Looking for last-minute, substantive story as the candidates begin the homestretch to the November elections? We can help. The IRE Resource Center has produced a campaign coverage booklet that includes resources and tips for covering campaigns on-line, analyzing FEC data through CAR techniques, backgrounding members of Congress, individual contributors or businesses. A supplement to the booklet includes handouts from IRE's National Conference this June in Providence, such as an FEC guide to contributions and the law, among other enlightening nuggets.
You've spread out the data, polished the numbers, mined the Internet, backgrounded and double-checked your facts and figures, written sharply and nailed a story. You're proud of it, so why not share it? We are looking for stories that used computer-assisted reporting. We're developing our newest "idea" book, where we take not the story, but the information on how the story was done and publish it so that other reporters don't have to start from scratch when embarking on a similar story. Look for fresh ideas, new perspectives on old problems and, more importantly, practical stuff including a story synopsis, list of sources, databases, spreadsheets, and Internet sources. Read about therefore avoid the pitfalls that tripped up others.
Submit stories to consider to Brant Houston, c/o NICAR, 138 Neff Hall Annex, Missouri School of Journalism, Columbia, Mo., 65211. Along this same thread, consider submitting your best work for the upcoming IRE Annual Contest for the best in investigative reporting. The deadline is Jan. 15. We'll send out entry forms soon. Remember to check out the contest information, and a list of previous winners, on the IRE homepage at http://ire.org