Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists Freedom of Information Award winners 1979-2010
The Peter S. Popovich Award is given by the board of the Minnesota SPJ to the person or organization that exemplifies the fight for the First Amendment rights. The award is given annually at SPJ’s Page One banquet.
1979 The Minnesota Supreme Court & Chief Justice Robert Sheran
1980 Newell Grant, Publisher Tri-State Daily News, Wahpeton-ND
1981 Roger Adams, Star and Tribune Freedom of Information Committee
1982 Jeanette McDougal, Data watch of Minnesota
1983 T.J. Western; WCCO TV and Radio; St. Cloud Times
1984 Mark Baker, Editor, Lake Region Press and Lake Region Echo
1985 John R. Finnegan, St. Paul Pioneer Press and Dispatch
1986 Star and Tribune First Amendment Committee
1987 Duane Rasmussen, Forest Lake Times, ECM Post Review
1988 John Fisher, Annandale Advocate; Debra Flemming, Owatonna People’s Press
1989 The Minnesota Daily and Marshall Tanick, Attorney
1990 Peter S. Popovich, Chief Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court
1991 Patricia Hirl Longstaff
1992 Robert Franklin, FOI Director Minnesota SPJ
1993 Kevin Burke, Chief Judge, Hennepin County
1994 Mark Anfinson, Media Attorney
1995 Jim Pumarlo, Red Wing Republican Eagle
1996 The Minnesota Daily and Michelle Ames, Editor; John Stanoch, District Judge, Hennepin County
1997 Donald R. Casey, St. Cloud Times
1998 Reps. Matt Entenza and Bill Macklin; Sen. Richard Cohen
1999 Lucy Dalglish, FOI Director, Minnesota SPJ
2000 Tim McGuire, Editor, Minneapolis Star Tribune
2001 Randy Lebedoff, Minneapolis Star Tribune
2002 John Borger, Media Attorney
2003 Bill Lawrence and Mark Bartel
2004 Donald S. Gemberling, former Director, Minnesota Department of Administration, Information Analysis and Policy Division
2005 Walter Kuckes, Avon, MN
2006 Rep. Mary Liz Holberg; Sen. Don Betzold
2007 Gary Hill, former KSTP-TV journalist and current Communications Director for the Majority Caucus with the Minnesota Senate
2008 Mary Flister, Open government advocate – Maplewood, MN; Robbie La Fleur, Director – MN Legislative Reference Library
2009 The Echo student newspaper, Faribault High School: Kelly Zwagerman, adviser; Vicky Carillo, Christen Hildebrandt and Ben Jackson, editors
2010 Randy Furst, Star Tribune
2011 Jane E. Kirtley, Silha Professor of Media Ethics and Law, School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota
