I know what you're thinking. Public information pertains to, well, um, public entities. That is true, but there are ways to get public information from a private company in some cases too. I'm not talking about an inside source sneaking you secret documents. I am talking about sending an email (or letter via snail mail) and publicly requesting information.
I am working on a story about a private organization (which I won't name here because the story is not yet complete) and was looking for information pertaining to their licensing records, which are public. Within four business days, the records I requested were sitting in my Inbox.
The lesson here? If any private company has any kind of licensing through the state, that information is likely public. Be aware that the licensing information may not contain what you are looking for, but know that you have access to it.
Also, make sure you aren't fooled. It isn't as simple as you trying to file a request under FOIA and someone in the company saying "Sorry, can't use FOIA with us. We're private."
*click ... dialtone*
Then you give up and move on, right?
Not so fast.
If their licensing is not through the state then find out how much funding the company receives from the state or if the state is involved in any aspect of their operations. If the state plays a large part in their business operations in one way or another, there may be more public information available to you than you know about.
Stay tuned for more FOIA trials and tribulations and remember, if you have stories to share, questions or comments, email me at asanders@nhregister.com.
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