In free societies public records are a reporter?s best friends. In closed societies reporters have to be creative to gain access to governmental records.

A reporter should always remember that records are indeed for the public and not just the journalist. Therefore, in asking to see a particular record, a reporter should bear in mind that he or she is doing so on behalf of the reading public.

Public records contain a wealth of valuable information, whether they relate to the schools, the courts or the governing bodies. They are an especially good starting point for a story, providing a foundation to build on. Often they are te basis for questions asked during interviews, which generally should follow rather than precede a records? search.