The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press is the nation's leading advocate for open government issues on behalf of journalists. We provide resources, publications and assistance to journalists seeking access to public records and meetings. If you're a journalist, and you can't find what you're looking for on this page, call us! We man a hotline to answer your freedom of information (and other) questions and are here to help navigate you through federal and state open government issues. 1-800-336-4243

How to Use the
Federal FOI Act

A guide that explains how the federal open records law works; we provide tips to aid you in requesting information from federal agencies including sample letters and suggestions on how to argue past roadblocks. (2004)

The Open
Government Guide

A guide to open records and meetings laws in each state, detailing which records you can expect to be made public and which agencies are subject to the laws. (2005)

Medical Privacy vs.
The Public Interest

A reporter's guide to HIPAA, restrictive medical rules that affect access to health-related matters. (2005)

Access to
Electronic Records

A look at how access to computerized government records differs from access to traditional documents, examining the laws in each state. (2003)

Privatization vs.
The Public's
Right to Know

With privatization on the rise, a look at ways that public access laws have failed to keep up, shutting out media access. (2007)

Access to
Police Records

A guide examining the laws related to accessing law enforcement records in each state. (Winter 2008)

The Lost Stories

How a steady stream of government decisions has eroded reporting on important issues. (Fall 2003)

The First
Amendment
Handbook

A primer on all areas of media law, including state and federal records and meetings laws.