2008 FOI Summit Sponsors

The National Freedom of Information Coalition and the Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition would like to thank the sponsors for their generous support for this year's FOI Summit in Philadelphia.

Without their support, it would be impossible to bring together FOI advocates from across the nation to further our work, which is to spread the growth of grassroots freedom of information advocates.

Please click on the name to learn more about that sponsor.

The Associated Press — The Associated Press is the backbone of the world's information system serving thousands of daily newspaper, radio, television and online customers with coverage in all media and news in all formats. It is the largest and oldest news organization in the world, serving as a source of news, photos, graphics, audio and video. AP's mission is to be the essential global news network, providing distinctive news services of the highest quality, reliability and objectivity with reports that are accurate, balanced and informed. AP operates as a not-for-profit cooperative with more than 4,000 employees working in more than 240 worldwide bureaus. AP is owned by its 1,500 U.S. daily newspaper members. They elect a board of directors that directs the cooperative.

Calkins Media — Calkins Media includes six newspaper properties in Pennsylvania, one each in New Jersey and Florida, two television stations in Florida and a web site serving the Greater Philadelphia region. Calkins Media had its start in western Pennsylvania as Calkins Newspapers, Inc. In February 1937, Stanley W. Calkins purchased the controlling interest in his first newspaper, the Uniontown Daily News-Standard. S.W. Calkins died in 1973. Today his three daughters—Shirley C. Ellis, Carolyn C. Smith and Sandra C. Hardy—are the owners and directors of Calkins Media.

Fox Rothschild LLP — We are a law firm built to serve business leaders. They come to us for guidance because we understand their issues, their priorities, and the way they think. Our job is to help our clients manage risk and make better business decisions by offering practical, innovative advice. We deliver a full range of legal services—from the traditional (Litigation, Corporate, Labor and Employment) to the emerging services (Art, Intellectual Property, Tech and Venture Finance).

Holland & Knight — The hallmark of Holland & Knight's success has always been and continues to be legal work of the highest quality, performed by well prepared lawyers who revere their profession and are devoted to their clients. The service and values the firm was built upon years ago remain the same today. Each day in every practice, in every office, and by every lawyer and professional at Holland & Knight, our commitment to superior client service and to our profession and communities is validated

Knight Foundation — We are a national foundation with local roots. We choose, as the Knight brothers chose, to seek opportunities that can transform both communities and journalism, and help them reach their highest potential. We want to ensure that each community's citizens get the information they need to thrive in a democracy. And we ask, as we evaluate opportunities and grants, "Is this truly transformational?"

Levine Sullivan Koch & Schulz, L.L.P. — We focus our practice on the defense of news, entertainment and other media organizations in libel, privacy and related "First Amendment" litigation in courts around the country. We also prosecute and defend copyright and trademark infringement claims, assist news organizations in gaining access to judicial proceedings and government documents, and defend reporters against subpoenas. A substantial portion of our practice involves prepublication and prebroadcast advice and other counseling services, and we assist our clients with related risk management matters.

The McClatchy Company — The McClatchy Company is the third-largest newspaper company in the United States, a leading newspaper and internet publisher dedicated to the values of quality journalism, free expression and community service. Building on a 151-year legacy of independence, the company's newspapers and websites are steadfast defenders of First Amendment values and advocates for the communities they serve.

Online News Association — The Online News Association is an association composed largely of professional online journalists. The Association has more than 1,200 professional members, that is, members whose principal livelihood involves gathering or producing news for digital presentation. The membership includes news writers, producers, designers, editors, photographers and others who produce news for the Internet or other digital delivery systems, as well as academic members and others interested in the development of online journalism. ONA also, in partnership with USC Annenberg School for Communication, administers the prestigious Online Journalism Awards.

Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors — Every Pennsylvania Associated Press member newspaper automatically holds membership in the association, and may designate those news executives it wishes to attend meetings and participate in association affairs, provided that each member newspaper shall have no more than one vote. Associate memberships in the organization may be held by employees of The Associated Press and by other persons selected by the voting membership; such associate members to have all rights, privileges and obligations except that they may not vote or hold office.

Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters — PAB is the oldest of the state broadcast associations. We are a membership-driven trade association that provides great service and tremendous value to stations throughout the Commonwealth. PAB's government relations efforts with state and federal lawmakers and regulatory agencies ensure that the varied interests of Pennsylvania broadcasters are protected and well served. PAB is the only state broadcast association to visit each FCC Commissioner annually to discuss issues of concern to our members. PAB's activities in Harrisburg and Washington guarantee that our industry will always have access to state and federal policy makers.

Pennsylvania Newspaper Association — The Association traces its roots to 1925 when the Pennsylvania Newspaper Publishers' Association (PNPA) was granted a charter by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Association functioned under the PNPA name until the late 1990s when its name was shorted to the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association (PNA) to better reflect the fact that the Association provides services and support to all departments of its member newspapers, not just to the publisher. PNA is the official trade organization for all Pennsylvania newspapers and provides representation in the legislature and for educational services, and acts as an information clearinghouse.

Pennsylvania Society of Newspaper Editors — The Pennsylvania Society of Newspaper Editors offers you the opportunity to network with editors statewide and find real solutions to the challenges you face. In your role as an editor, you are under the constant demands of fast-paced deadlines, newsroom management issues and ever-changing industry developments. PSNE offers editors the tools they need to meet these challenges with industry publications, conferences, legislative and legal action, seminars, workshops, contests and more.

Scripps Howard Foundation — Scripps Howard Foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to its core values— improving journalism, a free press, diversity, excellence and service—as it moves into its 45th year. With support from The E.W. Scripps Company, the Scripps and Howard families, and Scripps employees, retirees and others, we stay focused on using our available resources to the very best advantage. As we are open to new opportunities to be of service, we stay true to long-established, tried-and-true relationships, partners and programs. We're the largest corporate foundation in Greater Cincinnati, living on the income from our endowment and on generous contributions from our supporters.

Sigma Delta Chi (sponsoring Sunshine Chair travel scholarships) — Since its founding in 1961, the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation has promoted excellence and ethics in journalism. SDX is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization that supports the educational programs of the Society of Professional Journalists and serves the professional needs of journalists and students pursuing careers in journalism. Liberty and self-government require a well-informed public. It is the responsibility of journalists to provide fair, balanced and accurate information in a comprehensive, timely and ethical manner.

SPJ-Keystone Professional Chapter — The Society of Professional Journalists is dedicated to the perpetuation of a free press as the cornerstone of our nation and our liberty. To ensure that the concept of self-government outlined by the U.S. Constitution remains a reality into future centuries, the American people must be well informed in order to make decisions regarding their lives, and their local and national communities. It is the role of journalists to provide this information in an accurate, comprehensive, timely and understandable manner.

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