{
  "id": "1997-november-open-records-tips",
  "slug": "1997-november-open-records-tips",
  "url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/1997-november-open-records-tips.html",
  "year": 1997,
  "month": "November",
  "monthNum": 11,
  "headline": "Open records tips",
  "kicker": "",
  "author_name": "",
  "author_title": "",
  "affiliation": "",
  "summary": "This article provides practical tips for journalists navigating open records act requests, including being specific about data needs, personalizing communications to school administrators, and maintaining detailed documentation of all follow-up efforts.",
  "keywords": [
    "records",
    "compliance",
    "transparency"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Investigative Methods"
  ],
  "technologies": [],
  "full_text": "Leavell's tips for successful open records act compliance:\n\nKnow exactly what data you need.\nTailor specific questionnaires for schools to fill out.\nSend the letters directly to administrators by name rather than title.\nEnclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope and a fax number.\nKeep a detailed log of each follow-up call you've made to the school, including names of people you talked to, when you called and what they said.\nEnclose a state attorney general's decision about a similar open records case with each letter.",
  "provenance": {
    "extracted_by": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6",
    "extracted_at": "2026-07-05",
    "verified": true
  },
  "similar": [
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      "slug": "1992-august-a-few-tips-on-making-computer-requests",
      "score": 0.325
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  ],
  "html_url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/1997-november-open-records-tips.html",
  "json_url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/1997-november-open-records-tips.json"
}