Filing a Public Records Request

Online tools for filing and tracking requests, at the state and federal levels, that can be used by anyone:

FOIA.gov helps you identify the correct federal agency (there are more than 100), and provides online tools to file a request.
Student Press Law Center has a state or local government public records request letter generator. There’s also a Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) letter generator.
MuckRock offers templates to request records.
National Freedom of Information Coalition has a sample FOIA request letter, appeals letter and letter requesting a fee waiver.
First Amendment Coalition has a FOIA sample letter and California Public Records Act sample letter.
Indigenous Journalists Association has developed this list of essential elements needed to form an independent tribal media, to guide tribal officials seeking to enact press freedoms. In addition, the Society of Professional Journalists Freedom of Information Committee, the Indigenous Journalists Association and the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance PRESENT THIS PLEDGE to encourage tribal government officials to commit to transparency on behalf of their citizens and outline specific measures to reach this goal.