News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Lara Dieringer
573.882.4856 · ldieringer@nfoic.org
Media of Nebraska becomes NFOIC’s newest state FOI alliance
COLUMBIA, Mo. (July 26, 2017) – Media of Nebraska, a 40-year-old non-profit coalition of print and electronic news organizations operating in Nebraska has become the newest member of the National Freedom of Information Coalition (NFOIC). Forty-five states and the District of Columbia make up NFOIC whose mission is to make sure state and local governments and public institutions have laws, policies and procedures to facilitate the public’s access to their records and proceedings.
Dan Bevarly, NFOIC’s interim executive director, emphasized the importance of state FOI coalitions that work on behalf of their residents to ensure open and transparent government. “The real battle over First Amendment rights and accessible government is at the state and local levels,” said Bevarly. “NFOIC state affiliates are on the front line daily to help remove obstacles at public institutions that block or hinder people from obtaining information that is rightfully theirs.”
Media of Nebraska’s president, Mike Reilly said his organization members are vigilant to the actions of government when it comes to public access to information. “Forty years has seen many changes and challenges to traditional journalism, and in the relationship between government and citizens,” said Reilly who is also the Vice President for News for BH Media Group. “Media of Nebraska members are serious about their role as public watchdogs, especially when it comes to monitoring state and local governments in the digital age.”
The state coalitions are nonprofits that work together and collaborate over a variety of challenges including monitoring their state legislatures, training and educating journalists and attorneys in their state open government laws, offering hotlines to answer questions and helping citizens petition for public records. Learn more about NFOIC and its state members at www.nfoic.org/members.
About NFOIC: NFOIC is a nonpartisan alliance of state & regional affiliates promoting collaboration, education & advocacy for open government, transparency & freedom of information. Affiliate members include citizen-driven nonprofit freedom of information organizations, academic and First Amendment centers, journalistic societies and attorneys.