In our first piece, we walked you through how to initiate open records requests. This time, we’re talking mindset and process, because if you want results, your approach matters.
Whether you’re digging into a public official or researching a private individual, there’s a process that consistently leads to success. And let’s be clear, a lot of records are wide open. Public means public. You just have to know where to look.
Mindset First: Truth Over Target
Every time I begin an investigation, it starts with the same pattern:
This person is accused of this. This abuse of power happened here. This situation dragged on far too long. It starts with the Whispers, always. One voice becomes many. I cross-reference one with another. If the patterns line up, I dig deeper.
Building the Board
When I find a focus or a profile worth pursuing, I start assembling:
Property records
Business listings
Public profiles (current and past)
Associates
Anything that adds shape to the picture
What you’re doing is building an investigation board. Piece by piece. Fact by fact. You’re not just collecting data, you’re looking for what’s out of place. Contradictions. Timelines that don’t match. Deals that don’t add up. And yes, sometimes, this pulls you into new rabbit holes. Follow them.
Prove It or Disprove It
As I go, I work to prove the hypothesis true or false. No assumptions. No guaranteed conclusions. This isn’t about slamming someone, it’s about testing whether the profile fits the allegation. Build your case. Then test it like it isn’t true. If it still holds? Keep going. Cross-Reference. Again.
Every layer of discovery gets checked against the last. Patterns emerge or they don’t. Either way, you’re getting closer. The good news? Public data is everywhere. Court records. Budget audits. Property maps. Board meeting notes. You just have to dig and keep digging.
When It Doesn’t Stop
If you’re just doing this to satisfy curiosity, you’ll likely stop once your questions are answered. But if you’re building an article or a full series, then you’ve done these steps over and over. Each time adding more pieces, more proof, more questions. And that process? It never really ends. At some point, yes, we draw conclusions.
We prep the article. We line up the facts. We share our thoughts. And we trust the reader to bring their own truth to the table. And if you’re like us… We’re not quiet. We’re not delicate. We’re here to expose the things that aren’t right.
And every article stays open, open to new facts, new voices, and more Whispers. If you’re only here to learn the skill, you can stop when you find your answers. But if you’re an investigator? Your board never stops growing. You’re constantly qualifying your work.
Was I right? Was I wrong? Is there more? That’s the life. That’s the process. If you’ve got your own Whisper, send it.
If you’ve got thoughts, comment.
If you believe in what we’re doing, like it, share it, spread it.
Whisper One Out.