OK, if you are asking for any of the really good information, your Freedom of Information Act request may have been denied — wholly or in part. That's no reason to give up.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press recently published a comprehensive online guide to appealing federal FOIA decisions. Written by smart, experienced media lawyers, it can help you if you aren't ready to take "no" for an answer.

"We based the guide on some of the most common FOIA questions we hear from journalists around the country, both through our legal hotline and in conversation at media events," said Reporters Committee FOI Director Mark Caramanica, who developed the guide in collaboration with Reporters Committee Jack Nelson FOI Fellow You-Jin Han. "It will be particularly useful to independent journalists and those at news organizations who don’t have ready access to legal counsel to help file appeals."

• "Federal FOIA Appeals Guide," [2] Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, August 2012.

• Press release of August 1, 2012, [3] Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.