ABSTRACT
Many journalists starting out in data journalism wonder where they can find useful databases. There are databases on almost any subject and at almost every governmental agency and business. Since the proliferation of personal computers, such organizations have been storing their information electronically. The Government Accountability Office, a congressional watchdog that performs audits of federal agencies, actually uses many agencies’ own databases for its audits. Politicians and the public have become increasingly concerned about privacy and national security. They have denied requests for electronic information even though the same information is available in hard copy or could be collated from publically available sources. News organizations have been asked to pay millions of dollars when their reporters are seeking information. Some government agencies resisted our request for inspection data and only relented after official requests, meetings, and follow-up phone calls and emails.
