Learning to use freedom of information as a reporter
Master classes in investigative journalism give reporters a structured way to learn how freedom of information (FOI) laws can be turned into published stories. Rather than treating access-to-documents rules as a legal abstraction, these sessions concentrate on the practical craft: identifying which authority holds a record, framing a request precisely, tracking statutory deadlines, and challenging a refusal. The skills transfer across borders, because although national FOI statutes differ in detail, the underlying tactics of requesting, negotiating and appealing are broadly similar.
Heather Brooke as a noted example
Heather Brooke is a British-American journalist and author widely associated with freedom of information work. She is best known for the long-running campaign for access to the records of British Members of Parliament, which contributed to the disclosure of MPs' expenses. Alongside her reporting she has written about open government and the public right to information, and she has taught investigative techniques and the use of FOI to other journalists.
An investigative journalism master class featuring an experienced FOI practitioner such as Brooke typically shows how a determined request, followed through its appeal stages, can bring into the open information that an institution would prefer to withhold.
What an FOI master class usually covers
- Finding the record. Working out which public body is likely to hold the document and how it is filed.
- Drafting the request. Writing clearly enough to be understood, but broadly enough not to miss relevant material.
- Managing deadlines. Knowing the statutory response times and what to do when they are missed.
- Handling refusals. Understanding common exemptions and how to argue that the public interest favours disclosure.
- Escalating. Using internal reviews, ombudsman complaints or the courts when an authority declines to release material.
From training to published stories
The value of a master class lies in connecting these steps to real reporting. Participants often bring a live story idea and leave with a concrete request strategy, a sense of which exemptions to anticipate, and contacts among other reporters who use the same laws. Events such as the Data Harvest conference have brought FOI practitioners together with data journalists for exactly this kind of exchange. For the mechanics of the laws themselves, see the guide on how to use European freedom of information laws.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Heather Brooke?
Heather Brooke is a British-American journalist and author known for her freedom of information work, including the campaign for disclosure of British MPs' expenses, and for teaching FOI and investigative techniques to reporters.
What is an FOI master class?
It is a training session in which experienced practitioners teach journalists how to identify records held by public bodies, draft effective access requests, and pursue refusals through appeal, using freedom of information law as a reporting tool.
Do FOI skills work across different countries?
The detail of each national law differs, but the core tactics — locating the document, writing a precise request, meeting deadlines and appealing a refusal — apply broadly, which is why cross-border training is common.