Researcher Field Manual

I. Your Mission

Uncover what power wants hidden. Every consequential decision leaves a paper trail—contracts, meeting minutes, emails, financial disclosures, lobbying reports. Your job is to find that trail, document it, and bring it to light.

You don't need credentials. You don't need permission. Public information belongs to the public—including you.

II. Public Records Requests

Every government—federal, state, local—must respond to public records requests. The process varies by jurisdiction, but the principle is universal: documents created with public money belong to the public.

Federal (FOIA)

• Submit through agency FOIA portals or by mail
• Be specific: name the records, date ranges, departments
• Always request electronic format with metadata—this is where interesting details hide
• Expect delays; federal agencies often take months
• Appeal denials—many initial rejections get reversed

State and Local

• Each state has its own public records law (some stronger than others)
• Local governments are often more responsive than federal
• Start local—it's faster and builds your skills
• School boards, city councils, county commissions: all subject to requests

Pursuant to [FOIA / State Public Records Act], I request copies of the following records:

[Describe records as specifically as possible]

Date range: [Start] to [End]
Department/Office: [If known]

Please provide responsive records in native electronic format, including metadata. If any records are withheld, please cite the specific exemption and provide a redacted version where possible.

I request a fee waiver as this information is sought for public interest purposes, not commercial use. If fees will exceed $[amount], please notify me before proceeding.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this request.

III. What to Look For

Accountability gaps hide in predictable places. Train yourself to spot the patterns.

Contract Awards

Who won? Who else bid? What's the relationship between the winner and the officials who decided? Look for sole-source justifications, last-minute specification changes, and revolving-door connections.

Meeting Minutes

What was discussed before the vote? Who attended? What happened in executive session? Minutes often reveal the real decision-making process.

Financial Disclosures

What do officials own? Who pays them? Cross-reference with their votes and decisions. Conflicts of interest rarely announce themselves.

Communications

Emails between officials and lobbyists. Text messages on government devices. Calendar entries showing who met with whom. The conversations power doesn't want you to see.

Lobbying Reports

Who is paying to influence decisions? How much? On which issues? Lobbying disclosure databases are public—use them.

IV. Tools

Free Resources

• MuckRock — Platform for filing and tracking FOIA requests; searchable database of others' requests
• DocumentCloud — Upload, analyze, and annotate documents; search public uploads
• OpenSecrets — Campaign finance, lobbying data, revolving door tracker
• USASpending.gov — Federal contract and grant data
• PACER — Federal court records (small fees apply)
• State equivalents — Most states have spending transparency portals

Techniques

• Cross-referencing — Connect names across datasets (official → company board → contract recipient)
• Timeline construction — Map when decisions were made, who was involved, what followed
• Network mapping — Visualize relationships between people, organizations, money flows
• Metadata analysis — Document properties reveal authors, edit history, creation dates

V. Operational Security

Your research may attract attention. Protect yourself.

• File requests under Junius principles—you can use your real name (it's your legal right) or file through an organization
• Keep copies of everything; documents disappear
• Use encrypted storage for sensitive materials
• Don't discuss ongoing investigations on non-secure channels
• If you find something significant, share it with the community through proper channels before going public

VI. Sharing Findings

Research that stays in your desk drawer changes nothing. Here's how findings flow into the movement:

1. Post in #evidence — Share initial findings in the Matrix community for discussion and verification
2. Document thoroughly — Write up methodology, sources, and conclusions
3. Submit for curation — Significant findings can be submitted for publication on the Evidence page
4. Coordinate amplification — Work with Amplifiers to spread findings effectively

Name names. Cite sources. Show your work. The framework demands traceability—we practice what we preach.

VII. First Mission

Don't wait until you feel ready. File your first public records request this week.

Pick something local and manageable: your city council's communications with a developer, your school board's vendor contracts, your county's lobbying registration. Learn the process. Report back to the community what you learned—not just the documents, but how the agency responded.

Every researcher started with their first request. Make yours today.