About our organization:

Sunlight Search, led by Jim Mintz and Brandi Swicegood, seeks to strengthen democracy through accountability research on political candidates.

How we can help you cover the 2024 elections:

Join Sunlight Search for a comprehensive, five-session training on how to deeply profile political candidates. You’ll leave equipped with the tools and knowledge to uncover a candidate's true history.

What you'll learn: - Build a detailed candidate timeline using public records and online sources - Analyze financial disclosures to reveal hidden assets and liabilities - Uncover political connections and campaign finance secrets - Master social media sleuthing to find new information - Investigate a candidate's educational and professional background

By the end of this training, you'll be able to: - Create a compelling narrative about a candidate's life - Identify potential conflicts of interest and ethical red flags - Produce in-depth investigative reports

Training schedule

There are four trainings, all with the same content. You are encouraged to sign up for the training that best fits your schedule. 

Training 1: Aug. 16 to Sept. 6, weekly sessions

• Aug. 16, 2 to 3 p.m. ET: Backgrounding Basics (with MuckRock): Create a timeline and source list, file FOIA requests
• Aug. 23, 2 to 3 p.m. ET: Getting Personal with Finances: Analyze financial disclosures, business interests, and property records
• Aug. 30, 2 to 3 p.m. ET: It's All Political (with Open Secrets): Explore political history, campaign finance, and lobbying connections
• Sept. 13, 2 to 3 p.m. ET: Social Media Sleuthing (with MuckRock): Conduct advanced social media searches and track changes
• Sept. 20, 2 to 3 p.m. ET: School & Work: Investigate educational background, employment history, and government loans

Click here to apply for this weekly paced session now. Enrollment ends Aug. 14.

Training 2: Sept. 9 to 18, five sessions over two weeks

• Sept. 9, 1 to 2 p.m. ET: Backgrounding Basics (with MuckRock): Create a timeline and source list, file FOIA requests
• Sept. 11, 1 to 2 p.m. ET: Getting Personal with Finances: Analyze financial disclosures, business interests, and property records
• Sept. 13, 1 to 2 p.m. ET: It's All Political (with Open Secrets): Explore political history, campaign finance, and lobbying connections
• Sept. 16, 1 to 2 p.m. ET: Social Media Sleuthing (with MuckRock): Conduct advanced social media searches and track changes
• Sept. 18, 1 to 2 p.m. ET: School & Work: Investigate educational background, employment history, and government loans

Click here to apply for this intensive option now. Enrollment ends Sept. 5.

Training 3: Sept. 11 to Oct. 9, weekly sessions

• Sept. 11, 2 to 3 p.m. ET: Backgrounding Basics (with MuckRock): Create a timeline and source list, file FOIA requests
• Sept. 18, 2 to 3 p.m. ET: Getting Personal with Finances: Analyze financial disclosures, business interests, and property records
• Sept. 25, 2 to 3 p.m. ET: It's All Political (with Open Secrets): Explore political history, campaign finance, and lobbying connections
• Oct. 2, 2 to 3 p.m. ET: Social Media Sleuthing (with MuckRock): Conduct advanced social media searches and track changes
• Oct. 9, 2 to 3 p.m. ET: School & Work: Investigate educational background, employment history, and government loans

Click here to apply for this weekly paced session now. Enrollment ends Sept. 9

Training 4: Sept. 25 – Oct. 4, five sessions over two weeks

• Sept. 25, 1 to 2 p.m. ET: Backgrounding Basics (with MuckRock): Create a timeline and source list, file FOIA requests
• Sept. 27, 1 to 2 p.m. ET: Getting Personal with Finances: Analyze financial disclosures, business interests, and property records
• Sept. 30, 1 to 2 p.m. ET: It's All Political (with Open Secrets): Explore political history, campaign finance, and lobbying connections
• Oct. 2, 1 to 2 p.m. ET: Social Media Sleuthing (with MuckRock): Conduct advanced social media searches and track changes
• Oct. 4, 1 to 2 p.m. ET: School & Work: Investigate educational background, employment history, and government loans

Click here to apply for this intensive option now. Enrollment ends Sept. 23.

Training 5: Oct. 1 – Oct. 11, five sessions over two weeks

• Oct. 1, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET: Backgrounding Basics (with MuckRock): Create a timeline and source list, file FOIA requests
• Oct. 3, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET: Getting Personal with Finances: Analyze financial disclosures, business interests, and property records
• Oct. 7, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET: It's All Political (with Open Secrets): Explore political history, campaign finance, and lobbying connections
• Oct. 9, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET: Social Media Sleuthing (with MuckRock): Conduct advanced social media searches and track changes
• Oct. 11, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET: School & Work: Investigate educational background, employment history, and government loans

Click here to apply for this intensive option now. Enrollment ends Sept. 27.

What you should know: This resource is limited to 50 newsrooms. Anyone can apply, but we’ll give priority to newsrooms in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

More information: https://www.sunlightsearch.net/ 

Have questions about using this resource? Here’s where to reach out: brandi@sunlightsearch.net