WASHINGTON — The 12th annual National Freedom of Information Day Conference will be held Monday, March 15, at the Knight Conference Center at the Newseum. This year's conference title is “What Has Become of Freedom of Information?”

This year’s conference, hosted by the First Amendment Center, also will include announcement by the American Library Association of its recipient of the annual James Madison Award.

The ALA, a co-sponsor of the conference, presents the Madison award to individuals or groups that have championed, protected, and promoted public access to government information and the public’s right to know.

Miriam Nisbet, director of the Office of Government Information Services; and Norm Eisen, special counsel to President Obama for Ethics and Government Reform, will open a morning session with remarks about disclosure of government information, to be followed by a conversation with interviewers Tom Blanton, director of the National Security Archive at George Washington University; and Gary Bass, founder and executive director of OMB Watch.

Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-Mo., chairman of the House Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives, will be keynote speaker for the conference.

The conference begins at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at 12:15 p.m., at the Knight Conference Center at the Newseum, 7th floor, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. (Use Sixth Street entrance).

There is no charge to attend, but because seating is limited, participants must register individually in advance. To register, send an e-mail to ahampton@freedomforum.org or call 202/292-6288. Registrants should provide name, title, affiliation and contact information.

The First Amendment Center supports the First Amendment and builds understanding of its core freedoms through education, information and entertainment. The center serves as a forum for the study and exploration of free-expression issues, including freedom of speech, of the press and of religion, and the rights to assemble and to petition the government. The center’s program provide education and information to the public and groups including First Amendment scholars and experts, educators, government policy makers, legal experts and students. The center is nonpartisan and does not lobby or litigate.

Press contact:
Ashlie Hampton
202/292-6288 or ahampton@freedomforum.org