Gratiot County Whistleblower is looking for three to five Gratiot County residents to act as the publication's public representatives. They would contact public officials, ask our questions and file public-records requests under their own names, on our behalf.

Why we are asking

The people behind this publication stay anonymous. That protects sources and keeps the focus on the records. But some officials will not answer questions from an anonymous sender, and Michigan's Freedom of Information Act requires a requester's full name and address.

Our closed report on the Animal Control inquiry (closed Oct. 2) shows the problem. The county administrator wrote that he will not respond to questions posed by anonymous persons, and our follow-up has had no reply. Named volunteers let us keep asking.

What a public representative does

Each volunteer is assigned to one or two public offices, such as county administration, a city hall or a school district, and becomes that office’s regular contact for us.

  • Asks our questions. For each story we send a short list of questions that must be asked, word for word or close to it. These are the ones our reporting depends on.
  • Asks up to five of their own. On each assignment a volunteer may add up to five questions of their own choosing, as long as they relate to what we are reporting on.
  • Follows up. Good reporting means asking about what was just said. A volunteer is free to ask follow-up questions in the moment: what an answer means, where it is written down, who decided it, and when. No approval is needed for a follow-up.
  • Sends back the answers. Every reply is forwarded to us unchanged, along with a note of who said it, when, and how (email, phone or in person). Written answers are best because they leave a record.
  • Introduces themselves honestly. Every official is told, every time, that the volunteer is a public representative of Gratiot County Whistleblower and that answers may be published.
  • Files records requests when needed. Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act requires a name and mailing address on a request for documents. We write the request; the volunteer signs and sends it, and passes along the response and any fee notice.
  • Attends public meetings when asked. A volunteer may take notes, record the meeting as the Open Meetings Act allows, and ask questions during public comment.

How an assignment works

  • We email the assignment: the background, the office to contact, the required questions and a reply-by date.
  • The volunteer adds any of their own questions and sends the message, by email when possible.
  • If the office replies, the volunteer may follow up right away, then forwards everything to us.
  • If the office does not reply by the date, the volunteer sends one polite reminder and tells us.
  • We prepare the report. The volunteer sees how their answers are used before it is published and can flag anything that looks wrong.

Most assignments take an hour or two spread over a week.

The few firm rules

We do not want volunteers reading from a script. We do ask for these:

  • Stay courteous, even when an answer is slow, short or unwelcome.
  • Ask questions. Do not argue a position, make accusations, make promises or threats, or offer anything in exchange for an answer.
  • Never claim to be a public employee, a lawyer, law enforcement or anything other than a volunteer for this publication.
  • Do not reveal who runs the publication or anything about our sources.
  • Do not record a private phone call or conversation without telling the other person first.
  • Do not contact officials at their homes or enter any place that is not open to the public.
  • Report answers exactly as given. If something was said off the record, tell us that it was.

Who can apply

  • Adults 18 or older. Gratiot County residents are preferred.
  • People who write clearly and stay courteous when an answer is slow or unwelcome.
  • People who can give a few hours a month and answer our emails within a few days.

To keep our reporting fair, we cannot accept anyone who is currently a county, city, village, township or school employee or officeholder in Gratiot County, a candidate for local office, a close family member of one, or a party to a lawsuit with a local government. Please tell us about any connection like this even if you think it does not matter.

What you should know before applying

Your name will be public. Emails and letters to public offices, and FOIA requests themselves, can be released as public records. Officials and residents may learn that you volunteer for us.

This is unpaid. We will reimburse FOIA fees that we have approved in advance. You should never pay a fee we have not agreed to.

You will not be alone. The people behind this publication supply the required questions, decide which records to request, and handle anything that becomes a dispute. If an official is hostile or you feel uncomfortable, stop and tell us.

You can step down at any time. Tell us and we will stop sending you assignments. We will not publish your name ourselves without your permission.

How to apply

The button below opens your own email app with a short application filled in. Nothing is sent until you press Send. We read every application, and we will reply before assigning anything.

Apply by email →

Or write to contactus@gcwhistleblower.com with the subject line “Volunteer public representative application.”

We keep applications private and use them only to choose volunteers. See our privacy page.