PN 80: FOIA Basics with Jennifer Smith Richards + Matt Chapman

6:00 pm — 8:00 pm

Do you want to learn how to make a FOIA request, but are unsure where to begin? Or are you an expert FOIA requester, and want to share your skills with beginners? Stop by our 80th Public Newsroom for a hands-on workshop on this useful tool, important to journalists and citizens alike. Our presenters for the evening are Chicago Tribune reporter Jennifer Smith Richards, who recently reported on Chicago Public Schools’ inadequate response to sexual abuse in the Betrayed series, and Matt Chapman, who founded the nonprofit Free Our Info. The two will kick off the evening with some background on their own FOIA experience, then outline the basics of making these requests. Attendees will have a chance to participate in small group simulations to practice making use of the tool. As a heads-up, the newsroom will contain mentions of sexual abuse and misconduct.

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