Question 1

When MSNBC reporter Bill Dedman requested information on bridge inspections, what did he find?

Accepted Answer

Local agencies failed to inspect bridges on a regular basis, and some didn't know the structure of the bridges they were supposed to inspect.

Question 2

Which of the following tactics is least effective for getting an agency to release public documents?

Accepted Answer

A)  Be as specific as possible 
B)  Be as broad as possible 
C)  Be considerate 
D)  Know what to ask for 
A)  Be as specific as possible 
B)  Be as broad as possible 
C)  Be considerate 
D)  Know what to ask for B

Question 3

How do open records acts differ from one state to another?

Accepted Answer

Some states give public agencies more leeway to withhold documents. Some give the public broad rights, while others are very specific about what documents the public is or is not entitled to.

Question 4

There is a general consistency between state public records acts.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Journalists file only a fraction of the public records requests made to public agencies each year.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Why might you still have a difficult time getting public documents from a state agency even when you clearly have a right to those documents according to the state law?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why might you still have a difficult...

Question 7

Which of the following public agencies does NOT have to abide by the FOIA?

Accepted Answer

A)  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
B)  The Federal Bureau of Investigation 
C)  The Central Intelligence Agency 
D)  The House of Representatives 
A)  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
B)  The Federal Bureau of Investigation 
C)  The Central Intelligence Agency 
D)  The House of Representatives

Question 8

A police agency can withhold public documents about ongoing investigations.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

What is one way to avoid paying copying costs when you request documents through a state or federal open records law?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is one way to avoid paying...

Question 10

What is a FOIA letter generator?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is a FOIA letter generator?...

Question 11

When information is redacted, what happens to it?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is deleted, erased or whited-out from a document. 
B)  It is released at no cost. 
C)  It is denied as true. 
D)  All of the above. 
A)  It is deleted, erased or whited-out from a document. 
B)  It is released at no cost. 
C)  It is denied as true. 
D)  All of the above.

Question 12

A FOIA log is which of the following:

Accepted Answer

A)  A roll of documents that is tied with a rubber band 
B)  An index of FOIA requests 
C)  A FOIA request made to the U.S. Forest Service 
D)  All of the above 
A)  A roll of documents that is tied with a rubber band 
B)  An index of FOIA requests 
C)  A FOIA request made to the U.S. Forest Service 
D)  All of the above

Question 13

What does it mean that you can't get records that don't exist?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What does it mean that you can't...

Question 14

On the federal level, you have a right to most public records.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

What does FOIA stand for?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What does FOIA stand for?...

Question 16

What does it mean to FOIA the FOIAs?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What does it mean to FOIA the...

Question 17

A public agency can charge you for public documents:

Accepted Answer

A)  Based on your ability to pay 
B)  If you are working for a for-profit news organization 
C)  If it takes a long time to find your documents or they have to photocopy them 
D)  If there is a high demand for those documents 
A)  Based on your ability to pay 
B)  If you are working for a for-profit news organization 
C)  If it takes a long time to find your documents or they have to photocopy them 
D)  If there is a high demand for those documents

Question 18

If a public agency tells you that you aren't entitled to public data because it is on a spreadsheet that lists people's names and addresses, what should you do?

Accepted Answer

The answer of If a public agency tells you that...

Question 19

What is one way of narrowing a request that an agency deems too broad?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is one way of narrowing a...

Question 20

Freedom of Information is one of the five elements of the First Amendment to the Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

When MSNBC reporter Bill Dedman requested information on bridge inspections, what did he find?

Which of the following tactics is least effective for getting an agency to release public documents?

How do open records acts differ from one state to another?

There is a general consistency between state public records acts.

Journalists file only a fraction of the public records requests made to public agencies each year.

Why might you still have a difficult time getting public documents from a state agency even when you clearly have a right to those documents according to the state law?

Which of the following public agencies does NOT have to abide by the FOIA?

A police agency can withhold public documents about ongoing investigations.

What is one way to avoid paying copying costs when you request documents through a state or federal open records law?

What is a FOIA letter generator?

When information is redacted, what happens to it?

A FOIA log is which of the following:

What does it mean that you can't get records that don't exist?

On the federal level, you have a right to most public records.

What does FOIA stand for?

What does it mean to FOIA the FOIAs?

A public agency can charge you for public documents:

If a public agency tells you that you aren't entitled to public data because it is on a spreadsheet that lists people's names and addresses, what should you do?

What is one way of narrowing a request that an agency deems too broad?

Freedom of Information is one of the five elements of the First Amendment to the Constitution.

What Is Investigative Reporting

Finding the Story

Setting up the Investigation

Documenting the Investigation

Public Records

The Interview Process

Finding and Using Data

Building Your Own Database

Analyzing a Big Story

Writing the Story

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Bulletproofing the Investigation

Pitching the Story

Filters

Exam 4: Finding Human Sources

When MSNBC reporter Bill Dedman requested information on bridge inspections, what did he find?

Which of the following tactics is least effective for getting an agency to release public documents?

How do open records acts differ from one state to another?

There is a general consistency between state public records acts.

Journalists file only a fraction of the public records requests made to public agencies each year.

Why might you still have a difficult time getting public documents from a state agency even when you clearly have a right to those documents according to the state law?

Which of the following public agencies does NOT have to abide by the FOIA?

A police agency can withhold public documents about ongoing investigations.

What is one way to avoid paying copying costs when you request documents through a state or federal open records law?

What is a FOIA letter generator?

When information is redacted, what happens to it?

A FOIA log is which of the following:

What does it mean that you can't get records that don't exist?

On the federal level, you have a right to most public records.

What does FOIA stand for?

What does it mean to FOIA the FOIAs?

A public agency can charge you for public documents:

If a public agency tells you that you aren't entitled to public data because it is on a spreadsheet that lists people's names and addresses, what should you do?

What is one way of narrowing a request that an agency deems too broad?

Freedom of Information is one of the five elements of the First Amendment to the Constitution.

What Is Investigative Reporting

Finding the Story

Setting up the Investigation

Documenting the Investigation

Public Records

The Interview Process

Finding and Using Data

Building Your Own Database

Analyzing a Big Story

Writing the Story

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Bulletproofing the Investigation

Pitching the Story

Filters