Stan Zoller and his colleagues contacted CAC when they wanted a speaker on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for the Chicago Headline Club, a chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The citizen group sent an expert who explained the law in detail.

Zoller was impressed. The former reporter turned journalism instructor decided to make his own presentation on the topic for a student journalism conference, so he went to CAC for help. 

“They were the catalyst for the talk and a huge resource,” recalled Zoller of his initial contact with CAC in 2011. 

Zoller’s presentation was a hit. He gave it again and then went on to offer it several times a year over the next decade, first in the Chicago area and later at student journalism conferences around the country—from Boston to San Francisco to Dallas.

 Zoller found that people are sometimes hesitant to use the Freedom of Information Act to request government records.

“You can’t get in trouble for accessing open records,” Zoller would tell them. “This is completely ethical.”.

 His talk was meant to go beyond journalism. 

“It is imperative for young people to realize they have the power not only as journalists but as engaged citizens,” Zoller said.  

He also got more deeply involved with CAC and was serving on its advisory board as of 2023. 

“I am a huge advocate for open government, transparency in government, and access to government,” he said.