This tutorial shows reporters how to find public records on nonprofit and charitable organizations such as foundations.
READkdmc public records tutorials
KDMC produces a wealth of digital media tutorials to support our training sessions and classes. While the focus of some tutorials is on technology and journalism, most are general enough to be of use to anyone.
Hover for tutorial descriptions, or see all tutorial categories-
Public Records Accessing Information
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Nonprofits and Charities Learn how to find public records on nonprofits
Description
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Businesses - Regulatory Agencies Research regulated or licensed businesses
Description
This is a guide for reporters on finding public documents on businesses that are licensed or regulated by federal and state agencies. In most cases the agencies keep an online database or a name index of businesses for which there are reports or enforcement actions.
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Business and Corporation Records Find information on businesses and corporations
Description
This tutorial describes the different kinds of public records and directories reporters can use to find out information on businesses and corporations.
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Civil Court Lawsuits Find documents in civil lawsuits
Description
This is a guide for reporters on what kinds of public documents are available in civil court lawsuits.
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Criminal Court Records Research criminal court files
Description
This tutorial describes for reporters what records are available in criminal courts. It also provides a general overview of the criminal court procedures so reporters can better understand what records are available and when in the court process they become available.
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Jail and Prison Records Access info about jail and prison inmates
Description
This is a guide for reporters on accessing information about jail and prison inmates.
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Police Records What law enforcement agency records are public
Description
This tutorial describes what records are available to reporters from law enforcement agencies investigating criminal cases. It also generally outlines criminal case procedures, based primarily on the workings of the California criminal justice system.
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Campaign Statements Research campaign statements made by politicians
Description
This tutorial describes how to check campaign statements politicians file when running for office, which detail who contributed to their campaigns and how the money was spent.
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Financial Disclosure Statements Access public officials' disclosure forms
Description
This tutorial covers financial disclosure statements filed by politicians and other public officials that detail their income, investments, property ownership, gifts, business positions, and other financial information. The tutorial describes what information is available, where to access it and what's available online.
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Legislation Find legislative records and bills
Description
This is a guide to finding legislation on a federal, state and local level, including government websites with searchable databases of legislation.
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Election Results Find election results online
Description
This is a guide for finding government websites that post election results on state and local elections.
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Lobbyists Research filings by lobbyists
Description
This is a guide for reporters on finding information on lobbyists and companies that employ lobbyists.
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Voter Registration Records Learn about available voter registration info
Description
This is a guide for reporters to what voter information registration information is publicly available.
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Databases of Statistical Information Links to public data
Description
This is a directory of online databases of demographic and other statistical information that are publicly available on the web. The directory is organized topically, and includes database with national, state and local information, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area.
READ - Military Records Learn how to find military service records
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Recorder's Office Find property records at the recorder's office
Description
This is a guide for reporters on using a county recorder's office to research property records.
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Building Inspection and Permit Records Check building permits and code violations
Description
This is a guide for reporters on using a city building inspection department to research records of construction permits and code violations on properties.
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Public Records Act Request Resources Resources for requesting public records
Description
This is a guide to resources on filing public records act requests to obtain documents from federal and state government agencies.
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Vital Records Births, deaths and marriages
Description
This is a guide for reporters on how to access vital records - birth and death certificates as well as marriage certificates and divorce filings.
READ - Professional Licenses Find public records on licensed professionals
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Vehicle and Vessel Licenses and Registrations Find vehicle and vessel licences
Description
This is a guide for reporters on finding records on driver's licenses and motor vehicle registrations, as well as registrations for boats and aircraft.
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Immigration and Passport Records What immigration records are available
Description
This is a guide for reporters on government agencies that keep immigration and naturalization/citizenship records and passport records.
READ - Bankruptcy Court Records Learn how to find bankruptcy records
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Assessor's Office Look up property ownership records
Description
This is a guide for reporters on how to research property records at a county assessor's office.
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Property Tax Collector's Office Research property tax records
Description
This is a guide for reporters on how to research property tax records at a county tax collector's office.
READ - Notary Publics Find out what information is available
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Lexis Nexis Use Lexis-Nexis to find stories and records
Description
This is a tutorial for reporters on using the LexisNexis service to locate news stories and some public records that are in its databases.
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Coroner's Office Reports Find documents in a coroner's investigation
Description
This is a guide for reporters on the documents that are publicly available as part of a coroner's office investigation into a person's death.
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Nonprofits and Charities Learn how to find public records on nonprofits
Public Records Act Request Resources
This is a guide to resources on filing public records act requests to obtain documents from federal and state government agencies.
Financial Disclosure Statements
This tutorial covers financial disclosure statements filed by politicians and other public officials that detail their income, investments, property ownership, gifts, business positions, and other financial information. The tutorial describes what information is available, where to access it and what's available online.
Business and Corporation Records
This tutorial describes the different kinds of public records and directories reporters can use to find out information on businesses and corporations.
Civil Court Lawsuits
This is a guide for reporters on what kinds of public documents are available in civil court lawsuits.
Criminal Court Records
This tutorial describes for reporters what records are available in criminal courts. It also provides a general overview of the criminal court procedures so reporters can better understand what records are available and when in the court process they become available.
Immigration and Passport Records
This is a guide for reporters on government agencies that keep immigration and naturalization/citizenship records and passport records.
Lexis Nexis
This is a tutorial for reporters on using the LexisNexis service to locate news stories and some public records that are in its databases.
Notary Publics
This is a guide for reporters on how to access information from a notary public.
Police Records
This tutorial describes what records are available to reporters from law enforcement agencies investigating criminal cases. It also generally outlines criminal case procedures, based primarily on the workings of the California criminal justice system.
Campaign Statements
This tutorial describes how to check campaign statements politicians file when running for office, which detail who contributed to their campaigns and how the money was spent.
Businesses - Regulatory Agencies
This is a guide for reporters on finding public documents on businesses that are licensed or regulated by federal and state agencies. In most cases the agencies keep an online database or a name index of businesses for which there are reports or enforcement actions.
Military Records
This is a guide for reporters on finding military service records.
Voter Registration Records
This is a guide for reporters to what voter information registration information is publicly available.
Professional Licenses
This is a guide for reporters to finding public records on licensed professionals.
Vehicle and Vessel Licenses and Registrations
This is a guide for reporters on finding records on driver's licenses and motor vehicle registrations, as well as registrations for boats and aircraft.
Vital Records
This is a guide for reporters on how to access vital records - birth and death certificates as well as marriage certificates and divorce filings.
Bankruptcy Court Records
This is a guide for reporters on how to acces U.S. Bankruptcy Court records.
Coroner's Office Reports
This is a guide for reporters on the documents that are publicly available as part of a coroner's office investigation into a person's death.
Nonprofits and Charities
This tutorial shows reporters how to find public records on nonprofit and charitable organizations such as foundations.
Jail and Prison Records
This is a guide for reporters on accessing information about jail and prison inmates.
Assessor's Office
This is a guide for reporters on how to research property records at a county assessor's office.
Recorder's Office
This is a guide for reporters on using a county recorder's office to research property records.
Building Inspection and Permit Records
This is a guide for reporters on using a city building inspection department to research records of construction permits and code violations on properties.
Property Tax Collector's Office
This is a guide for reporters on how to research property tax records at a county tax collector's office.
Lobbyists
This is a guide for reporters on finding information on lobbyists and companies that employ lobbyists.
Election Results
This is a guide for finding government websites that post election results on state and local elections.
Legislation
This is a guide to finding legislation on a federal, state and local level, including government websites with searchable databases of legislation.
Databases of Statistical Information
This is a directory of online databases of demographic and other statistical information that are publicly available on the web. The directory is organized topically, and includes database with national, state and local information, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Public Records Links and Resources
Additional reading, related software, training and more.
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