Californians Aware, The Center for Public Forum Rights, also known as CalAware, is a Carmichael, California

Carmichael, California

Carmichael is a census-designated place in Sacramento County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 61,762 at the 2010 census, up from 49,742 at the 2000 census.-Geography and geology:Carmichael...

 based nonprofit organization established to help journalist

Journalist

A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...

s and others keep Californians aware of what they need to know to hold government and other powerful institutions accountable for their actions. Its mission, firmly rooted in supporting the protections guaranteed by the First Amendment

First Amendment to the United States Constitution

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...

 of the United States Constitution

United States Constitution

The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...

, is to support and defend open government, an enquiring press and a citizenry free to exchange facts and opinions on public issues.

Californians Aware was founded by Terry Francke, former executive director and general counsel of the California First Amendment Coalition

California First Amendment Coalition

The First Amendment Coalition is a nonprofit public interest organization committed to freedom of speech, more open and accountable government, and public participation in civic affairs...

. J.W. August is the current president, and board members include Richard McKee, CalAware President Emeritus, Cindy Ossias

Cindy Ossias

Cindy Ossias is a San Francisco, California, based lawyer and musician. In the early months of the year 2000, while serving as a long-time senior lawyer for the California Department of Insurance , Ossias leaked confidential documents exposing the allegedly illegal and corrupt activities of Chuck...

, the whistleblower known for exposing California Department of Insurance corruption, and Donna Frye

Donna Frye

Donna Frye was a member of the San Diego City Council, representing District 6. Her term ended December 6 2010.Frye was born in 1952 in Pennsylvania, the second of three children...

, who narrowly missed election in 2004 as mayor of San Diego

San Diego, California

San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...

, running as a write-in candidate.

CalAware's site features database-driven content, a database-driven e-Newsletter, ecommerce fundraising, members-only area, and more. Its latest service is SunScribe, a public records request letter generator that offers supplementary fee-based options such as having CalAware send the letter in its name (preserving the requester's anonymity) and having CalAware's general counsel evaluate the legal validity of any agency response denying access.

External links

• CalAware.org - Californians Aware homepage
• CalAware.org - CalAware Weekly
• PRFree.com - 'Californians Aware Announces Free Forum, Open To The Public: Raising The Bar For Open Government' (January 4, 2005)