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FOIA/RTI to Power Journalistic Investigations

GIJC, 2025

Laura Scofield

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Active

Types of transparency

Information proactively shared

Information shared on demand

Passive

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What can’t we get?

  • Internal emails
  • Notes/recordings from meetings
  • Diplomatic telegrams
  • Drafts of decisions that were made
  • Data about a public policy
  • Entries in public buildings
  • Information that should be disclosed but is not (some contracts or attachments)

What can we get?

  • Private information
  • Restricted or confidential documents
  • Drafts of decisions that haven’t been made yet

It varies depending on the regulations

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Find the exact platform(s) for the specific request

Split the request if necessary

Write it in the most specific way possible

The “no” can be a story

Tips

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How to get around negatives?

  • Appeal
    • Use the law
    • Search for precedents
  • Ask different questions
    • Ask insiders
  • Get in touch with organizations that can help (ex. Fiquem Sabendo)

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Examples

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Couldn't get meetings notes?

Ask for emails and attachments

I request all email communications between Ministry of Finance staff and representatives of the Tony Blair Institute between January 2023 and April 2025. The response should include emails and attachments sent by the institute representatives and replies from ministry staff, and vice versa. Confidential information may be redacted, and its existence does not justify refusing to send the documents.

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Couldn't get meetings?

Ask for entry records

I request information regarding the registration of F.M.F.'s (CPF *****) entries in this ministry from the beginning of January 2020 until January 31, 2025. The information must contain the day, time,

entrance gate, destination, and reason for entry. The information must be submitted in PDF format.

​

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Couldn't get personal information?

Ask for the story

​

I request all telegrams between Brazil and countries of the American continent, internal reports, meeting minutes, and other documents that addressed the death of Brazilian citizen K. V. on August 24th while in ICE custody. The Brazilian citizen's death was widely reported in the press. Classified information may be redacted. Documents should be submitted in PDF format.

​

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Stories entirely based on LAI

Tony Blair Institute partners with Oracle to promote AI implementation in Brazil

Big Techs push to remove sections of child protection law

Minute reveals friendly meeting between the US and Brazil a week before Trump's tariffs

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Should we disclose that we are journalists?

GONÇALVES, Francisco Eduardo. Limites e potencialidades da Lei de Acesso à Informação: dez anos de uso da LAI por jornalistas junto ao governo federal. 2024. 265 f., il. Tese (Doutorado em Comunicação) — Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, 2024.

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Obrigada!

laura.scofield.jor@gmail.com