J298 Freedom of Information

In this golden age of data and documentation, it is urgently important that journalists possess the skills to navigate both the laws that allow them access to information and the tradecraft to do it successfully. Freedom of information goes far beyond the filing of a FOIA or state records request, or knowing how to access court records, trace real estate ownership or read a 10-Q. Journalists need to know how to access huge swaths of government data, mine social media for accurate information and still dig up an old arrest at some far-flung county courthouse on deadline.