HOPE 2020 (2020): "75,000 FOIA Requests Can't Be Wrong: Lessons From a Decade of Transparency Spelunking" (Download)
Saturday, July 25, 2020: 1400. Over the past ten years, transparency non-profit MuckRock has helped thousands of requesters file tens of thousands of public records and Freedom of Information Act requests to government agencies large and small. In the process, they've unveiled everything from the government's program giving local schools grenade launchers brought back from war zones to the CIA's declassified board game collection. Join Michael on this walk through the government's fascinating hidden archives and learn the secrets of what actually works when it comes time to convincing agencies to give up some of their most closely held secrets. Throughout the conference, he'll also be helping conference attendees workshop their request ideas, and during the presentation the best ideas will be revealed with prizes for winning submissions and inspiration for everyone else.
Michael Morisy