{
  "id": "2002-july-august-bits-and-bytes",
  "slug": "2002-july-august-bits-and-bytes",
  "url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/2002-july-august-bits-and-bytes.html",
  "year": 2002,
  "month": "July-August",
  "monthNum": 7,
  "headline": "Bits & Bytes",
  "kicker": "",
  "author_name": "",
  "author_title": "",
  "affiliation": "IRE and NICAR",
  "summary": "Investigative Reporters and Editors will hold a regional conference in Savannah, Georgia on October 19-20, featuring computer-assisted reporting training and investigative journalism sessions, along with updates to several databases including federal spending, contracts, and crime reports.",
  "keywords": [
    "training",
    "databases",
    "reporting"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Investigative Methods",
    "Data & Databases"
  ],
  "technologies": [],
  "full_text": "Training in Savannah\n\nInvestigative Reporters and Editors will offer computer-assisted reporting training during its regional conference in Savannah, Ga., Oct. 19-20. The hands-on CAR workshop will be 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, Oct. 20. There will be a limited number of registration slots open for the basic skills workshop. The investigative reporting sessions on Saturday will spotlight nut-and-bolts reporting skills and hot issues in the South.\n\nFor updated information on speakers and the conference schedule, go to www.ire.org/training/savannah02/\n\nData updates:\n\nThe IRE and NICAR Database Library recently updated the following databases:\n\nFederal spending\n\nThe Consolidated Federal Funds Report database, current as of fiscal year 2001, is a valuable tool for exploring federal expenditures in detail. Using the data, collected by the U.S. Census Bureau, journalists can look at federal assistance and overlay that information with demographics and housing about counties and cities. The database shows how much money the federal government has spent. It covers federal expenditures or obligations for the following categories: grants, salaries and wages, procurement contracts, direct payments to individuals, other direct payments, direct loans, guaranteed or insured loans, and insurance.\n\nFederal contracts\n\nThe federal contracts database provides details about more than 560,000 contracts, including the dollar amount, contracting agency and the type of product or service involved. The database contains information about each federal contract worth more than $25,000. For a few ideas about using the database see page 9.\n\nUniform Crime Reports\n\nThe FBI Uniform Crime Reports database is now current through 2000. Most of the data consists of the \"index\" crimes: murder, non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny/theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson.\n\nIn addition, the database provides details about property crimes and includes the dollar values of the crimes. Additional data show age, sex and race information of people arrested.\n\nThe Supplemental Homicide Report table provides more detailed information on homicides, including demographic information about the victim and offender.\n\nTo order databases, contact NICAR at 573-884-7711, or go to www.ire.org/datalibrary/databases/ for more information.\n\nmuch money the federal government has spent. It covers federal expenditures or obligations for the following categories: grants, salaries and wages, procurement contracts, direct payments to individuals, other direct payments, direct loans, guaranteed or insured loans, and insurance.\n\nFederal contracts\n\nThe federal contracts database provides details about more than 560,000 contracts, including the dollar amount, contracting agency and the type of product or service involved. The database contains information about each federal contract worth more than $25,000. For a few ideas about using the database see page 9.\n\nUniform Crime Reports\n\nThe FBI Uniform Crime Reports database is now current through 2000. Most of the data consists of the \"index\" crimes: murder, non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny/theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson.\n\nIn addition, the database provides details about property crimes and includes the dollar values of the crimes. Additional data show age, sex and race information of people arrested.\n\nThe Supplemental Homicide Report table provides more detailed information on homicides, including demographic information about the victim and offender.\n\nTo order databases, contact NICAR at 573-884-7711, or go to www.ire.org/datalibrary/databases/ for more information.\n\nmuch money the federal government has spent. It covers federal expenditures or obligations for the following categories: grants, salaries and wages, procurement contracts, direct payments to individuals, other direct payments, direct loans, guaranteed or insured loans, and insurance.\n\nFederal contracts\n\nThe federal contracts database provides details about more than 560,000 contracts, including the dollar amount, contracting agency and the type of product or service involved. The database contains information about each federal contract worth more than $25,000. For a few ideas about using the database see page 9.\n\nUniform Crime Reports\n\nThe FBI Uniform Crime Reports database is now current through 2000. Most of the data consists of the \"index\" crimes: murder, non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny/theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson.\n\nIn addition, the database provides details about property crimes and includes the dollar values of the crimes. Additional data show age, sex and race information of people arrested.\n\nThe Supplemental Homicide Report table provides more detailed information on homicides, including demographic information about the victim and offender.\n\nTo order databases, contact NICAR at 573-884-7711, or go to www.ire.org/datalibrary/databases/ for more information.\n\nmuch money the federal government has spent. It covers federal expenditures or obligations for the following categories: grants, salaries and wages, procurement contracts, direct payments to individuals, other direct payments, direct loans, guaranteed or insured loans, and insurance.\n\nFederal contracts\n\nThe federal contracts database provides details about more than 560,000 contracts, including the dollar amount, contracting agency and the type of product or service involved. The database contains information about each federal contract worth more than $25,000. For a few ideas about using the database see page 9.\n\nUniform Crime Reports\n\nThe FBI Uniform Crime Reports database is now current through 2000. Most of the data consists of the \"index\" crimes: murder, non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny/theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson.\n\nIn addition, the database provides details about property crimes and includes the dollar values of the crimes. Additional data show age, sex and race information of people arrested.\n\nThe Supplemental Homicide Report table provides more detailed information on homicides, including demographic information about the victim and offender.\n\nTo order databases, contact NICAR at 573-884-7711, or go to www.ire.org/datalibrary/databases/ for more information.",
  "provenance": {
    "extracted_by": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6",
    "extracted_at": "2026-07-05",
    "verified": true
  },
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