The First Amendment Coalition is proud to announce the launch of a series of Freedom of Information Boot Camps for journalists interested in using the California Public Record Act and other laws to shed light on government agencies across the state.
Led by FAC attorneys, these sessions will provide journalists with the tools to improve their reporting, whether daily or in-depth investigative work, by using freedom-of-information laws more effectively. These sessions will feature real-world scenarios and teachable lessons from recent court cases, with a focus on using public records to enhance accountability journalism.
The first public session will be at City College of San Francisco on March 18, 2020, in conjunction with the Journalism Department and the San Francisco Press Club. RSVP today. (Update: This sold-out event has been canceled amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus.)
In addition, FAC will be convening small, intimate gatherings for journalists throughout 2020. For more information or to apply for an FOI Boot Camp training session, visit our application page.
The FOI Boot Camp sessions are another way FAC provides free resources to support journalists and members of the public, thus increasing government accountability and civic engagement.
For 30 years, FAC has held governments accountable at the local, state, and federal levels, supporting journalists and the general public by helping them enforce their First Amendment rights, as well as the rights of access under California and federal law. We offer a free Legal Hotline that gives users quick, free access to FAC’s lawyers for questions about access to public records, your right to attend government meetings and access to court documents. Our Asked & Answered is a searchable database of questions posed by users like you about their rights under public records laws, open government laws, and First Amendment safeguards. We publish sample records requests letters and resources for enforcing open-meeting provisions.