How to FOIA, by the Washington Post expert

[Foggy]

Gift article from the Post.

Few things make a journalist happier than receiving a manila envelope full of internal government records. These days, a large email attachment is pretty good, too.

I received my first envelope of documents as a college student in 2004. Using public records laws, I had requested information about a nuclear war scare from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. They sent them to me — and I was hooked. My first professional job was filing thousands more requests for historical records at the nonprofit National Security Archive.

Today, as The Post’s first Freedom of Information Act director, I work to ensure that our entire newsroom receives as many of those envelopes and email attachments as possible. Those documents have helped us publish stories that have exposed government waste and wrongdoing, and led to congressional hearings and new laws. Successful requests take strategy, creativity and a tenacity for overcoming bureaucratic resistance. Now, I’m writing a periodic column about how I do it.

[bob]

By way of example, the author describes a FOIA request for the photos taken surrounding bin Laden's death:

Yes, that's Obama enjoying a birth-certificate meme.

[northland10]

One method for a more successful FOIA request; if GIL does it, don't do it.

[Sam the Centipede]

One method for a more successful FOIA request; if GIL does it, don't do it.

To be fair, that "if GIL does it, don't do it" rule applies to most behavior.

Especially in respect of acting appropriately with one's children.

[RVInit]

Excellent article. I especially enjoyed seeing the photo of Obama laughing at the birth certificate meme. He has a wonderful sense of humor.