ENMU grad receives Dixon Award

Vincent Rodriguez, a graduate of Eastern New Mexico University, is one of six people The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) has chosen as the recipients of its 2022 William S. Dixon First Amendment Freedom Awards.

The awards are presented every year to those New Mexicans who believe in government transparency at the state or local level and who have made significant contributions to "casting sunshine" or transparency in government operations in the state.

Kathi Bearden, FOG president, said. "This year's group acted on their beliefs instead of giving lip service to transparency and accountability. Their actions changed policies, procedures and allow everyone to participate in government."

Rodriguez is described as "the leader of the pack" when it comes to watchdog journalism in the KOAT TV 7 newsroom.

Rodriguez is the digital media manager at the TV station and previously was an assignment editor.

He takes time daily to make sure the staff understands the power of an open records request and what is available just by asking.

Rodriguez created a system to track when inspection of public records act (IPRA) requests are sent and the responses, if any, they receive.

An example of the work he does is in December 2021, when a child was shot and killed in Rio Rancho, the city refused to turn over documents. For months into 2022, the station told viewers what was asked for and what was denied.

When the city used the children's code to deny documents, Rodriguez helped to explain how the city was using the children's code to justify not turning over documents.

Eventually, the state attorney general sided with KOAT and the station let the public know the city was reversing course based on the station's persistence.

Rodriguez instills in the newsroom knowledge about the law and makes sure other employees know it's not just for the media it's for citizens.

If a New Mexican has a problem and they're not getting answers, he walks them through how to get what they are afforded through sunshine laws.

Rodriguez is the person in the newsroom that questions everything and teaches others to question everything.

Dixon Award winners will be honored with an award event set for Oct. 6 at the Albuquerque Marriott Hotel.