Mitchell Pearlman honored at NFOIC Summit

Congratulations to Mitchell W. Pearlman, who was selected by the National Freedom of Information Coalition and the Society of Professional Journalists for their joint "Heroes of the 50 States: The Open Government Hall of Fame" award for 2009.

Pearlman is a lecturer in journalism at the University of Connecticut and long-time director of that state's FOI body. He served as the executive director of and general counsel for the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission from 1975-2005, and he currently serves on the Board of Directors of both NFOIC and the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government. He was designated as FOIC's Executive Director Emertius in 2005.

The State Open Government Hall of Fame is open to anyone who has made a substantial, sustained and lasting contribution to open government or freedom of information within one particular state. Nominees may come from government, the media, the non-profit sector, the legal profesion or any other area of endeavor that involves citizen access to government records, meetings and procedures.

Why All Of This Matters, When You Get Right Down To It

If you are blue about the state of the economy and the relentless drumbeat of bad news from the world of journalism has you down, take this out and read it and re-read it...

Lasantha Wikramatunga, the Sri Lankan editor who was killed last week, knew it was going to happen and wrote an obituary/editorial before he died. It was published by his newpaper (Sunday Leader) Jan 11.

Read the whole thing, every word, here.

Sad News from Montana, and for the FOI World...

Longtime television journalist and open-government advocate Ian Marquand has been laid off by KPAX-TV.

"That's a hit to journalism in Montana, and nationwide, frankly," said David Cuillier, FOI chairman with the national Society of Professional Journalists. "He's been influential in opening up government nationwide."

Bob Hermes, general manager of KPAX, said the state of the economy led the station to drop Marquand's position as special projects coordinator. Marquand, who also was chairman of the Montana Freedom of Information Hotline, was laid off Friday.

Hermes said he did not anticipate other layoffs at KPAX.

Marquand said he has seen other veteran reporters lose their jobs to cost-cutting.

"I can't say it was a huge shock," he said. "But it was unexpected and I was not prepared for it on Friday."

On Monday, Marquand said he was seeking new opportunities in journalism or possibly in the academic world.

"I think I bring a certain group of skills that would be useful in a number of areas," Marquand said.

Marquand began his career at KPAX in 1978.

Jack Landau, FOI Warrior

It's hard to put into words the impact of Jack Landau on press freedom and freedom of information in the United States, but the Post did a nice job:

Jack Landau, 74, a founder of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, died Aug. 9 of complications from emphysema at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington County. He was a longtime Falls Church resident.

The committee, a Washington-based legal defense and research center for reporters, was created in 1970, when the nation's news media were facing an increasing number of government subpoenas demanding that reporters name confidential sources.

A group of journalists, including Benjamin C. Bradlee of The Washington Post, Mike Wallace of CBS and Tom Wicker of the New York Times, gathered at Georgetown University to discuss the need to provide legal assistance. They formed a committee that initially operated part time.

Mr. Landau, a reporter-lawyer covering the U.S. Supreme Court for Newhouse News Service, was an early member of the steering committee. In his spare time, he also started the First Amendment Hotline, the first free legal guidance service for journalists involved in First Amendment and freedom-of-information issues.

More here.