Truth in the Field

Though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so Truth be in the field, we do injuriously by licensing and prohibiting to misdoubt her strength. Let her and Falsehood grapple, who ever knew Truth put to the worse in a free and open encounter?                                                                             – John Milton, Areopagitica

Truth in the Field is a new blog from the Virginia Coalition for Open Government written by citizens for citizens. Here we will highlight stories that help explain how journalists, citizens, academics, and activists have accessed and used government information. We will also hear from government officials about their views on access to information, and from government employees about what makes for a smooth FOIA transaction.

Click below for the most recent blog posts.

• Truth in the Field debut column
  Editor Shelley Kimball introduces the new blog and solicits contributions from readers. (March 14, 2017)
• Using Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act
  VCOG board president, Dick Hammerstrom, lays down the basics of Virginia’s law guaranteeing access to Virginia state and local government records and meetings. (March 28, 2017)
• Education privacy law used as excuse to used to conceal records
  Student Press Law Center director and VCOG board member, Frank LoMonte, explains how a well-intentioned federal law has been misinterpreted. (April 11, 2017)
• Responding to denials to public records requests
  Government agencies’ denials for public records are a common experience among those requesting access. Shelley Kimball, the editor of Truth in the Field, and Robert Holloway, an open government activist in York County discussed what it is like to be denied access and how best to respond. (May 9, 2017)
• A view from both sides of a FOIA request
  Cherise Newsome used to be the one filing FOIA requests as a reporter for the Virginian-Pilot. Today she fills the requests for the Portsmouth school division. Read her tips for requesters and government. (May 23, 2017)
• Nuisance requests an obstacle to access to public information
  Editor Shelley Kimball writes about so-called nuisance requests: what about them frustrates government, and what can both sides do make the process smoother. (June 7, 2017)
• Strategies for finding and using public information
  Dave Ress, veteran reporter for the Daily Press, says that a bit of reserach prior to making a FOIA request can sometimes make the process run more smoothly. (Aug. 2, 2017)
• Digital tools for managing FOIA requests
  VCU professor and VCOG board member Jeff South rounds up various online tools that will help FOIA requesters keep track of their requests. (Aug. 29, 2017)

Interested in writing your own column explaining your experience or perspective? Send your work to to Shelley Kimball, a VCOG board member and editor of the column, at Kimball@gwu.edu. Be sure to include a picture of yourself to run with it.