Month: February 2021

By Rylee Tan Because the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown much of the economic world into chaos, coverage of workers, the workplace and all aspects of labor have been thrust to the front pages.  Four panelists from the Chicago Headline Club’s FOIAFest 2021 — moderated by Chalkbeat Chicago reporter Yana Kunichoff […]

By Isaiah Colbert Databases are useful tools, but some are so flawed they should be abolished, said panelists appearing at the Chicago Headline Club’s FOIAFest 21 on Sunday. Andy Clarno, an associate professor and coordinator of the Policing in Chicago Research Group at University of Illinois at Chicago, highlighted the […]

By Dyana Daniels Journalists covering immigration hope the Biden administration will be more responsive to Freedom of Information Act requests regarding immigration than the Trump administration was. “I was really frustrated at multiple points in time, especially during the last administration, and we’ll see how things go this administration with […]

By Mari Devereaux  From never ending court dates and legal fees to stagnated stories, suing obstinate government agencies unwilling to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests can be frustrating. But freelance journalist Matt Chapman said it’s sometimes necessary to file a lawsuit to figure out what information exists and […]

By Dyana Daniels Adeshina Emmanuel understands that submitting a FOIA request isn’t just about getting data – it’s about the people behind those numbers. “The only reason that we want to FOIA … is because of people – because there’s some impact or harm that we’re trying to understand,” said […]

By Camilla Forte A panel of legal experts, journalists and community organizers shed light on key aspects of Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act during the first day of the Headline Club’s annual FOIAFest, sharing tips for filing requests, following up and organizing data that is helpful to community organizers. Panelists […]

By Isaiah Colbert Using Freedom of Information Act laws can help journalists tell the story of policing and prisons – and ensure people’s lived experiences are more accurately reflected, said reporters speaking Saturday at the Chicago Headline Club’s FOIAFest 2021. While databases like those created as part of the Invisible […]

By Camilla Forte Local Chicago reporters outlined Sunday how FOIA was used to break a key story surrounding the Hilco demolition in May 2020, exposing that city officials had neglected the many environmental concerns raised by residents and other stakeholders before the stacks were leveled. Chicago Sun-Times reporter Brett Chase, […]

By Mari Devereaux In journalism, finding even the smallest bit of information can lead to an investigative project that requires hundreds of files and dozens of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.  That was the consensus Saturday as several investigative reporters discussed how to use and keep track of FOIA […]