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As the global race and justice editor, what are the public records that you and your reporters rely on for your stories?
Stafford: We rely on a number of public records across the spectrum. Race and justice are coverage areas that touch every element and facet of our newsroom. So, we’re building out what that looks like and how to use public records requests to create deep, comprehensive coverage that centers historically excluded communities. …
The key is to think broadly and specifically on how your coverage area intersects with public agencies and the records they hold that might be pertinent to the stories you’re trying to tell — whether those are health stories via an equity lens or an environmental story impacting a community of color. It’s also important to consider that you might not even need to submit a records request.
A health project that I did a year ago, From Birth to Death, was largely done by mining sources already publicly available and cobbling it together. Always ask for the information first and then submit the request.
What public records do reporters overlook on the crime and justice beat that could be mined for stories?
Stafford: There are the tried and true requests: Officer personnel records, case files, or incident reports. … Submitting requests for bodycam footage and of police interactions is absolutely crucial. But I like to consider the ways in which policing and criminal justice are intertwined with other governmental agencies. That could mean seeking public records related to policing but through the mayor’s office. Was there any controversy behind the city’s new surveillance program or use of AI? FOIA communications between the mayor’s office and police department. That could mean looking at it via a public health lens. What I’m talking about is thinking outside of the box and considering the way that crime and justice, and the throughline of inequities, impact our lives.
You used to be on the health beat. What are five public records that reporters should ask for on the health beat?
Stafford: Contracts related to health, inspection records of assisted-living facilities, meeting minutes, if they aren’t publicly available on government sites, are always a good way into a story and where concerns are likely to be raised. But I’d again think about that intersectionality that health has with other facets of our lives, like health and public housing.
So, submitting requests for health violations, like at public housing locations or anything that intersects public entities, is a good idea, too. And a final rule of thumb: As a workaround to HIPPA laws, ask for “de-identified” data, which removes personal information. ProPublica had a great breakdown several years ago for suggestions specifically for health reporters.
Read on for more of Stafford's tips.
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