seven habits of highly effective open-records users - frank x. mullen - las vegas newstrain - oct....
DESCRIPTION
Longtime investigative reporter Frank X. Mullen of Reno, Nevada, discusses why and how to be an effective open-records hunter, with special emphasis on the Nevada open-records law. This presentation -- Seven Habits of Highly Effective Open-Records Users -- was part of the Las Vegas NewsTrain on Oct. 10-11, 2014. Please see associated handouts: Document Scanners, FOIA Tipsheet from IRE, Nevada Open-Records Law Procedures, Open-Records Resources and True-False on Nevada Public Records Law. NewsTrain is a traveling workshop for journalists sponsored by Associated Press Media Editors. For more information, visit http://www.apme.com/?AboutNewsTrainTRANSCRIPT
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By Flickr user Bell Telephone Magazine (1922)
SEVEN HABITS OF
EFFECTIVE PUBLIC RECORDS USERS Frank X. Mullen | Las Vegas NewsTrain | Oct. 10-11, 2014
RECORDS FLESH OUT
BREAKING NEWS
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By Flickr user Internet Archive Book Images
PUBLIC RECORDS ARE
TIME MACHINES
3 Nevada Historical Society; By Flickr user Steve.
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DOCUMENTS PIERCE
THROUGH THE
SMOKE OF OFFICIAL BS
By Flickr user Kevin Dooley
PUBLIC RECORDS CAN HELP
CHANGE PUBLIC POLICY
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y
By Flickr user Fotos GOVA
y
By Flickr user Robotclaw666
WHY USE PUBLIC RECORDS?
THAT’S WHERE THE FACTS ARE.
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• What about
you?
• Have you
used them?
• What
happened?
TO BE A PUBLIC RECORDS HUNTER:
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• Know the law
• Identify the
records you need
• Defend your
request Photo by Susan Skorupa Mullen
TIME FOR A POP QUIZ!
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By Flickr user sea turtle
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By Flickr user Darrow21
ALL GOVERNMENT
RECORDS IN NEVADA
ARE PUBLIC AND
OPEN FOR
INSPECTION,
EXCEPT…
KNOW THE LAW: NRS 239
SOME STANDARD EXEMPTIONS ARE:
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• Open criminal
investigations
• Medical Records
• Employee
records
• Exemptions in
other statutes By Flickr user Library of Congress
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By Flickr user Zeus and Hera
ID WHAT
YOU NEED
AND FIGURE
OUT WHERE
DOCUMENTS
ARE KEPT
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By Flickr user L’oeli estranger
Know the law
Be nice
Use verbal aikido
Kick it upstairs
Confrontation is a
last resort
DEFENDING YOUR REQUEST
By Flickr user Pepe Medina
WAYS AROUND OBJECTIONS
LETS DO SOME ROLE PLAY
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Photos by Steve Davis
DEFEND YOURSELVES!
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By Flickr user Edzed Photography
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By Flickr user MattysFlicks
BRAINSTORM IDEAS
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Photo by Steve Davis
PUBLIC RECORDS RULE!