KCNN: FOR FUN: RECORDS ACCESS ANIMATION

The Citizen Journalists' Guide to Open Government

Illustration by Mark Anderson

Door 1	Grading State Web Sites
Door 2	Access to Government Records: Some Basics
Door 3	What Records Can You Get?
Door 4	How to Create Productive Records Requests
Door 5	Following Up on Records Requests
Door 6	Blogger Q&A
Door 7	Access to Meetings
Door 8	Access to Courts
Door 9	Access to Resources
Door 10	Blog

This module is based on laws in the United States. Please note that even within the United States, laws from jurisdiction to jurisdiction vary considerably and laws and their interpretation are subject to change. Information is offered for educational purposes. Do not rely on this module or any of its related content or communications as a substitute for the advice of a qualified attorney. No attorney-client relationship is intended or created by communications pertaining to this site or its related content, interactive features, blogs or e-mail.

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FOR FUN: RECORDS ACCESS ANIMATION

We don’t have any imperial majesties in American government ─ not at the federal level, not at the state level and not in your county, city, town, village, district or neighborhood.

Government officials are supposed to be accountable to the public and one way citizen journalists can help to ensure government is transparent and accountable is by bringing newsworthy government records to light.

Federal and state laws require local, state and federal government agencies to disclose public records.

If the information isn’t publicly available and if asking for it doesn’t get you anywhere, you should consider a

What does that require?

Begging is unnecessary . . .

Fishing expeditions are optional . . .

What it really takes is learning about your rights and your government’s disclosure obligations and carefully formulating records requests. Your patience may be tested . . .

Really tested.

But with careful planning and follow up, your efforts can be rewarded with

You just might discover JOURNALISTIC . . .

So thank you (in advance) for shedding light on issues of public importance, improving government transparency, and helping to hold government officials in your community accountable.

THE END

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FOR FUN: RECORDS ACCESS ANIMATION

Next: Door 3. What Records Can You Get?