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Is the Freedom of Information Act becoming too slow to matter?

Poynter · Justin Doud · last updated

As backlogs grow, staffing shrinks and requests languish for years, journalists say records often arrive too late to hold anyone accountable

Karen Harper, a senior politics reporter at The Dallas Morning News with over 30 years of experience, submitted a public records request to the Department of Justice. Months later, she 

Related Knowledge Center: Free speech and public protest

State of Play

The First Amendment is facing challenging times: Crackdowns on campus protests prompted both-sides claims of intolerance. Attempts to head off dangerous health misinformation have been characterized as violations of free speech. Donald Trump is publicly punishing news outlets that deviate from his administration’s version of events while privately suing some outlets into submission.

The White House vs. the press  |  Voiceless America 


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Related Knowledge Center: Inside the newsroom

State of Play

As newsrooms struggle with rickety business models and precarious finances — as well as new technologies —  they are deploying an array of editorial responses. 

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Related Knowledge Center: Democracy and politics

State of Play

News organizations are scrambling to find a coverage approach that adequately informs the American public about the country’s slide from democracy to authoritarian rule.

The White House vs. the press


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