Computer-Assisted Reporting Newsletter, 1990–2007
Journalists pursued freedom of information requests across EU member states to expose farm subsidy recipients, ultimately leading to the creation of Farmsubsidy.org in 2005 and an …
A journalist discovers evidence of mass racial cleansings in America through census records showing black populations mysteriously disappearing from counties between 1890-1930, unc…
A computer-assisted investigation revealed that the Puerto Rican legislature focuses more on trivial matters than addressing significant economic and social issues, highlighting th…
An investigation reveals that New York Power Authority executives received higher salaries than the governor and used public funds for personal charities and political perks.
Despite significant growth in Indian gaming revenues, federal funding to tribes has increased rather than decreased, suggesting that gaming revenue and federal assistance are not i…
A journalist uses computer-assisted reporting techniques to investigate a city payroll scandal, uncovering that bonus payments were far more widespread than officials claimed, with…
Jacob Jost outlines how journalists can use GIS software and precinct data to create analytical maps for election night coverage.
Thomas Peele used congressional spending reports and financial disclosures to reveal how a top aide exploited travel expenses and exceeded income limits.
David Herzog discusses how journalists successfully use FOIA to uncover critical data from federal agencies, despite increased secrecy.
Eugene Mulero explores how cities spend taxpayer money on promotional items like stress-relief toys and pens.
The IRE and NICAR Database Library has completed its federal contracts database for fiscal year 2005 with over 1 million records, providing journalists access to detailed informati…
This investigation explores how U.S. military veterans receive inconsistent benefits and treatment depending on their geographic location despite uniform federal regulations.
Computer-assisted reporting on elections has become more complex due to campaign finance law changes, requiring journalists to track data from multiple sources including 527 commit…
Analysis of financial contributions and ethics violations reveals insights into the influence and power held by Rep. Tom DeLay in Congress.
Journalists across the United States face increasing obstacles in obtaining federal data through Freedom of Information Act requests, with government agencies citing privacy exempt…
The IRE and NICAR Database Library has updated its Small Business Administration Disaster Loan database, now current through September 2005 and containing over 867,000 records dati…
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel's year-long investigation into FEMA revealed systemic waste, fraud, and a lack of accountability in disaster relief payments.
Journalists at The Syracuse Post-Standard used Freedom of Information requests and Excel spreadsheets to investigate New York state economic development grants, discovering that 47…
A Buffalo News investigation used Freedom of Information requests and geographic information system mapping to analyze 366,500 parking tickets issued over 22 months, revealing patt…
A veteran journalist returning to local reporting discovers how computer-assisted reporting (CAR) dramatically streamlines investigative work, using a dam safety story updated from…
Journalists use computer-assisted reporting and database analysis to investigate government contracts with private companies, uncovering connections between major contractors and c…
IRE and NICAR offer databases and resources to help journalists investigate federal spending on homeland security and military programs, including tipsheets, story reprints, and ac…
The article provides guidance on using federal databases to track Department of Homeland Security spending across states and communities, including contracts, grants, and assistanc…
Analysis of Homeland Security grants in Iowa reveals questionable allocation patterns, spotlighting discrepancies in rural versus urban funding.
An investigation into eBay sales of Florida swampland exposes repeated real estate scams facilitated by online auctions.
A journalism newsletter highlights how reporters have used data analysis to investigate Iraq War-related stories, including military spending, casualties, and homeland security, wh…
While the presidential election is over, David Herzog emphasizes that journalists should continue using databases to investigate political power and voter registration issues throu…
The SBA Disaster Loan database provides a resource for journalists to track government assistance provided to businesses and individuals following natural disasters.
This article discusses how journalists can use campaign finance and voter registration data to investigate political influence and structural changes following the 2004 election.
An investigation into oil and gas leasing on federal lands, highlighting the major players and examining if industry rules are followed.
Ron Campbell used FEC data and GIS mapping to visualize the geographic differences in donor support between George W. Bush and John Kerry in the 2004 election.
Kit Wagar analyzed 20,000 lobbyist gift records to expose how Missouri legislators received millions in gifts, highlighting a trend of using caucuses to hide spending.
Cuyahoga County's 53 independent fire departments operating 103 stations cost taxpayers over $300 million annually with significant overlap in service areas, prompting calls for co…
Reporters discovered a fatal flaw in Florida's felon voter purge list where Hispanics were systematically excluded due to inconsistent race categorization. The analysis led to the …
Website Watcher is a monitoring tool that helps journalists track changes to websites, such as FEC campaign finance filings, by ignoring irrelevant updates like timestamps and aler…
Computer-assisted reporting is being used by journalists to uncover electoral irregularities, including analysis of Florida's voter roll purging that disproportionately affects cer…
Computer-assisted reporting is being used by journalists to investigate election-related issues, including analysis of Florida's voter purge practices and local politicians' voting…
An investigation into voting rights violations in Teaneck, New Jersey, revealing racially polarized voting patterns and the potential for federal intervention.
State campaign finance reporting varies dramatically across the country, with some states offering easily accessible electronic databases while others provide only paper filings or…
Tracking campaign finance has become increasingly complex due to legal changes and the rise of political nonprofit organizations that operate outside traditional disclosure require…
Journalists are preparing to use computer-assisted reporting (CAR) techniques like spreadsheets, database analysis, and mapping to provide deeper coverage of the 2004 election beyo…
Chicago Sun-Times reporters investigated how Chicago Public Schools teachers and principals could legally collect up to 315 days of unused sick pay in their final year, with one pr…
CommonWealth magazine created 'Beyond Red & Blue,' an interactive report that maps 10 distinct political regions across the United States by analyzing county-level election data an…
This article guides journalists on using computer-assisted reporting (CAR) to cover 2024 elections, highlighting campaign finance data analysis as a key resource. It promotes IRE's…
IRE offers multiple tipsheets to help journalists use databases for investigating local, state, and federal campaign finance, including guidance on accessing data from reluctant of…
The Detroit News used Excel spreadsheets to compare PAC-reported contributions with candidate-reported receipts, uncovering that Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick failed to report $16…
A Union-Tribune reporter used a campaign finance database to uncover connections between San Diego city councilmen and a Las Vegas strip club owner suspected of bribery, revealing …
A local government reporter describes how learning Microsoft Excel enabled them to analyze public data sets like budgets and payroll records, leading to stories that provided origi…
An examination of underused state vehicles in Arizona, highlighting wasteful spending amidst a budget shortfall.
IRE publishes "Unstacking the Deck: A Reporter's Guide To Campaign Finance," a resource written by veteran journalists that provides guidance on investigating campaign finance thro…
The San Diego Union-Tribune used IRS migration data to report on residents leaving the region for cheaper housing in the West, illustrating how journalists can track population mov…
An investigation into no-bid government contracts in Tennessee, revealing potential corruption and cronyism.
Journalists can access three key databases—payrolls, pensions, and check registers—to investigate public employee compensation, benefits, and spending patterns.
An Ohio newspaper analysis revealed that state agencies hired thousands of workers, including highly paid administrators, despite Gov. Bob Taft's hiring freeze during a budget cris…
The Star-Ledger used computer-assisted reporting to uncover that New Jersey local government agencies face nearly $1.5 billion in liabilities for unused sick and vacation time payo…
An exploration into a New York state senator's campaign finance, raising questions about the implications of campaign spending and gifts related to political influence and ethics.
The Hartford Courant's analysis of municipal payroll data revealed that Hartford police officers earned a median income of $75,000 last year through overtime opportunities, with so…
The article highlights the investigation on tax delinquents in Charlotte County to identify top property tax defaulters, revealing significant uncollected taxes due to inaction by …
The Charlotte Observer used federal procurement data to identify Department of Defense contractors in the Carolinas during the lead-up to the Iraq war.
The article outlines how to use computer-assisted reporting to track and analyze deportations by nationality post 9/11.
The IRE and NICAR Database Library have released a new Federal Audit Clearinghouse database containing 170,900 audit records from 1997-2003 that track how government agencies and n…
A Buffalo News investigation used a database of judicial candidates to expose how political party bosses controlled the judge nomination process through improper fundraising practi…
Aron Pilhofer, former director of IRE's Campaign Finance Information Center, has joined the Center for Public Integrity and will continue contributing to journalism through regular…
Journalists across the country are facing significant barriers and high costs when attempting to obtain GIS data from government agencies, with some agencies charging thousands of …
Journalists investigating Pennsylvania's scholarship tax-credit program discovered that millions in state tax dollars were being funneled to private religious schools with minimal …
The Center for Public Integrity conducted a yearlong investigation of state political party finances by converting nearly 400,000 paper and electronic records into standardized dat…
An investigation reveals how taxpayer dollars benefit lobbyists and contractors instead of students in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Federal agencies removal of information from web sites post-9/11 hampers journalists' access, with new legislation potentially restricting more data.
As the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act takes effect in November 2002, this journalism newsletter provides resources and reporting guidance on covering campaign finance, including da…
VCU journalism students built a database of gifts given to Virginia legislators, highlighting expensive trips and potential conflicts of interest.
The Wilmington News Journal investigated a surge in campaign donations from MBNA executives, linking the spending to efforts to pass bankruptcy reform legislation.
The Philadelphia Inquirer used TRAC and PACER data to prove the Department of Justice was inflating terrorism conviction statistics with non-terrorist criminal cases.
An investigation by The Times-Picayune reveals high salaries, nepotism, and lack of accountability among Louisiana's riverboat pilots through spreadsheet analysis of resumes and ac…
The Courier-Journal used computer-assisted reporting and traditional journalism to investigate code enforcement in Jefferson County, Kentucky, uncovering how a sprawling apartment …
An Excel user asks how to highlight top-ranked election candidates using conditional formatting, and receives instructions for using RANK function results with bold and colored for…
The IRE Resource Center highlights investigative journalism stories exposing systemic failures in housing enforcement, including how slumlords exploit legal loopholes and evade pen…
The IRE Resource Center offers investigative journalism stories exposing housing code violations and slumlord practices, including reports on how landlords evade enforcement and ho…
Following the September 11 attacks, federal agencies have begun removing public databases and records from their websites citing security concerns, despite no explicit White House …
Following the September 11 attacks, the investigation focused on how hijackers bypassed security at Logan International Airport, exposing the Massachusetts Port Authority as a patr…
Investigation into Montgomery County's lenient handling of repeat offenders in drunken driving cases, uncovering systemic prosecutorial lapses.
An investigation by KTRK's 13 Undercover unit, confirmed by a $300,000 audit, reveals widespread mismanagement in Houston's Section 8 housing program, including excessive rents, in…
The Star-Ledger developed a Standardized Town Reporting program to provide contextual, data-driven local government coverage across New Jersey's fragmented municipal system, using …
A newspaper's computer-assisted reporting efforts, including analysis of property databases and public records, helped expose corruption in Camden's government, contributing to the…
Former Camden Mayor Milton Milan is sentenced for corruption. Persistent coverage by the Courier-Post, using CAR techniques, highlights misuse of campaign funds and connections wit…
An analysis of Palm Beach County's affirmative action program reveals significant increases in contracts awarded to minority and women-owned businesses over a decade, despite polit…
An investigation into Waterbury's fiscal crisis reveals over $55 million in unpaid taxes. A published list highlights delinquent real estate taxpayers, questioning if the city's fi…
A journalist investigates how special interest money influences West Virginia's Legislature by analyzing campaign contributions, lobbyist spending, and conflicts of interest to sho…
Virginia Commonwealth University journalism students analyzed state legislator gift disclosures and found lawmakers received approximately $118,000 in gifts from special interests,…
The Palm Beach Post's investigation found that the gated city of Atlantis issued traffic tickets almost exclusively to non-residents (99.3 percent) after taking control of three bo…
The New York Times and Scripps Howard post-election analysis will be available at the IRE Resource Center, which can be contacted at (573) 882-3364.
The Tallahassee Democrat published investigative pieces examining potential links between voter income levels and discarded ballots, as well as analyzing legal funding sources in t…
This item highlights three investigative journalism stories about local election issues including political fundraising, absentee ballot fraud, and forged petition signatures from …
A collection of tipsheets providing guidance on using computer-assisted reporting (CAR) and databases to investigate local elections, including lobbyist influence, official salarie…
Investigative reporter Thomas Hargrove discovered that voting irregularities and uncounted votes were not unique to Florida's 2000 election, but rather a widespread systemic proble…
This article provides a step-by-step guide for election reporters on how to use spreadsheets, databases, and mapping software to analyze election results by precinct, revealing vot…
A small-circulation newspaper in Tallahassee used basic spreadsheet analysis to uncover a correlation between county income levels and uncounted votes during Florida's 2000 electio…
An in-depth investigation into the Florida presidential election, focusing on voter fraud and undetermined ballots.
Miami Herald journalists conducted a four-month investigation analyzing over 50 databases to examine the legitimacy of Florida's 2000 presidential election, which hinged on just 50…
The Associated Press conducted a comprehensive study comparing quality of life metrics on Indian reservations with and without casinos during the 1990s, finding that welfare partic…
The article examines the growth of the American Indian gambling industry and investigates state lottery misconduct, revealing that despite gambling revenues increasing dramatically…
An AP investigation using computer-assisted reporting reveals that despite the American Indian gambling industry's explosive growth from $100 million to $8.26 billion between 1988-…
Journalists investigating racial discrimination in traffic stops must carefully account for multiple confounding variables including the racial demographics of highway users, diffe…
The Freedom of Information Center at the University of Missouri maintains a comprehensive library of over one million articles on government information access, while the Reporters…
IRE's Resource Center offers several investigative journalism pieces on housing issues, including The Seattle Times' housing affordability series and investigations into corruption…
A guide to investigative journalism resources on housing issues, including stories examining substandard conditions, HUD programs, and government subsidy distribution practices.
The Journal Gazette conducted an ambitious computer-assisted reporting project in 1999 to identify major players in Fort Wayne's rental housing industry, revealing that the county …
The Journal Gazette conducted an ambitious computer-assisted reporting project to identify major landlords and property managers in Fort Wayne's rental housing market, revealing th…
An investigation into the effectiveness of housing inspections in St. Paul, revealing systemic issues in addressing repeat offenders of housing code violations.
The Columbus Dispatch highlights major investigations into educational inequality in Columbus schools and ineffective spending by the Appalachian Regional Commission, demonstrating…
A journalism team used mapping software and GIS tools to analyze voting patterns in a school bond election by comparing precinct-level data across years and demographics, discoveri…
New Jersey public employees have accumulated over $200 million in unused sick and vacation time benefits that are often hidden from public view, with a team of reporters uncovering…
The article discusses the importance of introducing Computer-Assisted Reporting (CAR) in small newspapers, emphasizing that CAR is not only for big papers but can be beneficial for…
The Consolidated Federal Funds Report (CFFR) data, compiled by the Bureau of the Census, provides detailed information about federal government expenditures across states, counties…
Fifteen years after an investigation into racial disparities in Long Island's property taxes, Newsday revisits the topic, finding persistent systemic issues. A shift to market valu…
Reporters at The Record leverage voter registration records and intranet resources to access public information for investigative journalism, including voter data, salary records, …
A comprehensive list of international data sources including government databases for securities, census, immigration, and arms transfers, plus scientific research resources.
El Universal conducted a 32-question census survey of candidates before Venezuela's National Constituent Assembly elections, enabling readers to understand the elected representati…
Computer-assisted reporting is expanding globally, with journalists in Europe and South America using data analysis to create compelling stories, though access to electronic inform…
The Free Press created a comprehensive MS Access database of current and historical cardinals to analyze potential papal successors to the aging Pope John Paul II, discovering 107 …
Colorado journalists created an interactive tax calculator to help voters understand how proposed tax cuts would personally affect them, making complex fiscal policy accessible by …
A Business Week correspondent describes his strategy of analyzing CEO political donation patterns to gain a competitive edge in presidential campaign reporting, detailing the metic…
IRE and NICAR are offering workshops on campaign finance data analysis across multiple Midwest cities from January through March, with registration details available on the Campaig…
The 2000 Census will determine how the 435 House seats are reapportioned among states based on population changes, with some states gaining seats while others lose them through a m…
The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing the constitutionality of the 1994 Driver's Privacy Protection Act, which restricts public access to drivers' license records, with implications …
A journalist describes investigating McCain's campaign contributions using database analysis to uncover bundling practices, where coordinated donations from employees of the same c…
A Washington Post database editor's attempt to obtain immigration hearing data from the Justice Department starts with a promising meeting but devolves into bureaucratic delays and…
This article provides a curated list of resources for accessing and downloading George W. Bush's campaign contribution reports and related financial disclosures in various digital …
George W. Bush's campaign finance data is publicly available online but only in a massive PDF format that is difficult to work with, requiring specialized software and methods to c…
IRE and NICAR are launching a series of hands-on workshops across Midwestern state capitals to teach journalists data analysis skills for covering campaign finance, funded by a Joy…
A collection of journalism tipsheets on campaign finance research provides guidance on accessing resources from the National Institute on Money in State Politics, analyzing campaig…
Looks into how high school football programs are financially maintained in Georgia, involving taxpayer money, booster clubs, and coaching salaries.
This article directs journalists to IRE tipsheets that provide government contact information and resources for researching lobbying activities, ethics laws, and lobbyists' involve…
Investigates lobbyist gifts to Missouri legislators, highlighting the state's lack of restrictions on such gifts and the resulting influence on lawmakers.
A journalism guide providing data sources and techniques for investigating urban sprawl, including census data, building permits, property records, and mortgage information to unco…
USA TODAY used computer-assisted reporting to create a database analyzing Supreme Court law clerks' demographics from 1972 onward, finding historically low minority hiring rates. T…
Pine Lake, Georgia raised 78% of its budget from traffic tickets, with a majority issued to African-American drivers on a single road section, sparking protests and investigations …
Young teenagers are making large political donations to federal candidates, raising suspicions that wealthy parents are using their children to circumvent campaign contribution lim…
Investigation into welfare reform in Kentucky reveals challenges faced by former welfare recipients, focusing on issues like unemployment and unpaid child support.
Sampley's investigation led to the exhumation and identification of the Vietnam-era Unknown Soldier using military databases, revealing him to be Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie.
The article is based on a personal investigation into the pharmaceutical industry, uncovering the inner workings of the FDA and exposing the dangers of legal drugs.
An investigation into malpractice in cosmetic surgery offices in Florida, with a focus on poorly trained doctors performing lengthy operations and the resulting fatalities.
Dick van Eijk details how early database and mapping projects in the Netherlands, particularly concerning election results, helped legitimize computer-assisted reporting as a vital…
A Los Angeles Times investigation using mapping and data analysis revealed that Los Angeles County politicians allowed developers and campaign contributors to violate growth restri…
A guide to state and federal campaign finance databases that allow journalists and the public to search and analyze political contributions and expenditures across multiple jurisdi…
The Campaign Finance Information Center provides journalists with tools, resources, and training to track and report on candidate fundraising and spending patterns during elections…
A guide for journalists investigating potential corruption and mismanagement in state transportation departments, including curb cuts, right-of-way settlements, discretionary spend…
Journalists can use database classification and occupation coding to identify trends in campaign contributions, but must carefully consider how to categorize donors, especially lar…
Journalists can build databases of campaign contributions by combining federal and state data, with key challenges including standardizing contributor names and coding occupations,…
Newsrooms face a choice between hiring campaign finance consultants or building their own databases to track political contributions, with both approaches offering advantages and l…
Challenges the FBI's secrecy and lack of accountability, using data analysis and the Freedom of Information Act to access and evaluate FBI enforcement actions.
This article discusses the uncertainty and political battles surrounding the preparation for Census 2000, focusing on the controversy over using sampling in the census count. It hi…
Las Vegas Sun reporters Manning and Kanigher share internet research strategies used to investigate the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste project, demonstrating how online resources inc…
Las Vegas Sun reporters used internet research to cut their investigation time from six months to three months while reporting a five-day series on the federal government's Yucca M…
A newspaper used affordable Maptitude mapping software to visualize Little Rock's $400 million infrastructure wish list, converting the city's complex spreadsheet data into an acce…
The Campaign Finance Information Clearinghouse offers freely downloadable campaign finance data from 13 states and links to 16 additional search engines, with plans to launch a uni…
A political reporter uses computer-assisted reporting (CAR) and database tools to analyze campaign finance data for a hotly contested state Senate race, discovering that most contr…
A week-long series examining bankruptcy in the Peoria area, exploring its causes, effects, contradictions, and potential solutions while analyzing how bankruptcy impacts various st…
An investigative series uncovered disturbing levels of neglect and regulatory shortcomings in Indianapolis nursing homes, prompting immediate reforms from state officials.
This article provides comprehensive guidance on creating accurate campaign databases from paper records, covering essential steps from data gathering and entry through editing, cod…
A journalist argues that news organizations must demand access to government records, highlighting obstacles like privatization, escalating costs, and privacy concerns, while also …
A detailed investigation by The Dispatch reveals how Ohio's campaign finance laws have been exploited by both state and national political parties, with examples including Senator …
An investigation by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporters uncovers a link between campaign contributions and preferential treatment by Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson.
IRE offers audio tapes from Indiana CAR conferences, maintains multiple mailing lists for journalists, and provides access to databases including IRS exempt organization records an…
Dateline NBC's award-winning investigation uncovered an illegal scheme by Louisiana sheriff deputies who misused drug forfeiture funds for personal expenses, including a luxury ski…
Instructions for subscribing to the newly formed CFIC listserv by sending an email to majordomo@campaignfinance.org with specific subscription commands.
A three-month investigation by WEWS-TV reporter Ted Hart uncovered hundreds of convicted felons employed in local government positions, including 375 in Cleveland and 151 in Cuyaho…
Campaign contributions become newsworthy when journalists dig deeper than donation amounts alone, examining financial disclosures, committee assignments, and industry-wide spending…
The IRE Resource Center maintains a library of over 12,000 investigative stories, with examples showcasing investigations into voter fraud including felons voting, duplicate votes,…
The Miami Herald investigated unusual voting patterns in Miami's 1997 mayoral election, uncovering over 300 fraudulent or suspicious ballots including votes from dead people, non-r…
The 1998 IRE National Conference in New Orleans will focus on investigative journalism and computer-assisted reporting, while the organization updates its resources including NICAR…
The Virginian-Pilot investigated campaign contributions from a nondescript Virginia Beach office building and uncovered how businessman Edward S. Garcia Sr. funneled nearly $200,00…
A journalism newsletter covering IRE membership information, NICAR listserv discussion forums, staff changes at news organizations, and updates to the Campaign Finance Information …
Gannett News Service conducted a database investigation revealing that private groups spent nearly $8 million on over 5,100 congressional trips between 1996-1997, with findings sho…
The Campaign Finance Information Center launches with a new website and newsletter, while NICAR expands its conferences, seminars, and online resources for journalists interested i…
A Dayton Daily News investigation reveals serious malpractice and safety issues at military hospitals, where inadequately licensed doctors operate with minimal oversight and legal …
NICAR announces upcoming campaigns on finance information, expanded seminars and conferences for journalists, including an annual March conference in Indianapolis with specialized …
NICAR announces expanded campaign finance resources, conferences, and seminars for journalists, including an annual March conference in Indianapolis and upcoming specialized worksh…
Danish journalists are using Computer-Assisted Reporting (CAR) to investigate government effectiveness and access closed databases, with Jyllands Posten leading investigations into…
George Rodrigue provides investigative journalism tips for covering public housing, using his own investigation of racial segregation in East Texas public housing as an example. He…
A New Jersey investigative project analyzed property tax changes from 1993 to 1996 using computer-assisted reporting on over 2 million records, finding a median 12% increase in res…
NICAR provides access to a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering topics from aviation and crime to healthcare and finance, enabling journalists to inves…
Electronic filing of campaign finance reports is gaining momentum across states, potentially eliminating the need for time-consuming data entry in journalism investigations. Howeve…
A journalist's computer-assisted reporting project on tax abatements revealed flawed data, but the setback led to a comprehensive five-part series exposing how local municipalities…
Investigates the flawed efforts in Baltimore's public housing that resulted in financial burdens on low-income homeowners due to liens and a mismanaged demolition program.
The Seattle Times investigation into HUD's Indian housing program uncovered corruption and mismanagement, showing that funds for low-income housing were being misused. The series p…
IRE received a $342,000 grant from the Joyce Foundation to create an online Campaign Finance Information Center that will serve as a repository of federal, state, and municipal cam…
A North Carolina newspaper used computer databases and Excel to identify and interview voters in specific precincts to gain deeper insight into a contentious school board race invo…
A Palm Beach Post investigation uncovered massive overspending in the school district's cafeteria division, revealing that the district paid exorbitant prices for items like busine…
Graduate journalism students used computer-assisted reporting to analyze Maryland voter registration data from 1988-1996, discovering a dramatic shift away from the two major parti…
An investigation by The Oklahoman reveals that Oklahoma City's police fleet has significantly higher repair costs and mileage than comparable cities, with some vehicles accumulatin…
IRE has formed an Access Committee to help reporters fight for public records access across the country, developing resources like FOIA templates and advocacy letters to combat gro…
California journalists face significant challenges accessing government data due to inconsistent policies across agencies, unclear laws regarding electronic records, and privacy co…
Journalism organizations met to address barriers preventing the Freedom of Information Act from effectively opening government records, identifying problems with FOIA implementatio…
NICAR compiles humorous and frustrating excuses that government agencies have used to deny or delay public records requests, featuring war stories from journalists across the count…
The article discusses the impact and criticisms of the 1996 Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments, which formalize public access to federal electronic records.
The Freedom of Information Center has adapted to the digital age by addressing new questions about electronic government records access, while maintaining its core mission as a res…
The newsletter introduction outlines the issue's focus on FOIA battles, leadership changes at IRE and NICAR, and electronic record access issues.
IRE offers campaign coverage resources and CAR techniques for election reporting, and invites journalists to submit computer-assisted reporting stories for their idea book and annu…
Newsday conducted a computer-assisted analysis of New York lottery data to reveal that gambling disproportionately affects low-income residents, while the Miami Herald seeks a lead…
Journalists in Virginia used a FoxPro database to correlate lobbyist-funded meals with legislative voting schedules. The investigation highlighted a significant loophole in state d…
A Montreal Gazette intern reporter won an access to information case against the City of Montreal in 1995, forcing them to release a construction permits database by arguing that e…
Danish journalists Nils Mulvad and Flemming Svith are working to increase access to government electronic databases in Denmark, where strict data access laws currently restrict inf…
An investigation into IRS prosecution data reveals significant geographic disparities in tax fraud prosecutions, with some regions like Roanoke, Virginia experiencing dramatically …
The U.S. Census of Governments surveys over 85,000 governmental bodies including states, counties, cities, and various taxing districts, collecting data on debt, property values, r…
The (Raleigh) News & Observer's 'Boss Hog' series won a Pulitzer Prize for exposing environmental, economic, and political issues related to hog farming in North Carolina, revealin…
NICAR provides a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering campaign finance, healthcare, transportation, crime, loans, and other public records available fo…
Aaron Elstein describes using FoxPro to analyze Illinois state workforce reports, uncovering racial disparities in government hiring and management.
The FEC has launched a free internet service providing public access to campaign finance data including candidate information, downloadable databases, and historical election cycle…
A guide to using the Internet for campaign coverage, highlighting key websites and resources for issue backgrounds, voting records, and financial disclosures.
A guide for journalists covering political campaigns, providing web resources for researching candidate positions, voting records, speeches, and campaign finances across multiple s…
Campaign finance researchers advocate for voluntary candidate disclosure of donations before legal requirements force compliance, citing success with early adoption creating a domi…
Syracuse Newspapers used an integrated technology system combining an audiotext service and website to deliver real-time 1995 election results to central New York readers, with dat…
Oregon journalists from The Oregonian and Willamette Week partnered with the Center for Responsive Politics to conduct real-time analysis of campaign contributions before the 1996 …
Campaign finance data provides journalists with rich story opportunities to reveal the disconnect between candidates' public messaging and their actual donor relationships, potenti…
Computers and the Internet are transforming election coverage, enabling journalists to provide voters with real-time campaign contribution data and election results. The article hi…
IRE, NICAR, and the University of Maryland are sponsoring a Campaign Coverage Workshop on January 20-21, 1996, offering comprehensive training in covering federal, state, and local…
Public records laws written for paper documents are inadequate for the digital age, creating access challenges that fall into three categories: what government agencies cannot do d…
A U.S. News and World Report investigation reveals that 1.1 million nonprofit organizations in the U.S. control $1.475 trillion in assets while avoiding taxes on property, income, …
Carl Malamud of Internet Multicasting Service dismisses the SEC's survey on EDGAR access, emphasizing that the actual online database implementation matters more than the agency's …
The SEC is considering privatizing EDGAR, its free public database of company financial documents, and is soliciting public input through a survey with an extended deadline of Nove…
Investigative Reporters and Editors and the National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting are hosting a weekend training workshop on January 20-21 at the University of Marylan…
This journalism newsletter discusses upcoming election coverage resources through an IRE and NICAR conference focused on campaign contributions and polling analysis, while also fea…
The Office of Economic Conversion and Information, a joint Pentagon and Commerce Department office, provides resources on military base closures including conversion projects, job …
The El Paso Times analyzed a city employee database to uncover workplace trends, discovering that while city government mirrored the city's ethnic diversity, significant gender dis…
Government agencies are increasingly publishing reports and information online rather than in print, making it easier for journalists to access data quickly. The article provides a…
Indiana passed a new public records law that expands access to electronic records held by government agencies and limits fees agencies can charge for providing them. The law, which…
A guide to Internet resources for covering money and politics, featuring websites that track campaign finance, PAC contributions, and political activism, along with tools for acces…
The New Yorker investigated how media and telecommunications conglomerates use campaign contributions and lobbying to influence Congressional decisions on communications and tax po…
This article provides practical guidance for journalists investigating campaign contributions by examining patterns, timing, and connections between donors and candidates to uncove…
The Associated Press Wisconsin bureau used optical scanning technology and custom software to convert paper campaign finance reports into an electronic database, enabling computer-…
A regression analysis of California's 1993-94 legislative session demonstrates that campaign contributions are strong predictors of lawmakers' votes on individual bills, even thoug…
Dedicated to improving coverage of campaign contributions, this issue includes experiences from journalists using technology to handle non-digitized state election records, tips on…
This journalism guide addresses the challenges of covering campaign contributions through computer-assisted reporting, offering practical advice from experienced reporters on digit…
Pennsylvania's outdated 1957 public records law fails to address electronic access to government documents, as demonstrated by the Philadelphia Daily News's 18-month legal battle t…
President Clinton's FOIA guidelines and congressional efforts have begun to expand public access to federal electronic records, but significant gaps remain as most government docum…
The 1996 federal budget is now available online through the U.S. Commerce Department's STAT-USA service in searchable text format, accessible via FTP, gopher, and the World Wide We…
A Roanoke Times investigation of city parking ticket records reveals surprising patterns, including numerous dismissed tickets for the mayor's driver and excessive violations by th…
A journalist describes the technical process of analyzing a 1.7 gigabyte parking ticket database, highlighting the importance of reporters conducting their own computer work and de…
The Boston Herald obtained a 3.5 million record parking ticket database and discovered the city had collected over $2 million in overpayments from violators due to errors and poor …
The National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) launched a new online gopher service providing access to information from multiple Office of Justice agencies including juve…
An AP team led by Bill Dedman and Richard Mullins used computer-assisted reporting and FEC data to create 25 detailed reports on campaign contributions for 1,300 federal candidates…
The article examines how computers and online technologies are transforming human relationships and communication, while exploring implications for government, politics, and child …
Newspapers should cover technology stories addressing public access to government data, the internet's role in politics and communication, and emerging concerns about online safety…
Computer-assisted reporters should investigate government computer systems for investigative story opportunities, including incompatible departments, poor data coordination, and pu…
This timeline documents the federal government's dramatic expansion of computer usage from 1946 to 1993, showing growth from a single ENIAC to millions of computers, while noting t…
Federal agencies continue to restrict public access to electronic records under the Freedom of Information Act despite a Clinton administration policy encouraging disclosure, with …
A New Jersey news investigation used the Social Security Administration's Death Master File to compare against voter registration records, discovering over 400 deceased individuals…
A Pennsylvania newspaper persuaded eight of ten major gubernatorial candidates to provide campaign finance reports on diskette rather than paper, overcoming technical and political…
A reporter describes the frustrating challenges of computer-assisted reporting at a mid-sized newspaper, particularly their 18-month struggle to obtain electronic records from Lake…
A discussion on the challenges faced by Canadian reporters in accessing government records compared to their American counterparts, focusing on the limitations imposed by the curre…
The Philadelphia Daily News is suing Pennsylvania over access to state payroll records, arguing it's unreasonable for the state to force citizens to purchase expensive paper copies…
A 50-page Internet guide to government business and economic sources has been made available through the University of Michigan Libraries, accessible via multiple platforms includi…
The Eastern States Bureau of Land Management is digitizing federal land titles from 13 states onto CD-ROM to preserve historic documents, with a project completion target of 2000 a…
The EPA is expanding its Seattle-based bulletin board system due to a significant increase in public information requests, with plans to add a new phone line and potentially offer …
Canada's federal government launched the Open Government Project, an internet-based pilot program designed to increase public accessibility to government information, officials, an…
American University is offering a seminar on computers and federal government reporting, while NICAR highlights computer-assisted reporting stories and discounted software for jour…
An investigation into FDA mishandling of contaminated food from a warehouse fire in Kansas City reveals that officials awarded special citations to the very employees responsible f…
Journalists face growing resistance and new barriers to accessing government databases, with officials citing privacy and ethical concerns to delay or deny requests that were previ…
Cox News Service reporters uncovered a secret $2.9 billion FEMA nuclear war program through computer-assisted reporting and data analysis, revealing that FEMA spent $12 on nuclear …
Nancy Stancill uncovered numerous instances of Texas teenagers suffering injuries and long work hours under unenforced child labor laws, prompting legislative action.
Government agencies are transitioning from nine-track tapes to new storage technologies, with CD-ROMs and automatic tape library systems emerging as the primary alternatives by the…
David Armstrong discusses the challenges and resistance faced when requesting public records in electronic form, highlighting instances where government cost estimates were inflate…
NameBase is a searchable database of over 67,000 names compiled from investigative books and periodicals, specializing in intelligence, foreign policy, and political elites with de…
Orange County Register reporter Ronald Campbell analyzed campaign contribution data to identify California's largest soft-money donors during the 1991-92 elections, discovering $13…
The News & Record in Greensboro, North Carolina won a court order to access computerized property tax records from Guilford County after challenging the county's claimed costs and …
Journalists describe their computer-assisted reporting projects, including a major investigation into San Francisco's AIDS programs using database analysis and a congressional camp…
A major investigative journalism project used spreadsheet analysis of government data to reveal that Connecticut families paid over 50% of their income in taxes, exposing wasteful …
Missouri's public records law caps fees for computer data access to only duplication and staff costs, resulting in much lower prices than states like Texas that allow overhead char…
Pending legislation to make government data more accessible online through the Government Printing Office has been approved by the House Administration Committee, though commercial…
The News Tribune used computer analysis of campaign finance data to demonstrate that Washington's Initiative-134 would disproportionately harm Democratic candidates by reducing lab…
The Observer analyzed North Carolina's 1990 census data alongside precinct-level election results to demonstrate that George Bush's support declined more sharply in urban and subur…
A Virginia Pilot/Ledger Star investigation used computer analysis of FEC campaign contribution data to demonstrate the correlation between PAC donations and congressional voting pa…
A computer-assisted analysis of FEC records reveals that Republicans raised nearly three times more soft money than Democrats in California through June, with particularly large do…
Reporter Dan Popkey analyzed FEC data to reveal that Republican Senate candidate Dirk Kempthorne raised twice as much money from PACs as his opponent, contradicting his campaign me…
Hispanic political contributions to congressional, presidential, and party candidates have more than tripled over three presidential elections, with a disproportionate amount from …
Computer-assisted journalism investigations across the country analyzed FEC campaign finance records to reveal patterns in political contributions, including Hispanic donor trends,…
Washington state reporters used computer data to uncover government negligence, with taxpayers paying over $76 million in settlements due to employee misconduct.
The National Library on Money & Politics provides journalists with processed Federal Election Commission data dating back to 1979, enabling easier access to campaign finance inform…
Van Denton used a database to quickly produce a more detailed story on lobbyist spending, illustrating the potential of computer-assisted reporting.
The Association of Public Data Users provides journalists and data professionals with a newsletter and conferences to stay informed about developments in public data, including pol…
St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporters used computer databases to investigate alleged corruption in Missouri's Worker's Compensation Second Injury Fund, uncovering improper relationship…
A tipsheet on how to phrase public records requests for computer data, addressed to the correct custodian and specific about format.
A St. Louis Post-Dispatch investigation reveals that lawyers connected to Missouri Attorney General William L. Webster receive significantly higher settlements from the state's Sec…
This report challenges the assumption that money rules politics by analyzing campaign donations in Orange County. It reveals that powerful local Democrats contributed significantly…
The media's battle with the Missouri Department of Revenue over charging for access to public information and its implications.
Two Ohio newspapers, the Dayton Daily News and Akron Beacon-Journal, simultaneously requested the same massive state drivers records database from the Ohio DMV, each facing signifi…
Investigative reporter Penny Loeb and data analyst Tom Braden have been named co-recipients of the Roy W. Howard Public Service Award for their Newsday series exposing problems in …
An investigation into Boston Mayor Raymond Flynn's campaign finances reveals that nearly 90% of his identified donors from 1987-89 had direct financial ties to City Hall, including…
Penny Loeb's investigation revealed widespread errors in NYC's tax and billing system, affecting numerous residents with incorrect or missing bills.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporters investigated how the city government distributed $20 million in HUD block grant funds, discovering that funding was not allocated equitably to nei…
The Dallas Morning News uses computer-assisted reporting to analyze death records and identify patterns of teen homicides in impoverished neighborhoods, while also investigating HU…
North Carolina state agencies are blocking public access to government databases through denials, restrictions, and high fees, despite state public-records laws that should apply t…
Orange County Register reporters James Grimaldi and Ron Campbell spent four months negotiating with a California government agency to obtain a database on magnetic tape, facing bur…
Electronic Public Information Consultants, a new Seattle-based company founded by three University of Missouri journalism graduates, offers advanced analysis of government records …
A proposed amendment to the Stevenson-Wydler Act that would allow copyright protection for government-developed software raises important questions about journalists' access to ele…
Boston Herald reporters investigating campaign contributions discovered significant challenges with outsourcing data entry, including accuracy issues like duplicate records, incorr…
Penny Loeb explores property tax issues in New York City, revealing inefficiencies and the disproportionate tax burden on poorer areas, supported by data analysis from computerized…
A newsroom used computer analysis to investigate Congressional speaking fees, moving beyond simple totals to identify patterns, top earners, and regional breakdowns that surpassed …
Connecticut has passed landmark legislation guaranteeing public access to government records stored in computerized form, allowing citizens and news organizations to request data i…
Government agencies are charging exorbitant fees for electronic public records, and journalists can challenge these costs by analyzing the agencies' own computer cost accounting fo…
Following actress Rebecca Schaeffer's murder by a stalker who obtained her address through public records, California restricted access to driver's license information, exemplifyin…
The New York Times uses computer-assisted reporting to analyze large datasets, producing two major investigative stories: one examining campaign contributions to Gov. Cuomo and ano…
Datacore, launching in January, is an online database service that enables reporters to access government records including Census data and Federal Elections Commission records thr…
George Landau and Tim Novak investigated voter fraud in East St. Louis using computer-assisted methods, uncovering hundreds of names of deceased or fictitious voters registered to …