*Tools, resources and links from the session are available online here, including a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) letter generator.
The speakers led an inspiring and thought provoking crash course on research. Brant Houston advised when inquiring information that it is crucial to do so early and often. Some agencies, such as the FBI, will usually deny the first request off the bat. Parallel to some insurance agencies, you have to show more than initial interest to get feedback. Also, make sure to grab files from courts before they get their litigated seals placed on them.
Another top note was to follow a paper trail from the source. If you are investigating, for example a corporation filing tax reports, a good place to start would be to call the IRS and see what exact forms they are so that you are able to search them directly by number. Brant states that there is a method of triangulation in paper trailing, that there are different documents on the same subject. Much like a crime scene, he says, you don't take just one photo of the scene but revolve around it.
Types of data are crucial, particularly those that already have information organized for you. Search XLS files. XLS' are organized excel data files that, especially if you utilize excel, can retrieve nominal amounts of information. We were reminded in the session that we should also look into news databases and clippings and not to forget the validity they carry.
Bill Bastone introduced PACER, an online administrative office of US courts that retrieves, for extremely cheap pocket change (.08 cents a page), court documents. PACER stands for Public Access to Court Electronic Records . One spectator comments that there is a Firefox add-on called RECAP that will find the files you are looking for for free. This could be a useful tool but I agree with Bill when he says to be weary of possible adjustments when getting these documents apart from the source. PACER includes bankruptcy documents, which Bill describes as detailed and "remarkable" files.
Bill advised not to ever suggest you are a reporter, journalist or blogger when tending to investigation hard copies. He insists it will fire off immediate alarms and people will be less willing to help you. Also, there should be more optimism when the clerk has an armful of books for your request. "There are gems in there" he says, "if you are willing to look".
Specification Helps:
Disclosures. Donations. Proposition Records. Ownership. Being Sued. Judgments. IRS. Local, State or Federal. Probate Courts (usually left out!) .
Lindsay Beyerstein suggests when posting or reporting to cut and paste directly information from the documents you investigate or you could be at fault. Never write down an interpretation or what you think it says. Lindsay breaks down an investigation of the groups organizing the town hall mobs that are currently disrupting the community meetings where legislators are discussing health care reform.
Lindsay reveals how you can see whether a corporation is legitimately registered. She says that if you can't find the corporation in its origin state, to check Delaware. For corporate registration, she says, "Delaware is like marriage in Vegas".One of the main resources she uses, beside Google's Who Is searches, is to use Guidestar and Foundation Center's foundation finder. Guidestar houses all information listed with nonprofit organizations and the Foundation Finder offers but not limited to information on private foundations, community foundations, grantmaking public charities, and corporate giving programs.
*Article can also be found cross posted at the Florida Progressive Coalition Blog
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