Covering campaign contributions is a staple of computer-assisted reporting. But it's tricky.
A lot of states do not offer computerized donation databases. The Federal Election Commission's online service is not perfect. And there is always the need to go beyond the numbers for hard-hitting stories. This issue helps you with these problems.
Two Associated Press reporters tell how they computerized state election records available only on paper. One used scanners. The other arranged a massive data entry team. Both got good stories. Padraic Cassidy of the Los Angeles Times (and a former NICAR staff member) tells how to use the FEC on-line database.
Christopher Schmitt of the San Jose Mercury News and Jackie Duobinis from the National Library on Money & Politics offer tips on analyzing contribution records.
And the Poynter Institute's Nora Paul offers tips on how to use the Internet to better cover campaigns.