With so many hot takes being offered on WikiLeaks these days, we thought it would be good to clear the air with a simple primer on the difference between information obtained via the Freedom of Information Act and information obtained from leaks.

For the savvy college journalist looking to get an exclusive scoop, public records can be the perfect secret weapon. Here’s how you can wield it.

At the federal level, nine FOIA exemptions stand between you and records you want. Here’s what they are, what they mean, and what you can do about them.

Whether you’re interested in the CIA’s role in the Iranian coup of 1953 or just want the city to get around to fixing your sidewalk, public records can help shed light on the way your government is helping or hindering the world around you. MuckRock has five tips for instantly improving your early forays into the bureaucratic rabbit hole of FOIA

Two of America’s most famously secretive institutions, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Apple, are squaring off over encryption and backdoors, and three FOIA exemptions stand in the way of those wanting a document-driven view of the fight. That doesn’t mean FOIA fans should give up asking questions though. Here’s our advice on getting documents to help better understand the FBI, Apple, and the fight over keeping devices secure while maintaining national security.

Presidents tend to be a bit different than most people, and appropriately enough, Presidential records are a bit different than most records. Here’s what to know before you FOIA a POTUS.

Government agencies produce a lot of paperwork, much of it standardized and quite a bit irrelevant to anyone outside the agency. Save yourself processing delays and duplication fees by honing requests for the crucial sections.

Whether a document exists is a yes or no question. But for federal agencies, that question can get a bit more metaphysical.

These two quick tips could make a big difference when requesting public documents from the agency.

Typically the Federal Bureau of Investigation will only release the files of deceased individuals. The exception to that rule is when an individual is requesting information about themselves.