Talking points memos for staff (Department of Homeland Security, Under Secretary Office of Intelligence & Analysis )

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

Any memo, email or similar document containing talking points issued to staff for discussions about working at the agency.

Please include all documents from January 1, 2012 to the day this request is processed.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Shawn Musgrave

Hello,

Thank you for your quick response. Yes, please process this request with regard to onboarding training.

Best,
Shawn

Hello,

Thank you for the acknowledgement letter.

I once again assert that I am not a commercial requester, but a journalist. I confirm that I have no commercial interest in this request as defined under applicable definitions as they apply to FOIA, but will publish responsive documents in full online and use them in original analysis based on editorial skill.

Your presumption of commercial status is a blatant misapplication of the DHS Privacy Office's memo regarding MuckRock requests. That memo did not apply a blanket commercial status for all requests submitted via MuckRock, but even admitted that requests submitted via MuckRock may qualify for media status. I am just such a requester.

Please confirm that I have been placed in the media requester category or immediately grant me appeal rights so that I may bring your error to a supervisor's attention.

Respectfully,
Shawn Musgrave
MuckRock

Ms. Waters,

Thank you for your acknowledgement that I am not a commercial requester. In support of my assertion that I ought, in fact, to be assessed fees as a member of the media, I offer a selection of recent stories:

Boston Globe:

bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/04/08/big-brother-better-police-work-new-technology-automatically-runs-license-plates-everyone/1qoAoFfgp31UnXZT2CsFSK/story.html

www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/10/25/mass-libraries-strikingly-free-censorship/GV3LPCJO4kdzCb3a9HE6HJ/story.html

VICE/Motherboard:

motherboard.vice.com/blog/the-nypd-is-foia-proof

motherboard.vice.com/blog/fbi-drone-program-documents

motherboard.vice.com/blog/the-feds-have-no-idea-whos-flying-drones

Please confirm whether this satisfies your requirements.

Best,
Shawn

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 4, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2014-IAFO-00030.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 4, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2014-IAFO-00030.

Thank you for your help.