FOIA Requests vs Source Verification

FOIA Requests

By James Anditis (Journalism)

Draft and file Freedom of Information Act requests to obtain government records.

Source Verification

By James Anditis (Journalism)

Verify claims, check sources, and fact-check information like a journalist.

FOIA Requests

• Provides ready-to-use templates for federal and state FOIA requests with proper legal language
• Explains the 9 federal exemptions and state-specific public records laws across all 50 states
• Guides you through fee waiver requests, appeals processes, and tracking submission status
• Includes reference tables for state-by-state laws and legislative exemptions
• Offers strategic advice on crafting specific, targeted requests that agencies are more likely to fulfill

Source Verification

• Evaluates source credibility using journalism checklists and the SIFT method
• Analyzes social media accounts for authenticity, bot behavior, and red flags
• Guides reverse image searches to find original sources and detect manipulated photos
• Verifies documents by checking metadata, formatting consistency, and provenance
• Creates documented verification trails showing how you confirmed or debunked claims

Reach for FOIA Requests when…

• You're investigating a story and need official documents from a government agency
• You need to understand what records are legally available in your state or at the federal level
• You're appealing a denied FOIA request or requesting a fee waiver
• You're tracking multiple public records requests and need to follow up with agencies

Reach for Source Verification when…

• You're evaluating whether a source or claim is trustworthy before using it
• You need to fact-check information from social media or unfamiliar sources
• You're investigating whether an image or video is authentic or recycled
• You're building a research file that shows how you verified your information