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wikifoia.org
The WikiFOIA project allows people to pool their knowledge of open records law & processes across the U.S. |
FOIA is valuable and powerful, but in practice it's often arcane and not much fun. A new project,
WikiFOIA, aims to provide easier access to the FOIA and open records process at the federal and state levels.
The site's home page explains: "A primary goal of this Wiki is to build a comprehensive and collaborative how-to guide to provide very practical guidance on open records requests at the state and local level.."
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WikiFOIA is a project of the
Lucy Burns Institute, a Wisconsin-based nonprofit.
Sara Key, one of the site's creators, says: "People who are interested in using or learning about state sunshine laws can come together to share their wisdom and experiences. Some citizens feel quite intimidated by the open records process and wonder if they should leave it up to reporters and attorneys to do that kind of work. With WikiFoia we hope to create a fairly informal and collaborative environment that reduces the 'FOIA is only for experts' fear."
I think this is a great idea, and it'll be interesting to watch this project. Since many journalists know a great deal about open records, FOIA, and sunshine laws, I encourage you to share some of your expertise via this wiki. If you've never wiki'd before, this is a constructive and low-pressure way to start.
(Thanks to Robert McClure of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer for the tip.)
