Complete records workflow
From drafting requests to filing appeals. Everything you need to obtain government records.
Draft requests
Professional templates with fee waiver language, scope management, and agency-specific terminology.
Understand exemptions
The 9 federal exemptions explained, plus state-by-state variations and challenge strategies.
Track submissions
Manage deadlines, tracking numbers, responses, and multi-agency coordination.
Review responses
Checklists for completeness, redaction analysis, and identifying over-withholding.
File appeals
Administrative appeal templates for improper denials, inadequate searches, and fee disputes.
50-state guide
Complete state-by-state reference with statute citations, deadlines, and legislative exemptions.
The 9 federal exemptions
Know what agencies can withhold — and when to challenge their claims.
National security
Classified information properly withheld under executive order.
Internal personnel rules
Agency housekeeping matters with no public interest.
Statutory exemptions
Other federal laws prohibit disclosure.
Trade secrets
Confidential business information submitted to government.
Deliberative process
Inter/intra-agency memos. Often overused — challenge liberally.
Personal privacy
Personnel and medical files. Balance against public interest.
Law enforcement
Could interfere with proceedings or endanger individuals.
Financial institutions
Bank examination reports and related records.
Geological data
Oil and gas well information (rarely invoked).
Remember: Agencies must segregate and release non-exempt portions. Always challenge over-redaction.
Write requests
that get results.
The difference between a successful request and months of delays often comes down to how you phrase it. The skill includes tested templates and strategies.
- Be specific but not too narrow — define date ranges, offices, and record types
- Use agency terminology — research how they categorize information
- Include fee waiver language — as a journalist, you likely qualify
- Request rolling releases — get records as they're processed
Pursuant to [STATUTE], I request:
- Emails between [Office] and
[External Party] regarding [Topic]
from [Start Date] to [End Date]
- All contracts, invoices, and
purchase orders related to [Subject]
- Meeting minutes and agendas for
[Committee] from [Date Range]
Please provide records in digital
format as they become available.50-state coverage
Every state has public records laws with different deadlines, exemptions, and appeal processes. The skill includes the complete reference.
| State | Law | Response deadline |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | OPRA (NJ Rev. Stat. § 47:1A-1) | 7 business days |
| New York | FOIL (NY PBO Article 6 § 84) | 5 days to acknowledge |
| California | PRA (CA Govt. Code § 7920) | 10 days |
| Texas | TX Stat. Gov. Code § 552.001 | 10 business days |
| Florida | FL Stat. § 119.01 | "Prompt" response |
Full 50-state reference table included in skill, with statute citations, legislative exemptions, and NCSL source data.
Know your deadlines
Miss an appeal deadline and you lose your right to challenge. The skill tracks these for you.
90
days
Federal FOIA
Agency appeals office
45
days
New Jersey OPRA
Government Records Council
30
days
New York FOIL
Agency appeals officer
0
admin appeal
California PRA
Direct to court
Get started
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/jamditis/claude-skills-journalism.gitCopy the skill to your Claude config
cp -r claude-skills-journalism/foia-requests ~/.claude/skills/Start making requests
Ask Claude to help you draft a FOIA request, track a submission, analyze a response, or prepare an appeal.
What's included
Request templates
Federal FOIA template, fee waiver language, status inquiry, and appeal letters.
Tracking system
Python data classes for managing requests, deadlines, and multi-agency coordination.
Reference guides
50-state law table, exemption analysis, redaction review checklists, document organization.
Essential resources
RCFP Open Government Guide
State-by-state analysis of public records laws and sample request letters.
MuckRock
File requests through platform, search previous responses, agency data.
National FOI Coalition
State FOI organization contacts, training, and resources.
FOIA.gov
Federal agency portals, online submission, tracking numbers.
Created by Joe Amditis at the Center for Cooperative Media
Part of Claude Skills for Journalism • MIT License