Sunlight Research Desk and MuckRock are joining forces to expand the tools, training and research support that help local newsrooms deliver high-impact reporting. Read more here.
Workshop 4: FOIA for Local Impact: Unlocking Public Records in Your Community
Tue, Sep 09
|Zoom
This is the fourth session of our Fall Candidate Backgrounding Workshop Series. Join experts from MuckRock and Sunlight for a hands-on session exploring how to use public records laws to investigate state and local government.
Time & Location
Sep 09, 2025, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT
Zoom
About the event
Join experts from MuckRock and Sunlight for a hands-on session exploring how to use public records laws to investigate state and local politicians and candidates. This workshop will prepare you to file effective requests, handle common pushback, and use state transparency laws to uncover vital information. Whether you’re new to FOIA or looking to sharpen your skills, you’ll walk away equipped to access the records your community needs to make informed decisions at the ballot box.
State-level know-how: Understand the key differences between state and federal FOIA laws and how to navigate state and local processes.
Writing successful requests: Learn how to craft clear, targeted FOIA requests that get results — and how to follow up when they don’t.
Turning records into reporting: Understand how public records can reveal critical information about local officials, agencies and policies.
And ... make sure to stick around for office hours after the workshop for…