I ran across a funny graphic posted by blogger Edward Vielmetti on AnnArbor.com (See posting of his FOIA Friday blog) playing on “Google classic.” Edward then lists great tips for getting public records, with my favorites (including some of my own input): 1. Get the information through other means if you can – FOIA is [...]
Filed under: 5. Request strategies, 6. Overcoming denials | 1 Comment »
Recently I did a Q&A with the Poynter Institute about The Art of Access and I mentioned the part of the book that talks about some experiments I did on effective request letters. Which works best – friendly or threatening? Honey or vinegar? In the Q&A I explain that the threatening letter results in greater [...]
Filed under: 5. Request strategies | Leave a Comment »
Mark Weiler, a doctoral candidate at Simon Fraser University, sent us an e-mail the other day asking why public records requests are called “requests.” Why do we refer to “requesters”? That’s a great point! After all, when we go to a library to pick up a book that we are entitled to, we wouldn’t “request” [...]
Filed under: 2. Doc state of mind, 5. Request strategies | 1 Comment »
State officials around the country are trying to figure out how to handle public officials’ discussions via Twitter, Facebook, texting and other electronic devices. If officials are discussing public business then those messages are public records. Check with your government jurisdictions to find out whether they are recording Blackberry messages and other electronic communications. If [...]
Filed under: 4. Finding records, 5. Request strategies, 7. Electronic records | Tagged: Local gov | Leave a Comment »
Thanks for visiting our site! We hope you will find the information about accessing government documents helpful in your reporting and daily life. Check out the FOI resources above as well as the tips to the left, sorted by beat topic and chapters in our book. If you have any thoughts or suggestions let us know! – [...]
Filed under: 1. Records that matter, 2. Doc state of mind, 3. Access law, 4. Finding records, 5. Request strategies, 6. Overcoming denials, 7. Electronic records, 8. Officials' perspectives, 9. FOI writing & ethics | 1 Comment »
