Police body cam footage, military training videos, surveillance recordings from government buildings — these are just a few examples of the types of audio/visual material that can be obtained via public records requests and incorporated into your documentary films and video journalism. In this workshop, we’ll talk about what sorts of materials you might be able to find and offer helpful tips on how to navigate the notoriously complex process. This workshop has a special focus on audio and video material, but also explores how to access other types of documents. The workshop was led by Lauren Feeney, Director of Video Production for The Intercept, and Gunita Singh, a staff attorney for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. (Scheduled speaker Ken Klippenstein was unable to attend.)
We’ll begin with an introduction including clips from Intercept videos based on video obtained from public records, then will share some tips and techniques, and will leave plenty of time for questions and conversation.