Opening the Effort for Open Records: Sara Key and WikiFOIA
Five years ago, barely anyone had heard of a "wiki" website, but today, Internet users everywhere are using the interactive, user-created sites to share information and solve complex problems.
Although wiki websites thrive on massive participation and an open platform, they also need someone to get the ball rolling so that the conversation can get started. That's where Sara Key of WikiFOIA came in-and now the website that she built is one of the leaders in compiling information on public records laws nationwide.
FOIA stands for Freedom of Information Act, and the premise of WikiFOIA is simple: Every citizen benefits from having access to his or her government's documents, therefore everyone and anyone has a motive to contribute to WikiFOIA's database constructively. "The more people you have contributing, the better information you'll have," says Key. "I couldn't put together a database of different town, city and state open records laws all by myself."
The need for user-generated content lends itself to the collaborative medium of the wiki, which is a win-win for the project and anyone interested in transparent government.
One of WikiFOIA's most interesting areas allows open records advocates to add to an ever-growing list of tips for FOIA rookies. Key finds this especially helpful, given that some people feel awkward making records requests. "Even though I've been active in open records advocacy for a long time, it still sometimes feels naughty to look at other people's communications and documents," says Key. "You just have to remember that you're entitled to them; remember that it's allowed; and that it's the law. You shouldn't feel bad about it."
Key, a long-time advocate for government accountability and transparency, founded WikiFOIA at the beginning of this year, and has big dreams for the site. Once it reaches a certain tipping point in regular visitors and contributors, Key hopes that more activist-oriented pages will pop up, showing people how to work toward more comprehensive open records laws and transparency initiatives. "I'd love to see a world where all public records are available online," says Key. "But for that to happen, we need to have strong open records rights."
Key sees the citizen right to view government records as one of the top ways to hold the government accountable. "People sometimes get the feeling that something's wrong, and don't know how to pin it down, so they begin to issue open records requests," says Key. "The more information that's out there, the better, and having access to the relevant information is the best way to keep track of what's going on in our schools, and our town and county governments."
WikiFOIA gets an extra boost from the fact that, in an era of divisive party politics, the use of open records laws to hold the government accountable unites nearly all Americans of different political persuasions and beliefs. "With open records, there isn't a partisan stance. The subject doesn't lend itself to any sort of party politics at all."
Indeed, as the momentum builds behind WikiFOIA and other likeminded efforts, it is becoming more and more clear that open records are open records for everybody, and something from which every citizen can benefit.
