Freedom of Information Foundation to honor Ross Ramsey at annual conference

AUSTIN – Ross Ramsey, a Texas journalist for more than 40 years and longtime champion of the people’s right to know, will be honored with the prestigious James Madison Award.
The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas bestows the award on those who demonstrate outstanding commitment to the principles of the First Amendment and open government. The foundation will present the award at its state conference Sept. 29 in Austin.
Ramsey retired from The Texas Tribune earlier this year. He co-founded the online news organization in 2009 and served as its executive editor after working for years as a reporter and editor at other news outlets. At the Tribune, Ramsey wrote regular columns on government and politics, sharing his keen observations with the rest of Texas.
“Ross Ramsey is a widely respected journalist. He has distinguished himself with his knowledge of this state and its politics, his ethics in his reporting and his fierce protection of the public’s right to know,” said Kelley Shannon, executive director of the nonprofit FOIFT. 
Ramsey served as a volunteer board member of the FOIFT from 2010-14 during his tenure with the Tribune.
“We only get representative government if the ultimate decision-makers — the voters — have easy, unfettered access to the information and meetings that document what government officials are doing, and why they’re doing it,” Ramsey said. “Without vigilance and a healthy public wariness of official secrets, open and effective government is at risk.
“FOIFT has been invaluable in making sure Texans can get the information needed to hold elected and unelected officials accountable for the actions they take in our names,”Ramsey said. 
I’m proud of the organization, and I’m honored to be chosen for this award.” 
Before co-founding the Tribune, Ramsey was editor and co-owner of Texas Weekly. He previously reported for the Houston Chronicle, the Dallas Times Herald, radio stations in Denton and Dallas and as a Dallas-based freelancer for regional and national magazines and newspapers. Ramsey also worked for about two years in government with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
The FOIFT board praised his journalism career, including his “hard-hitting pieces on freedom of information that turned the spotlight on vital issues at crucial times.”
The James Madison Award has been presented since 1987 to journalists, attorneys, public officials and vigilant citizens. 
In addition to honoring Ramsey, the foundation’s state conference Sept. 29 will explore the latest issues in the field of First Amendment rights and government transparency and celebrate Spirit of FOI Award winners. 
“New Takes on Texas Transparency” is the theme for the conference scheduled at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center. The conference is open to the public. Registration information can be found at www.foift.org.
A keynote luncheon panel featuring state Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, and Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, and moderated by Josh Hinkle of KXAN will provide a preview of the coming legislative session and showcase the bipartisan nature of open government.
Other conference speakers include Sewell Chan, editor-in-chief of the Texas Tribune; Katrice Hardy, executive editor of The Dallas Morning News; Corrie MacLaggan of The Texas Newsroom public radio collaboration; Shirley Robinson, executive director of the Texas Library Association; David Doerr of New Voices Texas; and other transparency and First Amendment experts.