Do-It-Yourself FOIA for Budding Investigative Bloggers

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Do-It-Yourself FOIA for Budding Investigative Bloggers Email Print

By Tom Ball
03/03/2006 09:36:54 AM EST
Jeff Gannon and Talon News, the Downing Street Memo, and fake TANG documents are just the tip o' the berg. Each day the lords of Blogdom offer insights on stories and factual tidbits that would otherwise be dismissed, overlooked, ignored, downplayed, or outrightly covered up. We should all be very thankful for this new medium - one that seeks to fill the canyonic gaps created by mainstream news outlets.

As this investigative vigor grows within the blogosphere, so too does the thirst for usable tools that ease the process of investigative journalism.

In response to that, Political Cortex has created an extensive resource page targeted toward helping investigative online journalists do what they do best - dig out the truth.

Today, we are happy to add a powerful new tool - one that assists in the process of requesting documents via the Freedom of Information Act.

FOIArequest.org is a project of the People for the American Way and offers this introduction on their website:

Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), anyone has the right to request information from the government. Last strengthened by Congress in response to the Watergate scandal, FOIA gives citizens a way to demand transparency from the Administration -- and take the government to court if necessary.

Many Americans -- especially those with family and friends abroad -- are wondering whether government agents have been listening to their phone conversations or reading their email. If you're worried this has happened to you, you can use this site to help you find out.

We can't guarantee that the Bush administration will disclose all this information in compliance with the law, but we can help you through the process. By filing a FOIA request, you will send a strong signal that American citizens believe in the rule of law and aren't afraid to stand up to the President when he violates the Constitution!

If you're tired of the drivel spewed by traditional media outlets, now is the time to take the news into your own hands. Check out the Cortex Investigative Resource page and get to work;)

http://www.politicalcortex.com/story/2006/3/3/93654/09612