About Fourth Estate 48
Holding Arizona’s Government Accountable, One Public Record at a Time.
Fourth Estate 48 is a newsletter dedicated to shining light on Arizona’s government through public records. Here, you’ll find the unfiltered communications, calendars, police reports, and documents that officials often hope you’ll never see — published in full for transparency, context, and accountability.
This platform is more than just a repository; it’s a resource for the public, journalists, and anyone seeking answers about how Arizona’s leaders – elected and appointed – operate behind closed doors.
What’s in a Name?
The Fourth Estate represents journalism and its essential role in democracy.
State 48 refers to Arizona, the 48th state.
Together, Fourth Estate 48 is Arizona’s watchdog: Journalism powered by public records.
Who Runs This?
I’m Dillon Rosenblatt, an award-winning Arizona journalist with a track record of investigative reporting fueled by public records. My bylines span outlets like Phoenix New Times, Arizona Capitol Times, Arizona Agenda, KJZZ Phoenix, Copper Courier, Arizona Mirror, Sierra Vista Herald, and InBuckeye. My reporting has:
Triggered investigations into high-level election violations.
Exposed oversight failures within Arizona’s school voucher program.
Revealed plagiarism scandals that forced candidates to withdraw.
Uncovered abuses, like Yavapai County’s unlawful marijuana prosecutions and a major illegal adoption scheme involving the Maricopa County Assessor.
This newsletter is a one-person operation, born out of my passion for holding power to account and sharing that work directly with you.
What to Expect
Documents Are the Star: I’ll publish full records with summaries highlighting key findings. Whether it’s emails, police footage, or legal memos, you’ll see the details politicians and bureaucrats wish you wouldn’t.
Straight to Your Inbox: Expect quick, digestible reads with the raw documents included. When a deeper dive is warranted, I’ll go there.
Slow and Thorough: I’m no longer reporting full-time, which means I can take the time to ensure each story is meaningful. You can expect a few posts per month—quality over quantity.
Why Subscribe?
Be the first to see Arizona’s public records.
Stay informed about government accountability issues others might miss.
Support independent journalism that prioritizes transparency.
Collaborate and Connect
Journalists: Use these records to enhance your own reporting, with proper credit to Fourth Estate 48. Have a public records tip or an idea for what I should dig into? Send it to dillon@fourthestate48.com.
Together, let’s keep Arizona accountable.
Subscribe for free to Fourth Estate 48 today and get the truth, one document at a time.
