FOIA and Public Records Guides for Journalists
How to ask government for records, what to expect back, and what to do when the answer is no. Each guide links to the statute or agency page it relies on.
- FOIA Exemptions: The Nine Categories Explained
Learn the nine FOIA exemptions in plain words, what agencies must show to use them, and how to respond when your records request is denied or redacted.
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- FOIA Expedited Processing: When Journalists Qualify
How to ask for expedited FOIA processing as a journalist: the compelling need test, what agencies want to see, the 10-day decision, and appeals.
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- FOIA Fee Waiver for Journalists and News Media Status
How freelance journalists can claim news media status and ask for a fee waiver on a federal FOIA request, with the proof agencies look for and the limits.
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- FOIA for Freelance Journalists: Costs and Tracking
What a federal FOIA request costs a freelance journalist, how fee categories work, how long agencies have to respond, and how to track every request.
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- FOIA Request Letter Template for Journalists
Write a clear federal FOIA request: what to include, how to describe records, which fee category to ask for, and what to do after you file.
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- FOIA vs Open Records vs Open Meetings: The Difference
FOIA covers federal agencies only. State laws govern state and local requests. Open meetings laws cover attending meetings. Here is how the three differ.
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- How to Appeal a FOIA Denial and Use OGIS Mediation
Learn how to appeal a FOIA denial: find the deadline, write the letter, send it to the right office, and know what OGIS mediation can and cannot do.
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- How to File a Federal FOIA Request: Step by Step
Learn how to file a federal FOIA request. Find the right agency, write a clear letter, track fees and deadlines, and handle denials.
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- How to Request Police Reports and 911 Recordings
Learn how to request police reports, 911 recordings, transcripts, and dispatch logs. See how state laws differ and how to file and follow up.
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- State Public Records Request: How It Differs From FOIA
A state public records request uses your state's law, not FOIA. See who can file, how deadlines differ, and what to do when an agency delays or withholds.
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All guides for independent journalists
NPA membership is separate from any credential an agency issues
The National Press Association credential is a private association credential. It is not government-issued, it does not give you legal rights, and it does not guarantee access to any event, venue, or agency. It can serve as identity verification and supporting documentation alongside your published work. It is free to apply.