So you want to hold your government accountable and file a records request. How do you get started?
On Monday, the Illinois Answers Project and Better Government Association hosted a training and conversation about the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for journalists, nonprofits and engaged Illinois residents with public records expert Matt Topic.
Topic, partner at Loevy & Loevy and general counsel for Better Government Association, explained some common pitfalls for FOIA-filers and answered questions about the FOIA process, ranging from response timeframes to judicial records reform.
For those struggling with getting a response – regardless of whether it’s a first-time FOIA, an unexpected denial or an overly broad request – Topic has one big suggestion: pick up the phone to talk to a FOIA officer.
“Get them on the phone, try to work something out, try to narrow it a little bit,” he told attendees. That way, if you’re still getting pushback and decide to litigate, it bodes better in court.
Watch: Q&A with FOIA expert Matt Topic
The training, which is posted here on YouTube, spanned a variety of issues that records requesters might face, including exemptions to and the legal limits of FOIA, strategies for dealing with “undue burden” claims and how to handle denials. Topic also discussed the implications of the recent decision by the Illinois Supreme Court to limit access to database schemas, or the layout of files and databases, for requesters.
FOIA resources for Illinois residents and journalists
Check out these links to learn more about the Freedom of Information Act, how you can use it and what you need to get started to promote government transparency and accountability.
- BGA’s resource guide on how to file FOIA requests in Illinois
- Ways to track your FOIA requests, from the National Archives
- Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press resource guide/FOIA Wiki
- Sample FOIA letter
- Federal FOIA statute
- State FOIA statute
- Muckrock, which can help you file records requests
- City of Chicago’s FOIA landing page
