###

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release:
For further information contact: Mary Treacy (612 781 4234) or
maryalicetreacy@...

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AWARD RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED

Minnesota E-Democracy (http://www.e-democracy.org), a non-partisan,
citizen-based organization committed to the use of the Internet to improve
citizen participation, is recipient of the 2001 John R. Finnegan Freedom of
Information Award. The award will be presented at a ceremony at 12:00 Noon in
Room G-40 of the Minnesota Judicial Center on Friday, March 16, 25 Constitution
Avenue in the Capitol in Complex.

Minnesota E-Democracy was established in 1994 when politically-oriented
volunteers created the nation’s first election-oriented website. Today the
website features a host of services, including ongoing public discussion of
legislative issues: education, transportation, transit, redistricting and
elections, tax reform and privacy. The website also provides a full range of
citizen participation activities including candidate links, an e-mail forum, and
links with public information sources from federal, state and local sources.
E-Democracy based community forums are exploring local issues in Minneapolis,
St. Paul and Winona.

Operated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Minnesota E-Democracy is entirely volunteer
based and runs on donated information infrastructure.

The Freedom of Information Award is sponsored by the Minnesota Coalition on
Government Information, an interest group of individuals and organizations
committed to open access to public information in print, electronic and digital
format. The award is named in honor of John R. Finnegan, retired senior
vice-president of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, co-founder and chair of the
Minnesota Joint Media Committee; it recognizes his dedication to openness in
government and his work on behalf of the people’s right to know.

Freedom of Information Day is celebrated each year on the anniversary of the
birth of James Madison, fourth president of the United States and the principal
author of the Bill of Rights. Freedom of Information Day 2001 celebrates the
convergence of two significant events, the 250th anniversary of the birth of
James Madison and the 35th anniversary of the passage of the federal Freedom of
Information Act.

The Minnesota Coalition is modeled on a national coalition initiated in 1986 by
the American Library Association.

###

Rick Birmingham

MAP for Non-Profits www.mapnp.org
Phone: (612) 788-7123 rickb@...
Fax: (612) 378-2113