What is broadcast news loss is the Texas Freedom of Information Foundation's gain. Elkins, argueably the best TV legislative reporter will still be under the dome, but in a different capacity.
What follows is the draft news release from the Texas Freedom of Information Foundation to be distributed this afternoon:
Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas
Names Keith Elkins Executive Director
Long-time Austin Journalist to lead FOIFT into a More Active Role
Austin, Texas, March 4, 2009 — The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas (FOIFT) is pleased to announce that Keith Elkins has been selected as the organization’s Executive Director. FOIFT recently relocated to Austin, after 30 years in Dallas, and is now embarking on a new mission to assume a more active and more visible role in advocating for, and preserving, open government.
“We are very pleased to have FOIFT’s office relocated to Texas’ Capital city where we believe we can make a more significant difference for the citizens of Texas. We are also very excited to announce the selection of a new Executive Director. After a lengthy search process our search committee unanimously recommended Keith Elkins as the best candidate to lead our organization in a new direction,” said President Laura Prather of Austin. “Keith has a deep understanding of and passion for the Public Information laws in Texas and draws from experience on both sides of the aisle on the issues of open government.”
Elkins is a veteran award winning TV news journalist and has worked as an anchor-reporter in Austin, San Antonio, Beaumont and Huntsville, Alabama, as well as providing communication freelance services to CNN, CBS, NBC and the FOX television networks. Keith has also provided media consulting services, served as communications director for the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and Texas Lottery Commission, worked as public relations director for a national video syndication company and served as a legislative assistant in the United States Senate.
“I am deeply honored to be joining FOIFT,” Elkins said. “During these trying economic times I sincerely believe, perhaps now more than ever, the advocacy services FOIFT provides are invaluable as a growing number of newspaper and electronic journalistic organizations are facing cutbacks or are simply fading away altogether.”
Names Keith Elkins Executive Director
Long-time Austin Journalist to lead FOIFT into a More Active Role
Austin, Texas, March 4, 2009 — The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas (FOIFT) is pleased to announce that Keith Elkins has been selected as the organization’s Executive Director. FOIFT recently relocated to Austin, after 30 years in Dallas, and is now embarking on a new mission to assume a more active and more visible role in advocating for, and preserving, open government.
“We are very pleased to have FOIFT’s office relocated to Texas’ Capital city where we believe we can make a more significant difference for the citizens of Texas. We are also very excited to announce the selection of a new Executive Director. After a lengthy search process our search committee unanimously recommended Keith Elkins as the best candidate to lead our organization in a new direction,” said President Laura Prather of Austin. “Keith has a deep understanding of and passion for the Public Information laws in Texas and draws from experience on both sides of the aisle on the issues of open government.”
Elkins is a veteran award winning TV news journalist and has worked as an anchor-reporter in Austin, San Antonio, Beaumont and Huntsville, Alabama, as well as providing communication freelance services to CNN, CBS, NBC and the FOX television networks. Keith has also provided media consulting services, served as communications director for the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and Texas Lottery Commission, worked as public relations director for a national video syndication company and served as a legislative assistant in the United States Senate.
“I am deeply honored to be joining FOIFT,” Elkins said. “During these trying economic times I sincerely believe, perhaps now more than ever, the advocacy services FOIFT provides are invaluable as a growing number of newspaper and electronic journalistic organizations are facing cutbacks or are simply fading away altogether.”
The FOIFT is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization supported through grants from private citizens, corporations, foundations and tax-deductible donations. For more information call 512.377.1575; visit the Web site, www.foift.org or write to FOIFT, 3001 S. Lamar, Suite 302, Austin, Texas, 78705.
Congratulations, Keith.
(C) Jim McNabb, 2009