Learn how one man uncovers government secrets

As a senior investigative reporter on the Bloomberg News investigations team, Leopold’s document-based reporting has led to countless scoops, federal investigations and contributed to the public’s understanding of how its government works. Leopold is a recipient of the 2022 George Polk award for health reporting. He has twice been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize Read More …

FOG to Honor Six With Dixon Award

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) will award the 2023 William S. Dixon First Amendment Award to six New Mexicans at its luncheon on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, in Albuquerque at the Sandia Golf Event Center. The honor recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of citizens and organizations in New Mexico who Read More …

FOG now accepting Dixon Award nominations

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) is now accepting nominations for the 2023 William S. Dixon First Amendment Freedom Award – given to those who believe in government transparency at the state or local level – and who have made significant contributions to sunshine in our state. The honor recognizes the outstanding accomplishments Read More …

Sunlight is the best disinfectant

FOG statement on CYFD’s action to close special council meetings Sunlight is the best disinfectant – words from the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis that still ring true today – except it seems for a special council formed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to address the dysfunctional Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD). Read More …

Judge finds LCS in violation of IPRA

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) applauds the decision by New Mexico First Judicial Court Judge Kathleen McGarry Ellenwood ruling the New Mexico Legislative Council Service (LCS) violated the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) by failing to fulfill a request from Ethics Watch for public records regarding the 2021 Junior Appropriations Act. Read More …

2023 Sunshine Week Accountability is key to every operation

by Gregory Williams, FOG Board Member and Former President Public officials and employees love transparency in the abstract.  In reality: not so much. Transparency in government is a crowd-pleasing election promise that gets set aside in practice.  It happens in part because openness takes effort.  It takes a daily commitment by public entities to provide Read More …

Six tapped for 2022 Dixon Award

Albuquerque, N.M. – The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) has chosen five New Mexicans as the recipients of its 2022 William S. Dixon First Amendment Freedom Awards. The awards are annually presented to those New Mexicans who believe in government transparency at the state or local level – and who have made significant Read More …

FOG is now hiring a Legal Director!

FOG seeks a full-time legal director to fulfill FOG’s mission to educate, advocate and litigate to advance open government throughout the state of New Mexico.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Develop a strategy for selecting and pursuing lawsuits that will advance FOG’s mission, which includes enforcing and protecting the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), Open Meetings Act (OMA), and The First Amendment. Identify and litigate cases from initial filing through the appellate process, including amicus briefing, which further FOG’s law reform and enforcement. 
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Searchlight New Mexico wins News Leaders Association First Amendment Award

FOG commends and congratulates Ed Williams of Searchlight New Mexico on this well-deserved recognition! FOG was involved last year in aiding Searchlight New Mexico’s investigation exposing the state’s Children’s Youth and Families Department’s use of Signal, a secure communication app, and has set chats to automatically delete. Once deleted, virtually no trace of a Signal Read More …

Sunshine Week highlights government transparency and its role in upholding democracy

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) is marking Sunshine Week with reverence and appreciation for the essential role freedom of information and freedom of the press serve in guaranteeing our American democracy.  Sunshine Week is a national initiative spearheaded by the News Leaders Association to educate the public about the importance of open Read More …

Three IPRA complaints resolved in favor of openness

In a victory for transparency, three New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) Determinations by the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office today concluded that the records in question were wrongly withheld and should be made public. In the first complaint, FOG alongside Searchlight NM contended that the Children, Youth and Families Department was obligated Read More …

FOG urges the public hear the PED “listening” tour

Public Education Secretary Kurt Steinhaus has embarked on a seven-stop “listening” tour in which he is meeting with school superintendents and charter leaders from around the state. Unfortunately, members of the news media and the public won’t have the opportunity to hear what Sec. Steinhaus and those key education leaders have to say because PED has decided Read More …

Albuquerque Public Schools settlement requires more staff, better training and keeping IPRA logs

Following APS once again wrongfully denying requests under the Inspection of Public Records Act, a settlement order has been issued, which required APS to pay $40,000 in damages, $14,000 in attorney’s fees, release the records in question within five days, and implement a series of new policies and procedures for handling requests. Under the settlement, Read More …

FOG urges Sen. Luján’s office release more information on the Senator’s health following stroke

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) joins U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján’s friends and constituents in wishing him a full recovery from his recent cerebellar stroke and subsequent surgery. And, of course, our thoughts and well wishes extend to his family.  News of the stroke he suffered days ago shocked all of New Read More …

School board members should communicate with constituents and the media

Transparency in government extends beyond open meetings and records. It requires that public officials openly communicate with the public they serve. The policy within the Santa Fe Public School Board prohibiting rank-and-file members from making public statements, and instead relying on the school board president to be the sole spokesperson for the entire body, is fundamentally at odds with the principles of transparency and accountability. Read More …

Transparency at the heart of FOG work

This letter was sent to the leadership in the New Mexico Legislature on Dec. 15, 2021 December 15, 2021 Hon. Peter Wirth                                                        sent via email   [email protected] Mexico LegislatureSanta Fe, NM Dear Senator Wirth, Transparency is at the heart of everything we do at the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG).  The New Mexico’s Legislature Read More …

2021’s Covid Crisis May Have Boosted More Accessible Legislature

        By Heather Ferguson, Executive Director, Common Cause New Mexico, NMFOG Board Member Ever since the 1970s, when Americans woke up to the dangers of government secrecy thanks to Watergate and Vietnam, the value of transparency in public policymaking has become more and more apparent. Bad things are more likely to happen in darkness, not Read More …

Titan Of Journalism Martin Baron to Keynote Annual Dixon Awards

2021 William S. Dixon Awards Event October 7, 2021. Get your tickets here He’s been called a hero, a legendary journalist, and the ultimate old-school editor. When he retired this year from a 40-plus-year career, a billionaire, Hollywood moguls and news media elite attended his retirement sendoff. Now, retired Washington Post Editor Martin Baron will Read More …

Four To Receive 2021 William First Amendment Freedom Award

A reporter’s investigation that led to one senior state official’s departure and a whistleblower lawsuit, a citizen’s quest for records that forced the creation of a new youth grievance policy and actions by two New Mexico Legislators to open up state government will be recognized by the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) as Read More …

Nominations are now open for 2021 William S. Dixon First Amendment Freedom Awards

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) is now accepting nominations for the 2021 William S. Dixon First Amendment Freedom Award – given to those who believe in government transparency at the state or local level – and who have made significant contributions to casting sunshine (transparency) on government operations in New Mexico.  Award Read More …