The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press [http://rcfp.org] can advise journalists how to obtain government records. The group has an online computer program that will help generate a letter requesting documents under the Freedom of Information Act:

http://rcfp.org/foi_letter/generate.php

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press also has put online a report called "Tapping Officials' Secrets," which has details on every state's open records and open meetings laws.

Here are other Web sites that can help reporters on FOIA issues:

Investigative Reporters and Editors Inc.'s FOI page

http://www.ire.org/foi/

Society of Professional Journalists' FOI page

http://www.spj.org/foia.asp?

Freedom Forum First Amendment Center

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org