This is the statutory core: name the specific government program/activity and tie it to government operations (how officials exercised their authority). “It’s interesting” is not enough — show accountability, policy, or historical value. Avoid your personal benefit here.

Prove you’ll actually get the records to the public, and name the channel (article, book, podcast, academic paper, public archive) and the audience it reaches. A concrete outlet beats “I’ll share it online.” Agencies deny waivers that can’t show real reach.

State your role and that any income (article fees, royalties, salary) is incidental — you have no commercial interest in the records themselves. This rebuts the “commercial use” fee category.