Public Record Lab

Course file 05 · Online · Canada

Find the story.
Show the work.

A five-week investigative research intensive for emerging journalists who want a repeatable process for finding, testing and presenting evidence.

Review the curriculum See how the cohort works
  • 5 weeksguided study
  • ENGinstruction
  • CAjurisdiction focus
An abstract evidence board with documents, notes and connecting lines

Fig. 01 A strong investigation leaves a trail another reporter can follow.

01 / METHOD

Reporting is a chain of decisions.

Public Record Lab treats research as a method, not a scavenger hunt. You will learn to record where information came from, what it can support, what remains uncertain and what needs a human source to explain.

02 / CURRICULUM

Five weeks from question to publishable record

Each module adds a layer to one working investigation. Exercises use supplied scenarios and public practice materials.

  1. Week01

    Scoping

    Build a source map

    Turn a broad question into people, institutions, records and testable claims. Set up a research log that separates leads from evidence.

    • Claim and source matrices
    • Search planning
    • Research logging
  2. Week02

    Public records

    Navigate access-to-information basics

    Survey how access systems differ across federal, provincial, territorial and municipal bodies in Canada, then frame a focused records request.

    • Institution and record selection
    • Scope and date ranges
    • Request tracking

    Educational overview only; this module is not legal advice.

  3. Week03

    Verification + data

    Test documents and clean data

    Assess provenance, dates, authorship and internal consistency. Make spreadsheets auditable without overwriting the source material.

    • Document verification
    • Read-only source copies
    • Data dictionaries and cleaning logs
  4. Week04

    People

    Interview for evidence and context

    Prepare interviews from the record, distinguish firsthand knowledge from inference and make source-protection choices proportionate to risk.

    • Interview briefs
    • Corroboration plans
    • Consent and secure communication basics
  5. Week05

    Publication

    Review the reporting trail

    Stress-test the central claims, seek meaningful responses, label uncertainty and assemble a publication review packet for an editor.

    • Line-by-line source checks
    • Right-of-reply workflow
    • Corrections and archive planning

03 / FIELDWORK

Practice the decisions, not just the tools

Assignment A

The record trail

Trace one public decision across agendas, minutes, contracts and statements. Submit an annotated source map with unanswered questions.

Deliverable: two-page research memo

Assignment B

The messy spreadsheet

Clean a supplied dataset while preserving the original, then document every transformation so another reporter can reproduce it.

Deliverable: clean file + change log

Assignment C

The challenge edit

Mark the support for each consequential sentence in a short draft and write a fair, specific request for comment.

Deliverable: source-checked draft

04 / RESOURCE DESK

A small library built for repeat use

Participants receive editable templates and reading prompts. Materials explain a workflow; they do not replace newsroom policy, legal review or local expertise.

R-01

Source map

People, records, claims, status and next action in one working view.

R-02

Records request planner

A worksheet for scope, custodian, jurisdiction, date range and follow-up.

R-03

Verification checklist

Prompts for provenance, authenticity, context and independent confirmation.

R-04

Data cleaning log

A reproducible record of formulas, exclusions, corrections and assumptions.

R-05

Interview brief

What the record shows, what the source may know and what needs testing.

R-06

Publication review sheet

Claim-level sourcing, response status and unresolved risk before release.

05 / COHORT

Structured for careful work

The intensive combines independent practice with live online discussion. A typical week includes a concise lesson, a methods clinic, an assignment and written peer feedback.

Delivery
Online, in English
Cadence
One module each week for five weeks
Workload
Plan for independent reading and reporting practice between sessions
Tools
A browser, video-call access and spreadsheet software

Facilitation

Practitioner-led, with names published before enrolment

Sessions are led by editors and research practitioners selected for the module they teach. Facilitator names, roles and biographies are posted with each confirmed cohort so learners can evaluate the fit before registering.

06 / QUESTIONS

Before you join a cohort

Who is this intensive for?

It is designed for early-career reporters, student journalists, independent publishers and communications professionals moving toward public-interest reporting. No coding experience is required.

Does the course provide legal advice?

No. Access-to-information and publication review are taught as educational reporting methods. Learners should consult qualified counsel or their newsroom when a matter requires legal advice.

Will I work with sensitive personal data?

Course exercises use supplied practice material. Learners should not upload confidential, identifying or high-risk source material to shared sessions or peer-review spaces.

Is this an accredited program?

No accreditation is claimed. Public Record Lab is a focused skills intensive, not a degree, diploma or professional designation.

When are cohort dates announced?

Dates, facilitator biographies, fees and session times are published together before enrolment opens. This overview does not represent an active registration period.

CONTACT / DESK

Questions about fit or accessibility?

Write to hello@publicrecordlab.ca. Please do not send confidential tips, unpublished reporting or personal records.

This site does not collect registrations or contact details.