Fighting for Data:
Journalists and Access to Public Records
Ira Chinoy
Philip Merrill College of Journalism
University of Maryland
“Watchdog journalism”
“Watchdog journalism”
“Public records”
“Watchdog journalism”
“Public records”
Data as news …
“Watchdog journalism”
“Public records”
Data as news …
… not on the Web
“Watchdog journalism”
“Public records”
Data as news …
… not on the Web
Obstacles
“Watchdog journalism”
“Public records”
Data as news …
… not on the Web
Obstacles
Daily drama, chilling effect
“Watchdog journalism”
“Public records”
Data as news …
… not on the Web
Obstacles
Daily drama, chilling effect
The takeaway:
A challenge to the HCI community
Computer-assisted reporting
SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS
NAME
DATE OF BIRTH
EMPLOYER
SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS
NAME
DATE OF BIRTH
EMPLOYER
TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS
NAME
DATE OF BIRTH
INFRACTION
CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS
NAME
DATE OF BIRTH
INFRACTION
CNS stories using databases of public records:
Consumer complaints
Prison violence
Boating safety enforcement
Train accidents
Amusement rides
Subprime loans
Unsolved homicides
Leaking underground oil storage tanks
Campaign finance
Lawyer discipline
Federal:
Freedom of Information Act
Maryland
(at the state, county, and local levels):
Public Information Act
We don't know how to do that.
We've never done that before.
We don't know how to do that.
We've never done that before.
We don't know how to do that.
We don't know how to do that.
We've never done that before.
We don't know how to do that.
It takes too long.
We don't know how to do that.
We've never done that before.
We don't know how to do that.
It takes too long.
It costs too much money for us to do it.
We don't know how to do that.
We've never done that before.
We don't know how to do that.
It takes too long.
It costs too much money for us to do it.
There are confidential records mixed in.
We don't know how to do that.
We've never done that before.
We don't know how to do that.
It takes too long.
It costs too much money for us to do it.
There are confidential records mixed in.
We don't think you'll understand the data /
technology, you'll mess it up.
We don't know how to do that.
We've never done that before.
We don't know how to do that.
It takes too long.
It costs too much money for us to do it.
There are confidential records mixed in.
We don't think you'll understand the data /
technology, you'll mess it up.
We'd love to give it to you but it violates our contract
with the software company.
We don't know how to do that.
A Maryland Case
We don't know how to do that.
A Maryland Case
Documentation
We don't know how to do that.
A Maryland Case
Documentation
Fields
We don't know how to do that.
A Maryland Case
Documentation
Fields
Format
We don't know how to do that.
A Maryland Case
Documentation
Fields
Format
Cost
We don't know how to do that.
A Maryland Case
Documentation
Fields
Format
Cost
Time
We don't know how to do that.
A Maryland Case
Documentation
Fields
Format
Cost
Time
Luck
We don't know how to do that.
A Maryland Case
Documentation
Fields
Format
Cost
Time
Luck
Data and a story
The fear factor …
The fear factor …
… a continuum
Other factors …
Administrators, public information officers, and attorneys
with inadequate training, experience, and support
for handling database requests.
An agency culture in which requests for records
are treated as an intrusion.
Inadequate budgeting to deal with
public records requests.
Limited repercussions for the
“just say no” approach to requests.
Tactics …
Information has context. Finding out about it first can
help you understand what data they keep,
why they keep it, how they keep it.
Ask to speak directly to the staff who manage the
database. Avoid second-hand exchanges of information.
Know the law.
Look for common ground.
Explore the logic – and illogic – of baffling excuses.
Understand the fears … and address them.
Strategy …
Are there alternatives to
case-by-case battles,
well upstream of them?
Policies already require:
Environmental Impact Statements
Fiscal Notes
Set-Aside Programs & Diversity Checklists
How about:
Public Records Assessments
or
Information Impact Statements
A challenge and an opportunity
for interdisciplinary research,
policy development,
and new tools
Ira Chinoy
Philip Merrill College of Journalism
University of Maryland
ichinoy@jmail.umd.edu
http://bit.ly/Ira_Chinoy