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FOIA and Public Records
How to use the federal Freedom of Information Act
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has a general do-it-yourself guide, with a sample FOIA request letter.

State open-government guides
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has a state-by-state guide to open records and meetings laws. Check the reading room for primers on using electronic records, getting medical information under HIPAA, and other access-to-information issues.

Finding public records online
Lifewire offers tips and links for finding public records online, usually for free.

Smartphone Reporting
Three pillars of mobile journalism
BBC trainer Marc Settle tackles some of the challenges of smartphone reporting.

iPhone journalism
WTOP radio reporter Neal Augenstein was one of the first journalists to report exclusively using his smartphone. One of his early iPhones is now on display at the Newseum. His site offers lots of tips and tricks.