Join this hands-on OpenSecrets session designed to give journalists the investigative tools to map lobbying influence. Learn how to track industry-wide spending trends, isolate specific corporate targets, and dissect the lobbying reports behind the legislation you cover every day. buff.ly/KVaIo0g

Lobbying with OpenSecrets

buff.ly

Catskills residents and local officials have flagged major concerns with the a new solar project, notably environmental risks and ethical concerns, reports WJFF Radio Catskill. Sunlight Research Desk provided research for this story. wjffradio.org/the-catskill...

The Catskills’ Largest Proposed Solar Project Draws Environmental and Ethical Concerns

The solar developer, RWE, has filed its application with New York state to build a 200-megawatt solar energy and 100-megawatt battery energy storage facility in Sullivan County.   If appr…

wjffradio.org

These stories changed communities because someone asked questions. Your support helps journalists uncover the truth, hold power accountable, and keep public records public. Help fund the next investigation. buff.ly/DMShMsj

Transparency is a team sport. We can't win without you. Every public records request takes a team, from filing and tracking requests to publishing records that inform communities. Your support makes that work possible. Donate today! buff.ly/DMShMsj

Transparency doesn't happen by accident. Behind every public records request is a community committed to transparency. Be part of the team making government more transparent. Donate today! www.muckrock.com/donate/

With midterm elections approaching and primaries being held across the country, campaign finance data and candidate disclosures are more important than ever. Join the experts from @sunlightresearch.bsky.social for a practical session on reporting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Investigating with Sunlight: Campaign finance data

Tools and techniques for better election reporting

buff.ly

Voter guides are crucial to building trust in your local community and keep your readers more informed. MuckRock is now offering through the Sunlight Research Desk the opportunity to create voter guides with assistance from newsroom leader Erica Peterson. buff.ly/pYMbhN2

Membership | Sunlight Research

The Sunlight Research Desk and MuckRock provide powerful investigative tools and support that help local and independent newsrooms produce more high-impact journalism.

sunlightresearch.net

With midterm elections approaching and primaries being held across the country, campaign finance data and candidate disclosures are more important than ever. Join the experts from @sunlightresearch.bsky.social for a practical session on reporting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Investigating with Sunlight: Campaign finance data

Tools and techniques for better election reporting

buff.ly

Voter guides are crucial to building trust in your local community and provide readers an opportunity to head into the voter booth more informed. MuckRock is now offering Sunlight Research Desk members a new opportunity to get voter guide assistance from newsroom leader Erica Peterson.

Membership | Sunlight Research

The Sunlight Research Desk and MuckRock provide powerful investigative tools and support that help local and independent newsrooms produce more high-impact journalism.

sunlightresearch.net

If you use @documentcloud.org, @muckrock.com or any of the other fine transparency products our crew works on, it would mean a lot if you took our annual user survey! Bonus: Some respondents will be selected for free swag! docs.google.com/forms/d/1Xln...

MuckRock 2026 Community Survey

Thank you for taking the MuckRock community survey. Your responses help us plan our transparency programs, software development, and editorial strategy — and they directly support the case we make to ...

docs.google.com

MuckRock is building a pool of freelance researchers and investigative journalists to contribute to @sunlightresearch.bsky.social projects. We’re hiring experienced researchers, journalists and investigators for freelance contract positions.

MuckRock is hiring Sunlight Research Desk contractors

You’ll work directly with newsrooms across the country, providing detailed, high-quality research that supports ambitious investigative and accountability reporting.

buff.ly

Join the experts from @sunlightresearch.bsky.social for a practical session on how to work with campaign finance and ethics data in your reporting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. buff.ly/oiRddCh

Investigating with Sunlight: Campaign finance data

Tools and techniques for better election reporting

us02web.zoom.us

MuckRock is building a pool of freelance researchers and investigative journalists to contribute to Sunlight Research Desk projects. We’re hiring experienced researchers, journalists and investigators for freelance contract positions. www.muckrock.com/jobs/researc...

MuckRock is hiring Sunlight Research Desk contractors

MuckRock is a collaborative news site that gives you the tools to hold the government accountable.

muckrock.com

We're still looking for two newsrooms in competitive states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, North Carolina, Iowa, Ohio, Maine and Nevada. If your newsroom is covering pivotal races this November, we want to hear from you.

Election Accountability Cohort Interest Form

Interested in joining the Election Accountability Cohort? MuckRock's Sunlight Research Desk is looking for two more newsrooms in competitive states to join our 2026 Election Accountability Cohort.…

buff.ly

Do you use any of MuckRock’s services? We want to get your insight. Your responses help us plan our transparency programs, software development and editorial strategy. A selected few will also receive some free MuckRock swag!

MuckRock 2026 Community Survey

Thank you for taking the MuckRock community survey. Your responses help us plan our transparency programs, software development, and editorial strategy — and they directly support the case we make to…

buff.ly

Property records reveal that Sen. Cynthia Lummis and her family are connected to thousands of acres of land targeted by Microsoft’s planned data center expansion in Wyoming, according to @wyofile.com with research and data analysis from @sunlightresearch.bsky.social.

Lummis family could cash in on Microsoft data center expansion through Cheyenne land sales - WyoFile

The family of Wyoming’s retiring junior senator, who has supported tech innovation, owns thousands of acres targeted by Microsoft for its planned expansion.

buff.ly

If you follow @muckrock.com's work or use any of our tools like @documentcloud.org, could you take our annual survey? Win free swag and help us focus our time on the right things! forms.gle/3k2saNJ9ch8t...

MuckRock 2026 Community Survey

Thank you for taking the MuckRock community survey. Your responses help us plan our transparency programs, software development, and editorial strategy — and they directly support the case we make to ...

forms.gle

NEW: Thousands of acres southeast of Cheyenne owned by and associated with U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis lie in the path of Microsoft’s planned data center expansion, Laramie County property records show, reports @wyofile.com.

Lummis family could cash in on Microsoft data center expansion through Cheyenne land sales - WyoFile

The family of Wyoming’s retiring junior senator, who has supported tech innovation, owns thousands of acres targeted by Microsoft for its planned expansion.

wyofile.com

Microsoft wants thousands of acres southeast of Cheyenne that are owned by Sen. Cynthia Lummis, her family and associated companies for its data center expansion, Laramie County property records show. The Senate's ‘crypto queen’ strongly backs new tech. wyofile.com/lummis-famil...

Lummis family could cash in on Microsoft data center expansion through Cheyenne land sales - WyoFile

The family of Wyoming’s retiring junior senator, who has supported tech innovation, owns thousands of acres targeted by Microsoft for its planned expansion.

wyofile.com

We worked with 13 newsrooms to test a new toolkit from to help them improve communication and fundraising around their investigative work. buff.ly/gA4t4u7

New research from @trustingnews.bsky.social wanted to explore how AI literacy can function as a public service and how journalists can help audiences feel more informed. trustingnews.org/ai-literacy-...

AI literacy content builds trust and engagement across audiences - Trusting News

Even audiences with low trust in news reported increased willingness to return to the news organization for information and higher trust after viewing a single example of AI literacy content.

trustingnews.org

Did your latest public records request hit a brick wall? You aren't alone. Even the most seasoned journalists and public records requestors run into bureaucratic roadblocks. But a denial doesn't have to be the end of the road.

FOIA request denied? Here's how to fix it.

Even the most seasoned journalists and public records requestors run into bureaucratic roadblocks, but a denial doesn't have to be the end of the road. Our latest guide breaks down the most common rea...

muckrock.com

Congratulations to Sunlight members, Granite State News Collaborative and @azluminaria.org, for winning the Local Media Association's 2025 Digital Innovation Awards!

2025 LMA Digital Innovation Awards winners

Local Media Association revealed its 2025 Digital Innovation Awards on Wednesday, celebrating the local media organizations, journalists and teams pushing the industry forward through creativity,…

localmedia.org

How do you explain the real cost of investigative journalism to your audience? Learn how local newsrooms turned to MuckRock and @sunlightresearch.bsky.social to make their investigative work visible. buff.ly/cjWkaDU

The Sunlight Research Desk is offering public office hours for reports to ask questions about investigative research and get expert insights.

Community Office Hours

us02web.zoom.us

Interested in joining the Election Accountability Cohort? We're looking for two newsrooms in competitive states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, North Carolina, Iowa, Ohio, Maine and Nevada. If your newsroom is covering pivotal races, we want to hear from you. buff.ly/9Wse1n2

Election Accountability Cohort Interest Form

Interested in joining the Election Accountability Cohort? MuckRock's Sunlight Research Desk is looking for two more newsrooms in competitive states to join our 2026 Election Accountability Cohort.…

buff.ly

Interested in joining the Election Accountability Cohort? We're looking for two newsrooms in competitive states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, North Carolina, Iowa, Ohio, Maine and Nevada. If your newsroom is covering pivotal races, we want to hear from you. buff.ly/9Wse1n2

Election Accountability Cohort Interest Form

Interested in joining the Election Accountability Cohort? MuckRock's Sunlight Research Desk is looking for two more newsrooms in competitive states to join our 2026 Election Accountability Cohort.…

docs.google.com

Learn how you can obtain records and reporting on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during our next FOIAFriday session. We will be joined by Madison Holcomb from @shastascout.bsky.social and @katehuangpu.bsky.social and Danielle Ohl from @spotlightpa.org. buff.ly/EPzjcux

FOIAFriday

Research and Reporting on ICE Through Public Records

us02web.zoom.us

Learn how you can obtain records and reporting on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during our next FOIAFriday session. We will be joined by Madison Holcomb from Shasta Scout and Kate Huangpu and Danielle Ohl from SpotlightPA. us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

NEW: Critics are calling out Sullivan County officials for allegedly stretching the open meetings exemptions while advancing a $585 million bond deal to rescue Resorts World Catskills. Sunlight Research Desk contributed research and data analysis for this story.

Casino bailout shrouded in secrecy as Sullivan County bond deal falters

Critics say officials stretched open meetings exemptions while advancing a $585 million bond deal to rescue Resorts World Catskills

timesunion.com