Freedom of Information can act as springboards for powerful pieces of investigative journalism. But how to get the information you want?
Accessing government information is complicated. In many cases, the information you are after is hidden for a reason.
Submitting a good FOI is a skill that requires practice, a great deal of planning and finesse.
To help you out, the Student Publication Association has published this handy guide to submitting your first FOI and how to best use the information you receive.
According to the author Edd Church, the most important step is to "know what you are looking for."
"Do some research into the names of the types of documents/data sets you are trying to find. If you are looking for change over time, try and obtain data for a few years."
Is it important for you to make your content more searchable? Join the 'Essential SEO skills for media professionals' training course with Adam Tinworth and update your knowledge of the latest algorithm changes.
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Our 35th Newsrewired conference will be held 13 May 2025, News UK, London.
Our community of experts gives a heads-up on the most important shifts your newsroom needs to prepare for this year
Conferences and study weeks are fantastic opportunities to get the latest updates on the industry and network with your peers
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