ABOUT

OVERVIEW

  • The Connecticut Foundation for Open Government (CFOG) is a tax-exempted, not-for-profit corporation founded in 1991 by citizens of Connecticut interested in promoting open government and the public’s right-to-know. Its programs are carried out by a volunteer Board of Directors drawn from the media, academe, the law, business and government.

WHAT WE DO

    • Co-sponsor an annual conference for Connecticut’s state and municipal officials on Freedom of Information issues.
    • Develop and sponsor education programs, including a program for high school students focused on the importance of the First Amendment, featuring a local attorney and journalist sharing their expertise and experiences on Freedom of Speech and Open Government rights, and an annual CFOG Essay Contest for high school students on Right to Know and First Amendment issues.
    • Sponsor annual program “The Stories Behind the Biggest Stories” featuring a panel of State Capitol reporters explaining what was happening behind-the-scenes of the year’s major news stories.
    • Underwrite costs of surveys of government agencies designed to measure compliance with Connecticut’s Freedom of Information laws.
    • Honor periodically with the Walter Cronkite Award a national figure who embodies Open Government principles. Recipients have included Mr. Cronkite; Louis Boccardi, president of the Associated Press; Jim Lehrer, executive editor and anchor of the NewsHour on PBS; Seymour Hersh, noted journalist and author; and Attorney Floyd Abrams, a noted First Amendment expert.
    • Maintain CFOG website, highlighting local and national open government issues.
    • Hold public policy symposia, such as the first ever National Privacy and Public Policy symposium, “Striking the Balance: Open Government In the Age of Terrorism” and the need for Connecticut to enact a Shield Law.