The Freedom of Information Advisory Council is available to answer any questions you may have about FOIA.  
<a href="foiacouncil@dls.virginia.gov">Contact the Freedom of Information Advisory Council by e-mail at foiacouncil@dls.virginia.gov</a>, or by phone at 804-225-3056 or [toll free] 1-866-448-4100.



          <h2><a id="foia-virginia" href="#nogo">FOIA Virginia</a></h2>
          <a href="http://foiacouncil.dls.virginia.gov/">http://foiacouncil.dls.virginia.gov/</a>








<h2><a href="http://www.llsdc.org/freedom-of-information-act-resources">Freedom of Information Act Resources (<strong>nice</strong>) &#45; <abbr title="Law Librarians' Society of Washington D.C>">llsdc</abbr></a></h2>

<a href="http://blogs.archives.gov/foiablog/2015/01/21/record-keeping-for-foia-requesters-101/">Record Keeping for <abbr>foia</abbr> Requesters 101</a>

READ
<a href="http://blogs.archives.gov/foiablog/2015/01/21/record-keeping-for-foia-requesters-101/

<a href="http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/foia/foia_guide.html">FOIA Guide</a>
EFFECTIVE FOIA REQUESTING FOR EVERYONE
A National Security Archive Guide

Posted - January 29, 2009

Written by Kristin Adair and Catherine Nielsen

Edited by Meredith Fuchs, Yvette M. Chin, Malcolm Byrne and Tom Blanton
<a href="http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/foia/foia_guide/foia_guide_full.pdf">Effective FOIA Requesting For Everyone (pdf)</a>

COMM
<a href="http://blogs.archives.gov/foiablog/">The FOIA Ombudsman &#45; Building a Bridge Between <abbr>foia</abbr> Requesters and Federal Agencies</a>


          <a href="http://rightrelevance.com/?q=tab_type=1&value=Open%20Government&searchType=experts&start=0&rows=10&location=&isPerson=&contentType=&orderBy=&taccount=OpenGoverrenmen">Search Right Relevance for "<b>Open Government</b>"</a>

          <h2>Events</h2>
          <h3><a href="events.html#transparency">Transparency Events</a></h3>

          <h2>Comm</h2>
          <p><strong>FreedomInfo.org List of FOI-Related Blogs</strong></p>
          <p><em>The editors welcome suggestions to expand this list. </em></p>
          <p><em>To qualify for this list, the blog or website needs to be pretty active and significantly focused on the subject of access to information whether it is called freedom of information (FOI), right to know (RTK), right to information (RTI).</em></p>
          <p><strong>FreedomInfo.org List of FOI-Related Blogs</span></strong></p>
          <p>Freedom.info works with individuals, policymakers, and members of the media to increase transparency; expose and eliminate wasteful subsidies, earmarks, and corporate welfare; and monitor decisionmakers.
<a href="http://www.taxpayer.net/">Taxpayers for Common Sense</a>



<a href="http://foiadvocates.net/">FOIA Advocates</a>
<a href="http://foiadvocates.net/?page_id=10255">Freedom of Information Advocates Network &#45; International Right to Know Day</a>


<a href="http://www.right2info.org/">The Right to Information &#45; Good Law and Practice &#45; Right2Info.org</a>
<p>The Right to Information - Good Law and Practice</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.right2info.org/">Right2INFO.org</a></strong> provides relevant materials concerning the current state of the public's right to information (RTI) held by public bodies (including in all branches and at all levels of government, and bodies that are independent of the executive) and entities that perform public functions or operate with public funds.</p>
<p>With a focus on good law and practice, the website brings together international and domestic law, case examples and related resources from international and regional bodies as well as more than one hundred countries.</p>
<p>This is a collaborative effort and we value the contributions of our readers.  Please contact us to provide your thoughts or additional information that would be useful to include.</p>





          <a href="http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/foia.html">The Freedom of Information Act (<abbr>foia</abbr>) &#124; The National Security Archive at The George Washington University</a>

          <ul>
            <li>
<p><strong>Europe &nbsp;– </strong><strong>Overall</strong><strong>&nbsp;</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>Wobbing Europe –</strong> Sponsored by the Belgian Pascal Decroos Fund.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.wobbing.eu/">http://www.wobbing.eu/</a></p>
<p><strong>Access Info Europe</strong>&nbsp; – The site for NGO Access Info Europe.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.access-info.org/">http://www.access-info.org/</a></p>
<p><strong>FOI in the EU – </strong>Run by Statewatch, an EU-based NGO<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.statewatch.org/foi.htm">www.statewatch.org/foi.htm</a></p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><strong>Europe – By Country</span></strong></p>
<p><strong>United Kingdom</strong></p>
<p><strong>Save Our FOIA -</strong> A site begun in 2011 coincident with the government review of the FOI law.</p>
<p><a href="http://savefoi2012.wordpress.com/">http://savefoi2012.wordpress.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>Open Secrets</strong>&nbsp; – BBC – written by veteran journalist Martin Rosenbaum.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/opensecrets/">http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/opensecrets/</a></p>
<p><strong>UK Freedom of Information Blog</strong> – the site of the Campaign for Freedom of Information – Katherine Gunderson, editor</p>
<p><a href="http://foia.blogspot.com/">http://foia.blogspot.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>The Guardian’s Freedom of Information web page</strong> (Guardian Unlimited) – Tracks recent stories featuring information obtained or withheld under freedom of information legislation and offers sample letters to download for people who want to make information requests.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/freedomofinformation">http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/freedomofinformation</a></p>
<p><strong>FOIA Man</strong> – Written by Paul Gibbons, a former government who worked on FOIA issues, now handling FOIA compliance for a university.</p>
<p><a href="http://foiman.com/">http://foiman.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>David Higgerson – Journalism, online, random thinking</strong>&nbsp; – Variety of topics, including FOI, covered in this personal blog by the head of multimedia for Trinity Mirror Regionals.</p>
<p><a href="http://davidhiggerson.wordpress.com/">http://davidhiggerson.wordpress.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>Inforrm’s Blog</strong> – Done by the <strong>International Forum for Responsible Media, (Inforrm </strong>for short) and largely on issues of media responsibility, but also covers FOI matters.</p>
<p><a href="http://inforrm.wordpress.com/">http://inforrm.wordpress.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>Hawk Talk – </strong>The blog of FOI training company Amberhawk Training Ltd., a FOI training company, focuses on data protection and FOI.<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://amberhawk.typepad.com/">http://amberhawk.typepad.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>Heather Brooke</strong> – British journalist Heather Brooke, author of the book “The Silent State,” focuses on government surveillance, privacy, FOI, etc.</p>
<p><a href="http://heatherbrooke.org/">http://heatherbrooke.org/</a></p>
<p><strong>Panopticon </strong>– Ablog about “information law“ maintained by members of 11KBW’s Information Law Practice Group.&nbsp;<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.panopticonblog.com/">http://www.panopticonblog.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>HoldtheFrontPage.co.uk</strong> – Mostly reprinted reports on the use of the FOIA, part of a larger site owned&nbsp; by four regional newspaper publishers.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/day/foi/foiindex.shtml">http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/day/foi/foiindex.shtml</a></p>
<p><strong>Ben Plouviez</strong> – A blog about information by Ben Plouviez</p>
<p><a href="http://benplouviez.wordpress.com/">http://benplouviez.wordpress.com</a></p>
<p><strong>FOIA News – </strong>U.K. FOI news, edited by DataNews Ltdjournalist Matthew Davis<strong>.</strong><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.foinews.co.uk/">http://www.foinews.co.uk/</a></p>
<p><strong>Information Law</strong> – A website containing articles and training materials by Ibrahim Hasan, a UK solicitor specializing in the area.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.informationlaw.org.uk/">http://www.informationlaw.org.uk/</a></p>
<p><strong>Constitution Unit Blog (FOI and DP) </strong>– A blog by a UK-based think tank specializing in constitutional affairs and comparative constitutional studies.</p>
<p><a href="http://constitution-unit.com/category/foi-dp/">http://constitution-unit.com/category/foi-dp/</a></p>
<p><strong>Request Initiative:</strong> A daily blog by a London-based Community Interest Company that &nbsp;makes requests for information using transparency legislation on behalf of charities, nongovernmental organizations) and nonprofits acting in the public interest.</p>
<p><a href="http://requestinitiative.org/blog/">http://requestinitiative.org/blog/</a></p>
<p><strong>UK FOIA Requests – Spy Blog </strong>– A spin-off site of Spy Blog, tracking the organization’s FOIA requests on surveillance matters.</p>
<p><a href="http://p10.hostingprod.com/@spyblog.org.uk/blog/foia/">http://p10.hostingprod.com/@spyblog.org.uk/blog/foia/</a></p>
<p><strong>whatdotheyknow.com/blog</strong> – Updates from a website for making and tracking FOIA requests.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/blog">http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/blog</a></p>
<p><strong>Information Rights and Wrongs – </strong>By Jonathan Baines, who&nbsp;works in local government.</p>
<p><a href="http://informationrightsandwrongs.wordpress.com/">http://informationrightsandwrongs.wordpress.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>Open Knowledge Foundation Blog – </strong>Run by the British-based nonprofit , the Open Knowledge Foundation.</p>
<p><a href="http://blog.okfn.org/">http://blog.okfn.org/</a></p>
<p><strong>Info Law Blog – “</strong>Anything that enters Tim Turner’s head about FOI, Data Protection, Confidentiality, Environmental Information, Security and related matters.”</p>
<p><a href="http://2040info.blogspot.com/2012/01/war-on-freedom-of-information.html">http://2040info.blogspot.com</a></p>
<p><strong>Infoism – </strong>Authored by librarian Ian Clark.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://infoism.co.uk/blog/">http://infoism.co.uk/blog/</a></strong></p>
<p><strong>Freedom of Information (Scotland) Blog</strong> –a site largely about Scotland.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.foisa.blogspot.com/">http://www.foisa.blogspot.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>Ireland</strong></p>
<p><strong>The Story</strong> – Done by blogger Gavin Sheridan, “dedicated to sharing documents, combing and combining data and promoting transparency in public life….”</p>
<p><a href="http://www.thestory.ie/">http://www.thestory.ie/</a></p>
<p><strong>FOIreland</strong> – A weblog about Freedom of Information in Ireland, as well as broader Data Protection and data use issues. Written by “a former FOI officer, interested in transparency and open data. Especially in Ireland.”</p>
<p><a href="http://foireland.blogspot.ie/2013/01/bed-blockers-hospital-food-and-cost-of.html">http://foireland.blogspot.ie/2013/01/bed-blockers-hospital-food-and-cost-of.html</a></p>
<p><strong>The Netherlands</strong></p>
<p><strong>Bigwobber </strong>-</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bigwobber.nl/">http://www.bigwobber.nl/</a></p>
<p><strong>Fringe:</strong> <strong>FOIA and Wob – </strong><em>via e-mail from roger.vleugels@planet.nl</em> <em>&nbsp;</em></p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong><strong>Germany</strong></p>
<p><strong>Informationsfreiheitsgesetz</strong> – collecting news about freedom of information in Germany.<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.informationsfreiheitsgesetz.net/blog/">http://www.informationsfreiheitsgesetz.net/blog/</a></p>
<p><strong>Malte-spitz – (German)</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.malte-spitz.de/blog/index.html">http://www.malte-spitz.de/blog/index.html</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Frag den Staat</strong> – a site run by the Open Knowledge Foundation – Germany.&nbsp; The site enables requests from over 830 federal agencies and institutions across Germany. Requests can be tracked on the site, creating a public archive of official documents.</p>
<p><a href="http://fragdenstaat.de/">http://fragdenstaat.de/</a></p>
<p><strong>Bulgaria</strong></p>
<p><strong>Access Point</strong><strong>:</strong> A blog by the Access to Information Programme (in Bulgarian).</p>
<p><a href="http://blog.aip-bg.org/">http://blog.aip-bg.org/</a></p>
<p><strong>Access to Information Programme</strong> – the website of the AIP (Bulgarian and English versions).</p>
<p><a href="http://www.aip-bg.org/">http://www.aip-bg.org/</a></p>
<p><strong>Secret</strong><strong> Services.Com -</strong> Independent specialized site for clean past and transparent future (in Bulgarian).</p>
<p><a href="http://desebg.com/">http://desebg.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>Russia</strong></p>
<p><strong>The Institute for Information Freedom Development</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.svobodainfo.org/en">http://www.svobodainfo.org/en</a></p>
<p>Also by the Institute for Information Freedom Development, two blogs in Russian</p>
<p><a href="http://svoboda-info.livejournal.com/">http://svoboda-info.livejournal.com/</a></p>
<p>and</p>
<p><a href="http://www.taktaktak.ru/blog">http://www.taktaktak.ru/blog</a> – By Anastasia Pestova.</p>
<p><strong>Latvia</strong></p>
<p><strong>Info-a.wikidt</strong>&nbsp; —&nbsp; A site by Linda Austere (In Latvian)</p>
<p><a href="http://info-a.wikidot.com">http://info-a.wikidot.com</a></p>
<p><strong>Switzerland</strong></p>
<p><strong>Öffentlichkeitsgesetz –</strong> A blog by journalists for journalists, in German.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.oeffentlichkeitsgesetz.ch">http://www.oeffentlichkeitsgesetz.ch</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Asia</span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Bangladesh</strong></p>
<p><strong>Right to Information –CRTI</strong> – The blog of Campaign for Right to Information.</p>
<p><a href="http://lutfulhaq.wordpress.com/">http://lutfulhaq.wordpress.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>China</strong></p>
<p><strong>Research on Fredom of Information and Electornic Government in China</strong> — Maintained by Ben (Weibing Xiao), associate professor of Political Science and Law at Shanghai University.</p>
<p><a href="http://foichina.blogspot.com/">http://foichina.blogspot.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>Diigo newsmarks&nbsp;03/28/2011 -</strong> A component of <a href="http://www.chinesefoi.org/">CHINESEFOI.ORG</a>, a public interest website dedicated to the report and research of the progressive FOI reform in China<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://chinesefoi.wordpress.com/2011/03/28/diigo-newsmarks-03282011/">http://chinesefoi.wordpress.com/2011/03/28/diigo-newsmarks-03282011/</a></p>
<p><strong>FOIA in China –</strong> A component of <a href="http://www.chinesefoi.org/">CHINESEFOI.ORG</a>, a public interest website dedicated to the report and research of the progressive FOI reform in China (inactive since March 2010)<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.chinesefoi.org/blog/">http://www.chinesefoi.org/blog/</a></p>
<p><strong>China Transparency.org</strong> – A Carter Center-backed &nbsp;site in Chinese.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.chinatransparency.org/">http://www.chinatransparency.org/</a></p>
<p><b>Access to Information in China and Abroad:</b> Chinatransparency.org is “an online resource for Open Government Information in China that seeks to raise awareness about the value of access to information for good governance and the development of society.” Supported by the U.S. Carter Center.</p>
<p><a href="http://chinaelectionsblog.net/ogi/">http://chinaelectionsblog.net/ogi/</a></p>
<p><strong>India</strong></p>
<p><strong>RTIFoundationofIndia.com&nbsp;</strong> – News&nbsp; about RTI cases, updated daily.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rtifoundationofindia.com/">http://www.rtifoundationofindia.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>RTIIndia.org</strong> – Regular posts about legal developments.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rtiindia.org/law/">http://www.rtiindia.org/law</a></p>
<p><strong>RTI!inda.org – </strong>The news section of the RTI!inda.org website.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rtiindia.org/forum/content/section/4-rti-india-news.html">http://www.rtiindia.org/forum/content/section/4-rti-india-news.html</a></p>
<p><em><strong>J&amp;K RTI Movement -</strong></em><em> An information coalition of activists in Jammu and Kashmir.</em></p>
<p><a href="http://blog.jkrtimovement.org/">http://blog.jkrtimovement.org/</a></p>
<p><strong>Accountability Initiative – </strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.accountabilityindia.in/blog">http://www.accountabilityindia.in/blog</a></p>
<p><strong>India Right to Information</strong> -</p>
<p><a href="http://indiarti.blogspot.com/">http://indiarti.blogspot.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel -</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://mahitiadhikar.blogspot.com/">http://mahitiadhikar.blogspot.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>India Together</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://indiatogether.org/rti/">http://indiatogether.org/rti/</a></p>
<p><strong>Jammu – </strong></p>
<p><a href="http://blog.jkrtimovement.org/?p=3861">http://blog.jkrtimovement.org/?p=3861</a></p>
<p><strong>RTIToday – </strong>A site with culled &nbsp;RTI-related stories</p>
<p><a href="http://rtitoday.com/">http://rtitoday.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>RTI for Citizens Right to Information – </strong>an anti-RTI blog.</p>
<p><a href="http://rti4citizens.blogspot.com/2011/01/humjanenge-requesting-information-about.html">http://rti4citizens.blogspot.com/2011/01/humjanenge-requesting-information-about.html</a></p>
<p><strong>Pakistan</strong></p>
<p><strong>Journeys to Democracy</strong> -</p>
<p><a href="http://beenasarwar.wordpress.com/2011/01/25/punjab-government-urged-to-enact-right-to-information-law/">http://beenasarwar.wordpress.com/2011/01/25/punjab-government-urged-to-enact-right-to-information-law/</a></p>
<p><strong>Indonesia</strong></p>
<p><strong>Informasi </strong>– The website of the Indonesian FOI Coalition.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.kebebasaninformasi.org/">http://www.kebebasaninformasi.org/</a>.</p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Africa </span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Overall</strong></p>
<p><strong>The Africa Freedom of Information Centre </strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.africafoicentre.org">http://www.africafoicentre.org</a></p>
<p><strong>International School for Transparency</strong> – Includes monthly <em>Regional Dialogue</em> newsletter.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.istinfo.net/"><strong>http://www.istinfo.net/</strong></a><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><strong>South Africa</strong></p>
<p><strong>Open Democracy Advice Centre </strong>- The Open Democracy Advice Centre is a section 21 nonprofit &nbsp;based in Cape Town.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.opendemocracy.org.za/">http://www.opendemocracy.org.za/</a></p>
<p><strong>South Africa History Archive</strong> – Does some articles on national and regional FOI issues.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.saha.org.za">www.saha.org.za</a></p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><strong>Latin America</span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Brazil</strong></p>
<p><strong>O Fórum de Direito de Acesso a Informações Públicas&nbsp; </strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.informacaopublica.org.br/">http://www.informacaopublica.org.br</a></p>
<p><strong>Observing Brazil </strong>– a site written by Greg Michener that frequently covers FOI issues</p>
<p><a href="http://observingbrazil.com/">http://observingbrazil.com</a></p>
<p><strong>Chile</strong></p>
<p><strong>El Vaso – </strong>A site run byFundación Ciudadano Inteligente</p>
<p><a href="http://blogs.ciudadanointeligente.cl/elvaso/">http://blogs.ciudadanointeligente.cl/elvaso/</a> <strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong><strong>Mexico </strong></p>
<p><strong>Mexico Informate – </strong>A blog by the group Mexico Informate hosted by El Universal</p>
<p><a href="http://blogs.eluniversal.com.mx/mxicoinf/">http://blogs.eluniversal.com.mx/mxicoinf/</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Oceania</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>Australia</strong></p>
<p><strong>Open and Shut</strong> – Peter Timmins</p>
<p><a href="http://foi-privacy.blogspot.com/">http://foi-privacy.blogspot.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>All About Access</strong>&nbsp; – By Rick Snell, senior lecturer in law at the University of Tasmania.,</p>
<p><a href="http://informationandaccess.blogspot.com/">http://informationandaccess.blogspot.com/</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>North America</span></strong></p>
<p><strong>Canada</strong></p>
<p><strong>All About Information – </strong>By Toronto, Ontario, lawyer Dan Michaluk<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://danmichaluk.wordpress.com/">http://danmichaluk.wordpress.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>Eaves.ca</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://eaves.ca/2011/01/10/canada-ranks-last-in-freedom-of-information/">http://eaves.ca/2011/01/10/canada-ranks-last-in-freedom-of-information/</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>United States </strong></p>
<p><strong>Unredacted – </strong>A blog on FOI sponsored by the National Security Archive, Washington, D.C.</p>
<p><a href="http://nsarchive.wordpress.com/">http://nsarchive.wordpress.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>The FOI Advocate – </strong>The site of the National Freedom of Information Coalition.<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.nfoic.org/blog">http://www.nfoic.org/blog</a></p>
<p><strong>Openthegovernment.org</strong>&nbsp; – The group’s website, but plenty of news.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.openthegovernment.org/">http://www.openthegovernment.org/</a></p>
<p>See “news” page:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.openthegovernment.org/press_room/news">http://www.openthegovernment.org/press_room/news</a></p>
<p><strong>Sunlight Foundation – </strong>A news-packed blog by the Washington-based nonprofit, see esp. The Day in Transparency.<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/">http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/</a></p>
<p><strong>The Art of Access: Strategies for Accessing Public Records<em> -</em> </strong>By academics David Cuillier and Charles Davis.</p>
<p><a href="http://theartofaccess.com/">http://theartofaccess.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>The First Amendment Coalition – </strong>News feeds are among the offerings on the site of this California-basednonprofit public interest organization dedicated to advancing free speech, more open and accountable government, and public participation in civic affairs.<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org/">http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org/</a></p>
<p><strong>The Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press </strong>– FOIA news included along with media-related information.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rcfp.org/index.php">http://www.rcfp.org/index.php</a></p>
<p><strong>Secrecy News</strong> – Sponsored by the Federation of American Scientists.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/">http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/</a></p>
<p><strong>Local Open Government Blog </strong>– A site run by the Foster Pepper law firm.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.localopengovernment.com/">http://www.localopengovernment.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>Alltop </strong>– a commercial aggregator of postings fro FOI-related blogs and websites.</p>
<p><a href="http://freedom-of-information.alltop.com/">http://freedom-of-information.alltop.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>The FOIA blog</strong> – written by Washington attorney Scott A Hodes.</p>
<p><a href="mailto:scotthodes@infoprivacylaw.com">scotthodes@infoprivacylaw.com</a></p>
<p><strong>Electronic Frontier Foundation</strong> – Some FOI news included on this site.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.eff.org/">http://www.eff.org/</a></p>
<p>See DeepLinks blog:</p>
<p><a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks">https://www.eff.org/deeplinks</a></p>
<p><strong>Project on Government Oversight</strong> – Check under “open government“ heading.</p>
<p><a href="http://pogoblog.typepad.com/pogo/">http://pogoblog.typepad.com/pogo/</a></p>
<p><strong>FOI FYI – T</strong>he blog of the Society of Professional Journalist’s FOI Committee.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.spj.org/foi.asp">http://www.spj.org/foi.asp</a></p>
<p><strong>Free Government Information </strong><strong>– </strong>A blog on many information topics run by three librarians at University of California San Diego,</p>
<p><a href="http://freegovinfo.info/blog">http://freegovinfo.info/blog</a></p>
<p><strong>Open Records – State Sunshine and Open Records,</strong> a blog about freedom of information, open records and access to public documents. It is associated with <a href="http://www.wikifoia.org/">WikiFoia</a>, is sponsored by the Lucy Burns Institute and is written by Leslie Graves and Joshua Meyer.</p>
<p><a href="http://openrecords.wordpress.com/">http://openrecords.wordpress.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>Sunshine Review</strong> – State and local government news.</p>
<p><a href="http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/FOIA_News_Headlines#tab=--no-tab--">http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/FOIA_News_Headlines#tab=–no-tab–</a></p>
<p><strong>Primary Sources</strong> – a blog run by staffers of MuckRock, “an open government tool powered by state and federal Freedom of Information laws.”</p>
<p><a href="http://www.muckrock.com/blog/">http://www.muckrock.com/blog/</a></p>
<p><strong>Collaboration on Government Secrecy – </strong>U.S. and international FOI news and other FOI resources in this site from American University.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.wcl.american.edu/lawandgov/cgs/" target="_parent">http://www.wcl.american.edu/lawandgov/cgs/</a></p>
<p><strong>FOIA Geek</strong> – By Erin Rosa, “an investigative journalist in the Western Hemisphere.” (Inactive since June 2010)</p>
<p><a href="http://foiageek.wordpress.com/">http://foiageek.wordpress.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>Pogowasright </strong>– A site primarily concerned privacy issues.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.pogowasright.org/">http://www.pogowasright.org/</a></p>
<p><strong>Suits&nbsp;&amp; Sentences</strong> – a blog frequently addressing FOI litigation, by Mike Doyle.</p>
<p><a href="http://blogs.mcclatchydc.com/law/">http://blogs.mcclatchydc.com/law/</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>The FOIA Project</strong> – Periodic updates when t<span style="color: #444444;">he federal government grants or withholds records under the FOIA). Updated daily, this “FOIA accountability engine” now includes detailed information on every case that challenges government withholding in federal court. Coverage of decisions on FOIA administrative requests on an agency-by-agency basis. Run by the&nbsp;<em>&nbsp;</em><a style="font-weight: bold; color: #4265a7;" href="http://foiaproject.org/">Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse</a>. Link is to the News section.</span></span></p>
<p>http://foiaproject.org/news/</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">US – State News</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">NFOIC FOIA Friday –&nbsp;</span></span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">S</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">tate FOIA and local open government news items selected by the National Freedom of Information Coalition</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">.</span><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>&nbsp;</strong></span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.nfoic.org/blogs/kayyang">http://www.nfoic.org/blogs/kayyang</a></span></p>
<p><strong>Transparency Watch</strong> — State and city&nbsp;news, mostly, from&nbsp;the&nbsp;Investigative Reporters and Editors</p>
<p><a href="http://ire.org/blog/transparency-watch/">http://ire.org/blog/transparency-watch/</a></p>
<p><strong>FOIA Oklahoma</strong>&nbsp; – State-oriented content from an Oklahoma advocacy group.</p>
<p><a href="http://foioklahoma.blogspot.com/">http://foioklahoma.blogspot.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>PaFOIC </strong>– The site for the Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition, with news updates.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.openrecordspa.org/news.html">http://www.openrecordspa.org/news.html</a></p>
<p><strong>Record Tracker -</strong>&nbsp;a blog about Pennsylvania transparency.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.yorkblog.com/record/">http://www.yorkblog.com/record/</a></p>
<p><strong>Open-Government Blog – </strong>Mainly news from the state of Washington, sponsored by the Allied Law Group and Sunshine Blogger.</p>
<p><a href="http://og-blogdotcom.blogspot.com/">http://og-blogdotcom.blogspot.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>Kentucky &nbsp;Open Government Blog – </strong>sponsored by the Scripps Howard First Amendment Center, the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues and Kentucky Citizens for Open Government.</p>
<p><a href="http://kentuckyopengovernmentblog.blogspot.com/">http://kentuckyopengovernmentblog.blogspot.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>FOIA Friday Index</strong> – Mostly Michigan FOIA news by blogger Edward Vielmetti.</p>
<p><a href="http://annarbor.com/vielmetti/foia-friday-index/">http://annarbor.com/vielmetti/foia-friday-index/</a></p>
<p><strong>FOIA and Proactive Disclosure</strong> – A Michigan-oriented site by Jim Lang, but sometimes broader.</p>
<p><a href="http://michfoia.blogspot.com/">http://michfoia.blogspot.com/</a></p>
<p><strong>Virginia Coalition for Open Government</strong> – Regular “Transparency News” about Virginia</p>
<p><a href="http://www.opengovva.org/">http://www.opengovva.org/</a></p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong><strong>International</strong></p>
<p><strong>Freedominfo</strong> — A one-stop portal on FOI worldwide.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.freedominfo.org/">http://www.freedominfo.org/</a></p>
<p><strong>Right2Info</strong> – Open Society Institute site brings together information on the legal frameworks for the right to information as well as case law from dozens of countries, organized and analyzed by topic.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.right2info.org/">http://www.right2info.org/</a></p>
<p><strong>FOIANet</strong> – Organization of international FOIA activists, based in Madrid.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.foiadvocates.net/">http://www.foiadvocates.net/</a></p>
<p><strong>Article 19</strong> – UK-based NGO on freedom of expression an FOI matters.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.article19.org/">http://www.article19.org/</a></p>
<p><strong>Carter Center</strong> – Access to information project, U.S.-based group.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cartercenter.org/peace/americas/information.html">www.cartercenter.org/peace/americas/information.html</a></p>
<p><strong>Centre for Law and Democracy</strong> – NGO based in Halifax, Canada, focused on freedom of expression and transparency</p>
<p><a href="http://www.law-democracy.org">www.law-democracy.org</a></p>
<p><strong>The Access Initiative – </strong>International focus with an environmental emphasis. NGO coalition with Secretariat at the World Resources Institute, Washington</p>
<p><a href="http://www.accessinitiative.org/">www.accessinitiative.org/</a></p>
<p><strong>Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative</strong> – Monitors/advocates on FOI issues in Commonwealth countries (not very active in 2010)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/programs/ai/rti/rti.htm">http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/programs/ai/rti/rti.htm</a></p>
<p><strong>Privacy International – </strong>Mainly privacy oriented, but some FOI postings. Also see “press and news” section on website for good collection of tweets.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.privacyinternational.org/blog">https://www.privacyinternational.org/blog</a></p>
<p><strong>&nbsp;</strong><strong>Knight Center</strong> – Latin American media news, but with some emphasis on FOIA</p>
<p><a href="http://knightcenter.utexas.edu/blog/?q=en/blog">http://knightcenter.utexas.edu/blog/?q=en/blog</a></li>
          </ul>



          <h2><a href="http://www.right2info.org/resources/ngos-information-commission-ers-and-other">BlogRoll via <code>right2info.org</code></a></h2>
          <ul>
            <li><a href="http://www.accesspro.org/"><strong>American Society of Access Professionals</strong></a> (ASAP) is a nongovernmental, independent, educational, not-for-profit association founded in 1980 by concerned federal government employees and private citizens as a professional forum dedicated to bringing government FOIA and Privacy Act personnel in touch with the requester community.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://www.cjr.org/"><strong>Columbia Journalism Review</strong></a> provides a thorough overview of WOB and privacy links on its <a href="http://powerreporting.com/category/Journalism_shoptalk/FOI_and_privacy">Powerreporting.org</a> resource site.</li>
<li><strong><strong><a href="http://www.state.ct.us/foi/"><strong>Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission</strong></a></strong></strong></li>
<li><a href="http://epic.org/"><strong>Electronic Privacy Information Center</strong></a> is a public interest research center in Washington, D.C. It publish reports and books about privacy, open government, free speech, and other topics related to civil liberties. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.nfoic.org/about-nfoic"><strong>Freedom of Information Center</strong></a> is a reference and research library in the Missouri School of Journalism. The website includes a lot of legal resources such as national and international FOI laws, samples of information requests, media law guide, etc. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.ire.org/foi/"><strong>Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE)</strong></a> has a FOI and First Amendment Center that is designed to be a central repository for IRE information about FOI activities in the US. It provides links to valuable FOI resources, and examples of, and guidance for filing, FOI requests.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.nfoic.org/"><strong>National Freedom of Information Coalition</strong></a> works to protect the public's right to oversee its government. It offers grants to foster the creation and growth of state FOI coalitions to protect the public's right to an open government. Resources include an e-newsletter on FOI and state and federal legislation. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/index.html"><strong>National Security Archive</strong></a> at the George Washington University in Washington DC is among the most systematic users of the WOB. National Security Archive runs FOI-cases and provides a collection of de-classified documents obtained through Freedom of Information requests. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.dos.state.ny.us/coog/index.html"><strong>New York State Committee on Open Government </strong></a>is responsible for overseeing and advising with regard to the Freedom of Information, Open Meetings and Personal Privacy Protection Laws. Website includes links to all the laws as well as other legal resources.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.archives.gov/ogis/"><strong>Office of Government Information Service</strong></a></strong></li>
<li><a href="http://www.citizen.org/Page.aspx?pid=183"><strong>Public Citizen</strong></a> is a consumer advocacy organization fighting for openness and democratic accountability in government and for the right of consumers to seek redress in the courts. Includes Resources for FOIA Legal Research on the Internet. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.rcfp.org/index.php"><strong>Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press</strong></a> is a nonprofit organization that since 1970 has been working to provide free legal assistance to journalists. It provides a thorough <a href="http://www.rcfp.org/foia/">FOI resources</a>, and it provides a <a href="http://www.rcfp.org/foialetter/index.php">letter generator</a>. </li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/">The FAS Project on Government Secrecy</a></strong> works to promote public access to government information and to illuminate the apparatus of government secrecy, including national security classification and declassification policies.</li>
          </ul>

          <p><a href="http://www.right2info.org/resources/ngos-information-commission-ers-and-other"><strong>Note</strong>: this is only the resources for the United States; there is an incredibly large amount of resources for other countries</a>!</p>
          <a href="http://www.cartercenter.org/peace/ati/women/women-access-to-information.html">Women and the Right to Access Information</a>




          <h2>Universal <abbr>foia</abbr></h2>
          <dl>
  <dt><dfn><abbr title=""></abbr></dfn></dt>
  <dd><p></p></dd>
  freedom of information (FOI), right to know (RTK), right to information (RTI).
</dl>




          <h2><a id="foia-tools" href="#nogo">FOIA Tools</a></h2>
          <h3><a href="https://github.com/cirlabs/foiamachine"><b>FOIA Machine</b> Automate your FOIAs. The real, production version.</a></h3>
          <p><strong><a href="https://github.com/cirlabs/foiamachine">FOIAMachine</a></strong> is an open source project to send, organize and share requests for government data and documents.</p>
          <p>Utilize <strong><a href="https://github.com/cirlabs/foiamachine">FOIAMachine</a></strong> to help you generate a request and has a crowdsourced database of federal, state and local agencies.</p>

          
          
          <a href="https://twitter.com/FOIAMachine">@FOIAMachine</a>
          <a href="https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/foia-machine", "FOIA Machine Google Group"</a>
          <h4><a href="https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/foia-machine/y4tRbIZ_twc">What is the FOIA Machine?</a></h4>
          <p><strong><a href="https://github.com/cirlabs/foiamachine">FOIAMachine</a></strong> is a working prototype of the open source transparency platform that allows journalists and citizens to prepare, file and track multiple public record requests to government agencies worldwide.</p>
          <p>Platform aids users in accessing government documents that are covered by freedom of information laws - these laws allow all citizens, not just journalists, to request public documents from their governments.</p>
          <p><strong><a href="https://github.com/cirlabs/foiamachine">FOIAMachine</a></strong> helps users navigate FOI laws by automating submissions, creating requests in the proper format, making documents publicly available on the web, and using the web to rally support when governments are unresponsive. With FOIA Machine you can:</p>
          <ul>
            <li>Prepare a request under the FOIA laws</li>
            <li>Send a request to a right officer</li>
            <li>Track the status of your requests</li>
            <li>Get the records back to your email and FOIA Machine mailbox</li>
          </ul>
          <p>Platform is right now in beta testing phase and it allows sending and tracking requests on the federal level in United States of America, state level in California, Kentucky and Maine, European Union level and few international organizations that have open records statues.
          <h2>Comm</h2>
          <ul>
  <li><a href="http://www.cartercenter.org/peace/ati/index.html">Advancing Access to Information, Fostering Transparency: Global Access to Information Initiative</a></li>
 
  
</ul>

  


          <h2><a id="references-and-resources" href="#nogo">References and Resources</a></h2>
          <ul>
  <li><a href="http://www.freedominfo.org/about-us/foia-blog-roll/"><strong><abbr>foia</abbr></strong> Blog Roll</a></li>
  
          <h1>Links to Other Sources of Access and Privacy Information:</h1>
<a href="">U.S. Access Sites:</a>
<p><a href="http://www.usdoj.gov">U.S. Department of Justice</a></p><blockquote>lead federal agency on FOIA ,  includes statutory texts and materials, including agency FOIA contacts</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.rcfp.org">Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press</a><blockquote>press advocacy group, includes information on using FOIA</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.usdoj.gov/oip/foiapost/mainpage.htm">FOIA Post</a><blockquote>current guidance and case list from the Office of Information and Privacy, Department of Justice</blockquote>
<a href="http://foi.missouri.edu">University of Missouri FOI Center</a><blockquote>extensive archive of FOI materials, including the Center's FOI Advocate newsletter</blockquote><a href="http://web.syr.edu/~bcfought/">Freedom of Information Resources</a><blockquote>offers a wealth of FOI resource information for federal, state, and international.  Maintained by Syracuse University journalism professor Barbara Croll Fought</blockquote><a href="http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/">National Security Archive</a><blockquote>public interest archive specializing in national security and foreign affairs, uses FOIA extensively</blockquote><a href="http://www.citizen.org/litigation/free_info/">Public Citizen Litigation Group</a><blockquote>public interest law group with extensive FOIA expertise</blockquote><a href="http://www.accesspro.org">American Society of Access Professionals (ASAP)</a><blockquote>professional organization for those working with the FOIA and the Privacy Act, includes annual training and seminars</blockquote><a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/">Secrecy &amp; Government Project</a><blockquote>sponsored by the Federation of American Scientists, the Secrecy &amp; Government Project specializes in classification issues, but provides information on access-related issues also</blockquote><a href="http://www.trac.syr.edu">The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC)</a><blockquote>a data-gathering, research and distribution organization which compiles federal statistics for use in analyzing agency performance</blockquote><a href="http://www.jamesmadisonproject.org">James Madison Project</a><blockquote>promotes open government issues, particularly concerning national security issues</blockquote><a href="http://foia.fbi.gov/room.htm">FBI Electronic Public Reading Room</a><blockquote>contains FBI files on famous individuals and historical events previously disclosed under FOIA</blockquote><a href="
">State Sites:</a><p><a href="http://www.nfoic.org">National Freedom of Information Coalition (NFOIC)</a></p>
<blockquote>national FOI organization for state FOI resources</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.dos.state.ny.us/coog/coogwww.html">Committee on Open Government (New York)</a>
<blockquote>state government advisory committee provides opinions on state open government issues</blockquote><a href="http://www.state.ct.us/foi/">Freedom of Information Commission (Connecticut)</a>
<blockquote>state commission  issuing administrative orders interpeting open records and open meetings issues</blockquote><a href="http://brechner.org">Brechner Center (Florida)</a>
<blockquote>University of Florida project covering state open government issues</blockquote><a href="http://www.ipad.state.mn.us/">Admin Minnesota</a><blockquote>administrative office in charge of interpreting Data Practices Act, includes indexed opinions</blockquote><a href="http://www.cfac.org">First Amendment Coalition (California)</a>
<blockquote>California policy and lobbying organization on open government issues</blockquote><a href="http://www.thefirstamendment.org">First Amendment Project (California)</a><blockquote>California public interest law firm dealing with press and open government issues</blockquote><a href="http://OpenGovVa.org">Coalition for Open Government (Virginia)</a><blockquote>Virginia citizens' organization to promote open government , including improving the state FOIA</blockquote><a href="http://dls.state.va.us/foiacouncil.htm">Virginia FOI Advisory Council</a><blockquote>provides responses to queries from citizens and public bodies concerning interpretation of FOIA</blockquote><a href="http://www.state.hi.us/oip/">Office of Information Practices</a><blockquote>state office assigned responsibility of implementing, interpreting and monitoring Hawaii's access law</blockquote><a href="http://www.state.in.us/pac/index.html">Office of the Indiana Access Counselor</a><blockquote>Resources concerning Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (records) and the Open Door Law (meetings)</blockquote><a href="http://www.nmfog.org">New Mexico Foundation for Open Government</a><blockquote>state organization dedicated to open government, contains information and resources concerning open government in New Mexico</blockquote><a href="
">Canadian Sites:</a>

<p><a href="http://www.infocom.gc.ca">Information Commissioner of Canada</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.privcom.gc.ca">Privacy Commissioner of Canada</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.ipc.on.ca">Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.oipcbc.org">Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, British Columbia</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.oipc.ab.ca">Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, Alberta</a></p>

<blockquote>includes orders and reports of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, and also contains updated news of the Office</blockquote><a href="http://www.gov.ab.ca/foip/">Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy</a>
<p><a href="http://www.gov.ns.ca/foiro/">Nova Scotia Freedom of Information Review Officer</a></p><blockquote>information about Nova Scotia's freedom of information and protection of privacy act, including reviews of complaints</blockquote><a href="http://canada.justice.gc.ca/en/ps/atip/index.html">Justice Department: Access and Privacy</a>
<blockquote>Information on federal policies and decisions on access and privacy; links to many related topics and sites</blockquote><a href="http://www.fipa.bc.ca">B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association</a><blockquote>public interest organization which monitors implementation of B.C. Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act</blockquote><a href="
">Other International Sites:</a><p><a href="http://www.freedominfo.org">Freedominfo.org</a></p><blockquote>provides coverage and analysis of the world-wide trend towards FOI laws</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.privacy.gov.au">Privacy Commissioner, Australia</a><p><a href="http://www.pco.org.hk">Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data of Hong Kong</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk/">UK Information Commissioner</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.irlgov.ie/oic/default.htm">Office of the Information Commissioner - Ireland</a></p><blockquote>decisions, regulations concerning the Irish Freedom of Information Act</blockquote><a href="http://www.rileyis.com/index.html">Riley Information Services</a><blockquote>international information and privacy consulting by Tom Riley</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.privacylaws.co.uk">Privacy Laws &amp; Business</a><blockquote>international newsletter on privacy with emphasis on Europe</blockquote><a href="http://www.cfoi.org.uk/">Campaign for Freedom of Information (United Kingdom)</a><blockquote>public interest group that monitors the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act in the United Kingdom</blockquote><a href="http://www.privacy.org.nz">Privacy Commissioner of New Zealand</a><blockquote>resources and information concerning the Privacy Act and privacy rights</blockquote><a href="
">Privacy Interest Groups:</a>
<p><a href="http://www.epic.org">Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)</a></p>


<blockquote>public interest group monitoring civil liberties, privacy, and technology issues</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.cdt.org">Center for Democracy and Technology</a><blockquote>public interest group monitoring civil liberties and technology issues</blockquote><a href="http://www.privacyrights.org">Privacy Rights Clearinghouse</a><blockquote>California-based clearinghouse for consumer privacy issues</blockquote><a href="http://www.privacyjournal.net">Privacy Journal</a><blockquote>privacy news and resources edited and published by privacy expert Robert Ellis Smith</blockquote><a href="http://www.junkbusters.com">Junkbusters</a><blockquote>consumer privacy site run by privacy advocate Jason Catlett</blockquote><a href="http://www.healthprivacy.org">Health Privacy Project</a><blockquote>information and resources on medical privacy policy</blockquote><a href="http://www.aclu.org/privacy">ACLU Collection on Privacy and Data Protection</a><blockquote>information, forms, etc. concerning data privacy</blockquote><a href="http://www.privacyexchange.org">Privacy Exchange</a>



<blockquote>privacy resources pertaining to business and privacy presented from a business point of view</blockquote>