Notebook and pen beside a stack of papers

Notes from the Desk

Writing on requests, follow-ups and method.

Short, practical pieces drawn from what we see reporters run into.

Filing cabinet of public records

Requests

Writing a Request a Records Office Can Actually Act On

14 August 2026 · 6 min read

Vague requests get vague silences. Here is how to describe the material you want precisely enough that a records office can locate it.

Read article →
Reporter writing a follow-up letter

Follow-Up

When the Timeline Lapses: What to Do Next

6 August 2026 · 5 min read

A missed deadline is not a dead end. It is the start of a documented, courteous follow-up that keeps your options open.

Read article →
Register of requests laid out on a desk

Method

Keeping a Request Register That Holds Up

29 July 2026 · 5 min read

A simple log turns scattered correspondence into a defensible record you can rely on months later.

Read article →