Longtime Texas Journalist to Receive Madison Award

AUSTIN (AP) — Longtime Texas journalist Donnis Baggett has been selected as recipient of the 2014 James Madison Award presented by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. Baggett, executive vice president of the Texas Press Association, will receive the award September 12 during the John Henry Faulk Awards luncheon at the foundation’s Bernard and Audre Rapoport State Conference in Austin. The Madison award is given to those demonstrating a commitment to upholding the principles of the First Amendment. Baggett leads the press association’s governmental affairs program, focusing on protecting open records, open meetings and public notices. Baggett worked for Texas newspapers, including the Longview News-Journal, for nearly 40 years before joining the press association in 2012. Foundation President Diana Fuentes said Baggett “has spent his career working for freedom of the press and open government.”