From the Hotline

By Teri Henning, General Counsel
Pennsylvania Newspaper Association

Q: What is the difference between the Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA") and the Right to Know Law?

A: The federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a federal law that grants access to records held by federal agencies. Each state has its own "open records" law which governs access to records of state and local agencies. Pennsylvania's open records law is The Right to Know Law.

If you are seeking records held by a federal agency, you should request them under FOIA (and reference FOIA in your request letter). If you are seeking records held by state or local agencies in Pennsylvania, you should reference the Right to Know Law.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has an excellent section on FOIA on its Web site, www.rcfp.org, including a site that helps you create a FOIA request letter. You can find a sample Right to Know request letter on the legal resources section of the PNA's Web site, www.pa-newspaper.org.

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