Tickets are now on sale for the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government’s 2019 William S. Dixon First Amendment Freedom Awards luncheon set for Oct. 2 at the Marriott Uptown Hotel in Albuquerque.
David Cuillier, Ph.D., president of the National Freedom of Information Coalition and one of the nation’s best experts on citizen and press access to information, will be the keynote speaker.
This past year Cuillier released a report, “Forecasting Freedom of Information, funded by the Knight Foundation. The report examines the state of the freedom and accessibility of information in the United States. In the report, Cuillier surveys 300 people — journalists, advocates, record custodians, technology companies, scholars and freedom of information
experts — and the results reveal lengthy delays, ignored requests, excessive fees and, in many cases, an unwillingness to consider producing government records because of outmoded technology.
Individual tickets are $60 and tables of 10 may be purchased for $600. Tickets may be purchased electronically by visiting nmfog.org and clicking the link. Reservations may also be made by contacting NMFOG at 505-764-3750. Checks are accepted and may be mailed to the NMFOG office, 2333 Wisconsin St. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110.
In addition to individual tickets and tables, sponsorship opportunities are available — contact NMFOG.
The 2019 Dixon Awards honor six New Mexicans and one news organization at the Oct. 2 luncheon. The honor recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of citizens and organizations in New Mexico who champion transparency and defend the people’s right to know the affairs of government.
All proceeds benefit the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, a 501(c)(3) New Mexico nonprofit corporation. For more information, call 505-764-3750.
