Gannett Co. Recoups Legal Fees in FOIA Case

The federal government will pay $105,000 in attorney fees for the News-Press after the Fort Myers, FL newspaper and two other Gannett Co. newspapers successfully sued the Department of Homeland Security for the release of public records. The News-Press, the Pensacola News Journal and Florida Today had challenged the department's Federal Emergency Management Agency refusal to release details on the 1.1 million recipients of $1.2 billion in hurricane-related disaster aid. The News-Press hailed the U.S. Court of Appeals decision, which included the legal fees, as a victory for the First Amendment and the public's right to know, according to the News-Press. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and a number of other MTF grantees are among the leaders in the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) movement. Their advocacy, legal assistance and monitoring of FOIA activities has becoming increasingly important as government agencies continue to stonewall and challenge requests for release of public information.