professor (press release) |
2005 |
Donald A. Gemberling, "guru" of the Minnesota Data Practices Act (press release) (remarks from Kit Hadley) |
2004 |
Marvin Roger Anderson, Director, Minnesota State Law Library (press release)
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2003 |
Senator Mark Dayton (press release)
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2001 |
Minnesota E-Democracy (press release)
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2000 |
Marilyn Cathcart, Director, Minnesota Legislative Reference Library (press release)
Bridges - Minnesota's Gateway to Environmental Information
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1999 |
Mary Treacy, Director, Metronet (press release)
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1998 |
Government Access Producers Group (newsletter article)
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1997 |
Access Minnesota
Telecommunications Access Grants
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1996 |
The North Star Project, State of Minnesota
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1995 |
Minnesota Legislature Gopher Design Group (press release)
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1994 |
The Urban Coalition of Minneapolis (press release)
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1993 |
Julia Wallace, Regional Depository Librarian and Head of Government Publications, U of M (press release)
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1992 |
Alan Robinette (posthumously awarded), Director, Land Management Information Center, State of Minnesota (press release)
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1991 |
Peter S. Popovich, Chief Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court (press release)
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1990 |
Sue Holbert, Minnesota State Archivist (press release)(remarks)
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1989 |
Mary Alice Harvey, Director, Grand Marais Public Library (remarks) |