A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Marion County, Ohio, regarding public records on October 7, 2024. The request came from us at Buckeye Reporter, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
Under the Ohio Open Records Law, §149.43 et seq., we requested access to FOIA logs sent to the county from January 1, 2024 till October 7, 2024. The requested records include fields such as the requester's name and organization, content of the request, date of the request and its completion date, as well as the status of the FOIA.
As members of the media engaged in gathering and reporting news to the public, we emphasized that access to these public records is crucial for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These responsibilities include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
In light of our role in disseminating information to the public, we also requested a fee waiver typically granted to media professionals.
The Buckeye Reporter remains committed to providing thorough and accurate coverage of local government affairs through requests like these. We believe that transparency is key in maintaining trust between government institutions and the communities they serve.
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