[caption width="225" align="alignright"] Robert Freeman. Photo from New York State.[/caption]Benjamin Oreskes in Capitol Confidential, the Albany Times-Union's political blog, reports that Robert Freeman, the executive director for the New York State Committee on Open Government, was awarded this year’s Sunshine Award by the New York Society of Professional Journalists for his work for open government in the state. Freeman created New York Freedom of Information law, and has long fought for a broad definition of open government. He is considered a tireless advocate for transparency in government. “In the past, I’ve stood next to Pulitzer winners and such and asked myself, 'What am I doing here,’” Freeman said. “And I think it’s about a great deal of good fortune.” Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.

WGXC is packing up its gear at the Catskill Community Center this month, and moving its third studio into the Catskill Library. The station's goal is to move the necessary broadcast equipment into the Catskill Library, but also into an easy-to-move satellite station that can be used both there and for remote broadcasts from throughout Greene and Columbia counties. Tune in for this special weekend-long mini-pledge drive Aug. 1-3 to raise money for a few items to round out the WGXC remote broadcasting kit. Call in throughout the weekend at 518-697-7400 to donate a small amount and help WGXC be able to broadcast from almost anywhere in Greene and Columbia counties with a new remote satellite unit. Please help make WGXC more mobile, and raise a small amount to create this satellite studio. We believe we can create a mobile studio for about $1,400. Most of the equipment needed for broadcast already exists in the WGXC Catskill studio. So we don't need to raise too much money for this effort. We just want to be able to put the equipment we have in a secure framework that is easy to use, and can be wheeled to any site nearby for broadcast. See wgxc.org for more information.