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Read our reports on media law cases and controversies, including major freedom of information issues, affecting journalists nationwide.
Recent FOIA News from the Reporters Committee's news site
Nov 20: ACLU urges Supreme Court to let FOIA ruling stand
Nov 17: Washington city refuses to settle suit over e-mail messages
Nov 17: Wisconsin prison hands over grenade video, settles suit
Nov 17: State police want nearly $7 million to fulfill FOIA request
Nov 16: Judicial email not public in West Virginia
Nov 16: Pentagon blocks release of all Bush-era detainee abuse photos
Nov 10: Police use-of-force reports are public records in New Jersey
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The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press is the nation's leading advocate for open government issues on behalf of journalists. We provide resources, publications and assistance to journalists seeking access to public records and meetings. If you're a journalist, and you can't find what you're looking for on this page, call us! We man a hotline to answer your freedom of information (and other) questions and are here to help navigate you through federal and state open government issues. 1-800-336-4243
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A guide that explains how the federal open records and meetings laws work; we provide tips to aid you in requesting information from federal agencies including sample letters and suggestions on how to argue past roadblocks. (2009) |
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A guide to open records and meetings laws in each state, detailing which records you can expect to be made public and which agencies are subject to the laws. (2005) |
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Medical Privacy vs. A reporter's guide to HIPAA, restrictive medical rules that affect access to health-related matters. (2005) |
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A look at how access to computerized government records differs from access to traditional documents, examining the laws in each state. (2003) |
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Privatization vs. With privatization on the rise, a look at ways that public access laws have failed to keep up, shutting out media access. (2007) |
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A guide examining the laws related to accessing law enforcement records in each state. (Winter 2008) |
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How a steady stream of government decisions has eroded reporting on important issues. (Fall 2003) |
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A primer on all areas of media law, including state and federal records and meetings laws. |
Generate your own federal or state records request letter with our FOIA Letter Generator
A seasoned FOIA requester shares how the law has helped in his reporting and talks about how the law works — and doesn't.
Other FOIA resources:
The Brechner Center for Freedom of Information
National Freedom of Information Coalition
Society of Professional Journalists (FOI page)