Data for Journalists Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

Getting Data Not on the Web: How to Find and Negotiate for Data

Here are exercises on getting data not posted on the web and sites for instructions on how to file Freedom of Information Act requests for data.

  • Exercises

Suggested exercises included:

1. Identify data from an agency that interests you that is not posted on the web or is incomplete on the web.

2. Use guidelines for your country or state for filing Freedom of Information requests in preparing a request.

3. Make sure to request a record layout and a codesheet/ data dictionary.

4. Import the data into a spreadsheet or database manager and summarize the data using a pivot table or SQL.

  • Links

Reporter’s Committee for Freedom of the Press

https://www.rcfp.org/foia/

Muckrock.com

https://www.muckrock.com/foi/create/

The FOIA Machine

https://www.foiamachine.org/

The Global Investigative Journalism Network’s Guide to freedom of information laws by country

https://gijn.org/gijns-global-guide-to-freedom-of-information-resources/

 

© Brant Houston