Resources
Government
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) website provides tips for filing a FOIA request and getting started with the FOIA process.
U.S. Copyright Office
The U.S. Copyright Office hosts resources for teachers and students regarding copyright laws and fair use. The site also contains information about copyright registration and how to register online.
Legal
Classroom Guidelines on Copyright
A quick guide for classrooms and librarians on the basics of copyright and fair use
Foundation for Individual Rights in Education
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) defends the speech rights of individuals at America’s colleges and universities. These rights include freedom of speech, legal equality, due process, religious liberty, and sanctity of conscience.
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) has been assisting journalists since 1970. RCFP provides pro bono legal representation and other legal resources to protect First Amendment freedoms and the newsgathering rights of journalists.
SPLC Public Records Letter Generator
Interested in submitting a FOIA request? The SPLC's Public Records Letter Generator will give you a customizable template for your state to send the request.
Student Press Law Center
The Student Press Law Center (SPLC) advocates for student First Amendment rights, freedom of online speech, and open government on campus. The SPLC provides information, training and legal assistance at no charge to student journalists and educators.
Media Outlets
FactCheck.org
FactCheck.org is a fact-checking website that focuses on political tv ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and press releases. Need a fact check on a new political issue or something the site hasn't covered? FactCheck.org also takes questions.
Google News
Google News is a computer-generated search engine that gathers news articles only from sites that meet Google's quality guidelines. To be approved for Google News, sites maintain quality journalistic values like original reporting and honest attribution.
NPR
NPR's mission is to work in partnership with Member Stations (independent, locally owned and operated broadcasters) to inform the public, increase understanding of the world and enrich the experience of everyday life.
PBS NewsHour
PBS NewsHour grew out of its gavel-to-gavel coverage of the Watergate hearings in 1973. For more than 40 years, the news source has provided reliable, substantive coverage and has been recognized for its original reporting.
PBS NewsHour EXTRA
An extension of PBS NewsHour, PBS NewsHour Extra strives to spark young people's interest in the world around them. PBS NewsHour Extra provides educational resources based on current events, specially tailored for teachers and students.
PolitiFact
PolitiFact is a Pulitzer Prize winning fact-checking site that rates the accuracy of political statements based on its Truth-O-Meter.
Snopes
Snopes is a fact-checking website that has been described as the "online touchstone of rumor research." The Snopes team does in-depth research to verify political news articles, social media posts, and other media circulated online.