{
  "id": "1997-june-more-databases-volunteers",
  "slug": "1997-june-more-databases-volunteers",
  "url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/1997-june-more-databases-volunteers.html",
  "year": 1997,
  "month": "June",
  "monthNum": 6,
  "headline": "More databases; Volunteers",
  "kicker": "IRE/NICAR Notes",
  "author_name": "Andy Lehren and Cory de Vera",
  "author_title": "NICAR staff",
  "affiliation": "NICAR/IRE",
  "summary": "The National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting is expanding its databases and data analysis services for journalists, offering access to government records on health, safety, and spending, while also seeking volunteers to serve as local coordinators to strengthen IRE's grassroots presence.",
  "keywords": [
    "databases",
    "journalists",
    "volunteers"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Investigative Methods",
    "Journalism & Newsroom",
    "Data & Databases"
  ],
  "technologies": [
    "GIS"
  ],
  "full_text": "The National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting continues adding and updating databases for journalists, and is enlarging its data analysis services.\n\nAmong the new databases are: the Centers for Disease Control's reports on AIDS patients across the country, the Food and Drug Administration's collection of complaints about drugs and medical devices, and the U.S. Census Bureau's Consolidated Federal Funds Reports, which allow you to track federal spending in your community.\n\nThe updated databases include: the U.S. Department of Transportation's reports of accidents involving hazardous chemicals, the U.S. Small Business Administration's 7A loan guarantees for companies, FBI crime reports, railroad accidents, federal contracts, and files on legal immigrants to the United States.\n\nTo continue enlarging its offerings, NICAR has numerous FOIA letters and other pending requests for data. We will announce those offerings in this newsletter and on the NICAR-L listserv as they are completed.\n\nNICAR has been expanding its analysis services for broadcasters and newspaper reporters. This goes far beyond helping reporters process tricky tapes - from restaurant inspections to property records. NICAR is doing more and more data analysis for reporters. This year, we've begun analyzing records using mapping programs. For more information about how NICAR can help you, call NICAR at (573) 882-0684 or e-mail Andy Lehren at andy@nicar.org.\n\nWe Want You\n\nIRE is reviving and restructuring our system of state and regional coordinators and volunteers. If you'd like to volunteer to be a local coordinator or just work on specific projects, now is the time to let us know.\n\nAs a local coordinator, you might organize an evening reception for journalists in your area, or you might report back to IRE about the great investigations and CAR projects being conducted by local news organizations. We especially need people who will help us recruit new IRE members. Becoming a local coordinator or volunteer is a great way to get in touch with other journalists and keep yourself current with the best work in the business.\n\nStrengthening our presence locally is an effective, grassroots way we can reach out to journalists who can't always make it to a regional or national conference. We know that IRE has a good thing going, and we need you to help get the word out.\n\nIf you believe in the IRE mission and have some time to lend, call Cory de Vera at (573) 882-2042 for a volunteer application form. We'll let you know who else has volunteered in your area, and send you a volunteer's information pack.",
  "provenance": {
    "extracted_by": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6",
    "extracted_at": "2026-07-05",
    "verified": true
  },
  "similar": [
    {
      "slug": "1996-october-ire-committees-seeking-volunteers",
      "score": 0.462
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      "slug": "1996-september-ire-committees-volunteers-notice",
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    },
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  ],
  "html_url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/1997-june-more-databases-volunteers.html",
  "json_url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/1997-june-more-databases-volunteers.json"
}