Filing FOI requests can be scary. From not knowing where to begin to dealing with agencies that don't want to turn over information, there's a lot that can go wrong. Use these handy (Connecticut specific) tips to dodge common pitfalls and avoid your request turning into a horror story.

I'm incredibly honored to receive a Pearlman award from CFOG this year. It's such a crucial moment for freedom of information and fighting to preserve public access to it is a fundamental drive in my work as a journalist.

Not a good look from DMHAS. Their designated email for FOIA requests (linked on their website) appears to have a whitelist. I got the same message from both my work and personal email accounts.

The CT AG's response to Avelo telling them to file a FOIA for their contract with DHS: it's a "callous back-of-the-hand."

All I can say is, welcome to the club. This is EXACTLY how it feels when public agencies use FOIA as a dodge to delay answering basic questions.

More reasons I hate GovQA: I hadn't even gotten to the descriptive part of this FOI (which was about records on AI use) before its predictive text is telling me not to FOI payroll data...which I wasn't.

How many people don't file legitimate FOIs because of these inaccuracies?

Another day, another #FOIA problem in Connecticut.

A new CT law requiring DESPP and POTS to issue guidelines governing when body worn/dash cams can be turned off goes into effect today. I reached out to DESPP for comment and to obtain a copy. Those questions were turned into a FOIA request. Meaning answers likely aren't coming soon.