FOI for Student Journalists (UK)

FOI Toolkit

Guides, examples and templates to help UK student journalists file confident, effective information requests.

A close-up, photographic shot of a manila folder stamped “FOI RESPONSE” in crisp, dark ink, resting on a textured grey office desk. The folder is slightly open, revealing neatly clipped typed pages with visible but unreadable black text and a bold heading referencing a UK public authority. A classic black fountain pen lies diagonally across the folder, its metal nib catching the light. Cool, overcast natural light from a nearby window creates soft, realistic highlights on the pen and gentle shadows along the folder’s edges. The composition follows the rule of thirds, with a shallow depth of field softly blurring a background of stacked ring binders and a computer keyboard, evoking a professional, investigative atmosphere suitable for serious student journalism.
A wide, photographic interior of a modern university newsroom without people, featuring rows of sleek white desks each with dual monitors showing blurred article drafts, and corkboards on the walls covered in pinned printouts labelled “FOI data,” “case studies,” and “deadlines.” In the foreground, a large wall-mounted calendar is filled with colour-coded entries such as “submit FOI,” “review response,” and “appeal deadline.” Neutral overhead office lighting creates even illumination, while faint daylight from high windows adds soft, natural highlights. The mood is industrious and analytical, with clear lines and a clean, contemporary aesthetic. Captured at eye level with deep focus, the composition leads the eye from the calendar into the depth of the busy yet ordered space, reinforcing organised, methodical FOI work.

What FOI Requests Reveal

A Freedom of Information request is a written question asking public bodies for recorded data they hold. Used well, FOI uncovers stories, documents and statistics for your reporting. Explore our Case Studies section to see real requests and published investigations.

View cases

Resources

A close-up, photographic shot of a manila folder stamped “FOI RESPONSE” in crisp, dark ink, resting on a textured grey office desk. The folder is slightly open, revealing neatly clipped typed pages with visible but unreadable black text and a bold heading referencing a UK public authority. A classic black fountain pen lies diagonally across the folder, its metal nib catching the light. Cool, overcast natural light from a nearby window creates soft, realistic highlights on the pen and gentle shadows along the folder’s edges. The composition follows the rule of thirds, with a shallow depth of field softly blurring a background of stacked ring binders and a computer keyboard, evoking a professional, investigative atmosphere suitable for serious student journalism.

Plan strong requests with step‑by‑step guides, sample wording, and templates tailored to campus journalism investigations.

A wide, photographic interior of a modern university newsroom without people, featuring rows of sleek white desks each with dual monitors showing blurred article drafts, and corkboards on the walls covered in pinned printouts labelled “FOI data,” “case studies,” and “deadlines.” In the foreground, a large wall-mounted calendar is filled with colour-coded entries such as “submit FOI,” “review response,” and “appeal deadline.” Neutral overhead office lighting creates even illumination, while faint daylight from high windows adds soft, natural highlights. The mood is industrious and analytical, with clear lines and a clean, contemporary aesthetic. Captured at eye level with deep focus, the composition leads the eye from the calendar into the depth of the busy yet ordered space, reinforcing organised, methodical FOI work.

Follow best‑practice tips, legal basics, and pre‑submission checklists so your FOI requests are focused and hard for authorities to refuse.

Practice FOI

Draft a sample FOI request, experiment with wording, and save it so you feel ready to contact real public bodies.

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