LAPD to Receive Freedom of Information Award from Radio and Television News Association of Southern California NR10030rf

January 22, 2010

Los Angeles:  Later this evening, on behalf of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Media Relations Section, Chief Charlie Beck will accept the Freedom of Information Award from the Radio and Television News Association of Southern California (RTNA) at the 60th Annual Golden Mike Awards Dinner to be held at the Hilton Universal City.  LAPD is only the second recipient of the award in RTNA’s history and the first-ever law enforcement organization.

“We are at a place in our history when the leadership at every level of the LAPD really understands how important it is to work with the media,” said Chief Beck. “The media has an immense responsibility to inform and educate people, and we will continue giving them the access they need to do the job.  I couldn’t be more proud of our Media Relations Section personnel.”

RTNA President Rebecca Nieto talked about the significance of the award and why LAPD was selected to receive it. "The Freedom of Information Award is given to individuals and organizations on special occasions who have demonstrated exceptional efforts with broadcast reporters to promote transparency and facilitate news coverage related to their organizations," she said. “We’ve seen remarkable improvement in communication between LAPD and broadcast reporters in the last few years."

Established in 1946, the RTNA’s core mission is to champion the First Amendment rights of the free press in an effort to improve lines of communication between news media personnel, law enforcement organizations and other government agencies.