By Torin Koos
@torinkoos
USA TODAY Sports intern
There is an art and a discipline to filing open-records requests that yield actionable information in a timely matter. And in "this age of spin," The Associated Press' Ted Bridis argues public records and data are powerful accountability tools.
The value of data analysis is it's inherently objective and credible, Bridis said, adding this kind of journalism will distinguish outlets from their lazier competitors.
Each year, the AP files about 1,000 record requests on financial data, government emails, text messages, police reports, politician’s calendars, zoning proposals, etc..
Here's a copy of Bridis' presentation: foia_basics_apse And three tips, courtesy of Bridis, who leads AP’s national investigative team:
_ File consistent, frequent open record requests: If a news group only files open-record requests for a specific story, the agency could get spooked and tight-lipped. To combat this, file requests at least monthly.
_ Spearfishing vs. casting a wide net: With open-records requests, there are two kinds of way to reel in the information. If you know exactly what you want (say you already have the title/date of report or email) go spearfishing, aiming just for that. Often you will need to cast a wider net, with the careful use of keywords, to access other information.
_ Embrace the data: Sports is swimming in a sea of data. Embrace this melding of the business and sports pages. Consider the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez. By mining A-Rod’s tax records, the AP found out that less than 1 percent of his foundation money made it to charities. Most professional athletes promote their own charity. Dig in and find out how effective your hometown athlete's charity is.
Finally, feel free to email Bridis at tbridis@ap.org with specific questions.
