Jean H. Otto

The founder and president of the First Amendment Congress, Jean Otto was a long-time editor and reader representative at the Rocky Mountain News.

Throughout her career, she has been an untiring and eloquent advocate for First Amendment and freedom of information rights. She led a national effort to have March 16 — the birthdate of James Madison — officially designated as Freedom of Information Day.

Those efforts resulted in a Congressional resolution signed by President Reagan. Otto helped organize the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council and is the founder of the Colorado Freedom of Information Council.