Search results for: foi
FOI Files: How student journalists helped shine a light on a university withholding important records
By Lauren Lifke My journey with public records started in 2023, when I was a student at the University of New Mexico just starting out as a reporter for our student newspaper, the Daily Lobo. I, like much of the student body, wondered why we frequently weren’t getting campus safety alerts until hours after the…
Read MoreThe rise, fall and (possible) resurgence of FOIA audits
The rise, fall and (possible) resurgence of FOIA audits By Jordan P. Hickey, independent journalist On Aug. 23, 1999, just after 8 a.m., regional supervisors for the Arkansas Health Department started getting phone calls from county health officials. Not exactly the most breaking news of the day, but what set those calls apart was…
Read MoreSecrecy gives the government control. FOIA can restore the power imbalance
By Lauren Harper, Freedom of the Press Foundation Excessive government secrecy takes many forms, including denying or ignoring FOIA requests and deleting data from websites. These tactics prevent the public from meaningfully participating in self-government in every area secrecy touches, from domestic policy discussions on climate change, to foreign policy debates around international aid. Sunshine…
Read MoreNew member benefit will provide free access to FOIAengine
Starting this spring, IRE professional members will get free access to FOIAengine, a database for researching FOIA requests.
Read MoreIRE Radio Podcast | BONUS: The State of the FOIA
It’s been 50 years since the federal Freedom of Information Act was signed into law. A lot’s happened since then – not all of it good for the press. We’re calling this bonus episode “The State of the FOIA” because, over the next 30 minutes, we’ll be talking to three experts to figure out what…
Read MoreSix lessons from a five-year FOIA battle
By Philip Eil, CJR Editor’s Note: This article first ran on September 28, 2016 on the Columbia Journalism Review’s website. I filed my first Freedom of Information Act request on February 1, 2012. I was 26 years old, and chasing a story about my father’s med-school classmate, Dr. Paul Volkman, who had been convicted of a…
Read MoreWill a new law really make Illinois’ FOIA stronger? Journalists there aren’t so sure
By Jackie Spinner, CJR Editor’s Note: This article first ran on August 16, 2016 on the Columbia Journalism Review’s website. This summer, the Illinois Legislature stiffened the penalties that can be imposed on public bodies that refuse to comply with the state’s Freedom of Information Act. HB 4715, part of a two-bill package known as “Molly’s…
Read MoreHow one paper filed a FOIA request in Michigan—and got sued by the county
By Jonathan Peters, CJR Editor’s Note: This article first ran on August 2, 2016 on the Columbia Journalism Review’s website. Michigan’s primary elections, taking place today, may offer few competitive races. But one of them has offered a look at an unusual type of legal action—one in which a government entity sues a local media outlet in response…
Read MoreIRE Radio Podcast | BONUS: Tips from a FOIA Terrorist
You’ve probably heard of Jason Leopold, even if his name doesn’t immediately ring a bell. He’s the journalist who forced the release of Hillary Clinton’s emails. He’s also unearthed shocking details on CIA torture and spying. Jason works at VICE News, and he’s the master of the federal FOIA request. In fact, he’s such a…
Read More#FOIAFriday: International FOIA tips and resources
Requesting data or documents from another country can be a confusing and challenging task. What kinds of records are available? Who do you contact about them? Which laws govern their release? For #FOIAFriday this week we put together a roundup of some of our favorite resources on international records requests. If you have foreign FOIA…
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