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Abstract

Democratic theory suggests that people require accurate information, often via newspaper journalists, to make informed decisions and adequately self-govern. A survey of 330 U.S. public record requesters found that they skew heavily toward being White, male, non-Hispanic, educated, older, and affluent, compared with the U.S. population and the journalism community. Implications are discussed for journalism and society, particularly in light of newspaper layoffs and closures and heightened government secrecy.

Keywords

freedom of information public records digital divide knowledge gap

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The document divide: Public record requester demographics,efficacy and those left behind

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