Computer-Assisted Reporting Newsletter, 1990–2007
The Palm Beach Post's investigation into migrant farm labor abuses demonstrates how reporters can access federal and state agency data, records, and reports to uncover stories abou…
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 …
European journalists are increasingly reporting on EU farm subsidies, largely through the work of Farmsubsidy.org, which uses freedom of information laws to expose previously secre…
A journalist details their five-month investigation into U.S. farm subsidy data, revealing that wealthy individuals, corporations, and institutions far removed from farming—includi…
An Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter describes how she used SQL Server to analyze 180 million records of U.S. farm subsidy data spanning over a decade to investigate cotton sub…
IRE is offering multiple computer-assisted reporting (CAR) training events across the country, including Watchdog Workshops in Syracuse and Oklahoma City, a Money in Politics works…
The IRE and NICAR Database Library has updated its Campus Crime database, allowing public access to crime statistics reported by colleges and universities from 2001-2005, including…
Three newspapers won the 2006 Philip Meyer Award for using social science methods in investigative journalism, with the Wall Street Journal taking first place for uncovering stock …
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…
A 2006 Washington Post investigation revealed that federal farm subsidies, often justified as supporting small family farms, were instead distributed to non-farmers, duplicate paym…
IRE and NICAR offer comprehensive databases and resources for journalists covering energy, utilities, and power infrastructure, including the National Inventory of Dams, federal fu…
Lee Davidson describes a quick investigation into gas pump accuracy in Utah using state inspection databases.
Jeff Porter highlights the wealth of data available on the OPEC website, including downloadable tables on oil production, imports, and global pricing.
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.
The 2007 CAR Conference will take place March 8-11 in Cleveland, featuring panels on various journalism beats and hands-on technology training classes. Early registration and hotel…
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…
A journalist describes how analyzing utility data from LIPA revealed that new power plants weren't necessary, and discusses how deregulation of the electricity industry created com…
Matthew Waite explains how using wiki software can help journalists manage and search vast amounts of interview notes and documents for long-term projects.
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.
IRE conducted investigative and computer-assisted reporting training sessions at two major South Korean news organizations: the Korean Broadcasting System and the Chosun Ilbo newsp…
Duff Wilson provides a guide to essential online tools and public records for backgrounding individuals for investigative profiles.
David Herzog discusses how journalists successfully use FOIA to uncover critical data from federal agencies, despite increased secrecy.
Ronald Campbell investigates how solicitors use sound-alike charity names to collect millions of dollars from unsuspecting donors.
Eugene Mulero explores how cities spend taxpayer money on promotional items like stress-relief toys and pens.
This article provides journalists with key web resources and databases for reporting on trucking accidents, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's crash data, …
The Hartford Courant investigated systemic failures in the military's mental health screening process by analyzing data from pre-deployment health questionnaires.
Reporter Mike Fabey used federal contract databases and technical research to investigate budget overruns and mismanagement in the Pentagon's classified satellite programs.
The projects editor at the Poughkeepsie Journal recounts his first venture into computer-assisted reporting using U.S. Coast Guard boat accident data to find local trends.
David Herzog announces the call for entries for the 2006 Philip Meyer Journalism Award, which honors journalism using social science and CAR techniques.
IRE and NICAR provide "In the News" resources to help journalists cover breaking news events by offering databases, articles, and tipsheets on relevant topics like aviation safety,…
The 2007 CAR Conference will be held in Cleveland on March 8-11, offering best-practices panels and hands-on classes on computer-assisted reporting techniques for journalists cover…
An investigation by WSMV-Nashville analyzed five years of Tennessee truck accident reports to determine the prevalence of driver fatigue in fatal and injury crashes.
This investigation explores how U.S. military veterans receive inconsistent benefits and treatment depending on their geographic location despite uniform federal regulations.
The article discusses how the Star-Telegram used U.S. Department of Transportation databases to analyze the impact of low-fare carrier AirTran Airways on Dallas-Fort Worth Airport …
The St. Paul Pioneer Press used multiple regression analysis to identify schools in low-income areas that were outperforming their predicted standardized test scores.
This article reviews software tools like XPDF, Foxit, and PDF2XL that allow journalists to extract structured data from PDF files for analysis in spreadsheets and databases.
Journalists use computer-assisted reporting and government databases to investigate workplace issues including employee compensation, occupational safety violations, and retirement…
A reporter from The Kansas City Star describes how to use federal OSHA inspection data to investigate workplace safety, identify high-violation industries, and track workplace fata…
A WTHR-Indianapolis team used GIS mapping software to identify significant coverage gaps in central Indiana's tornado siren network, helping residents find dead zones near their ho…
IRE and NICAR are now offering digital audio recordings of sessions from the 2006 IRE Conference, providing members with accessible training on computer-assisted reporting.
Over 800 journalism professionals attended IRE's 30th annual conference in Fort Worth featuring 130+ panels on reporting and data analysis, including specialized computer-assisted …
A USA Today investigation using a custom database discovered that lax industry safeguards and poor visibility lead to a high rate of fatal air ambulance helicopter crashes.
The Oregonian investigated the Javits-Wagner-O'Day program, uncovering that charities were redefining disability and overpaying executives while mismanaging federal contracts.
Investigative journalists in Latin America are increasingly adopting computer-assisted reporting (CAR) to expose corruption, although challenges like limited technology and varying…
A Kansas journalist investigated the true cost of implementing school finance reforms by analyzing state enrollment data and formulas using Excel and programming, challenging confl…
TRI data was used to investigate mercury pollution from chlor-alkali plants, revealing significant environmental concerns.
A journalist learned data analysis techniques to accurately count crowd attendance at the La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Rodeo Parade in Tucson, finding the actual attendance was roughl…
The article discusses computer-assisted reporting (CAR) training at the IRE conference in Fort Worth, where journalists learn to use databases and data analysis tools to enhance th…
A database library analysis of the Fatality Analysis Reporting System examined fatal vehicle accidents in New York and New Jersey for WCBS-New York, revealing that most accidents o…
Investigation into Maryland ERs revealed significant delays and highlighted a crisis in emergency healthcare.
Investigation into freight train derailments revealed ineffective track inspections and other issues that endangered residents.
OpenInfo is a free, open-source intranet solution that enables newsrooms to conduct simultaneous full-text searches across multiple databases without expensive tools or extensive c…
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…
A journalist describes how computer-assisted reporting training helped uncover a drug trend in a Kentucky town by analyzing police data, emphasizing that successful data journalism…
Computer-assisted reporting remains a vital journalistic skill that goes beyond simple web searching, involving data analysis through databases and spreadsheets to uncover stories …
An analysis of campus crime statistics highlights the University of Massachusetts as having the highest rate of violent crime, prompting discussions on safety measures.
A GIS-based investigation discovers large-scale loss of wetlands in Florida, underscoring the failure of federal commitments to protect these critical areas.
Analysis of financial contributions and ethics violations reveals insights into the influence and power held by Rep. Tom DeLay in Congress.
Journalists utilized computer-assisted reporting techniques to investigate mine safety in the wake of the Sago Mine disaster, leveraging data from the U.S. Mine Safety and Health A…
A Florida newspaper used Google Maps APIs to create an interactive property tax database displaying 400,000 parcels across five counties, combining parcel coordinates with tax roll…
Journalists across the United States face increasing obstacles in obtaining federal data through Freedom of Information Act requests, with government agencies citing privacy exempt…
Columbus Dispatch reporters used GIS mapping software to visualize 12,000 foreclosed properties across Franklin County, revealing that the foreclosure crisis extended far beyond po…
After attending a CAR Boot Camp, the author utilizes CAR techniques to analyze farm accident data, showcasing the potential of data journalism in local reporting.
IRE participated in Brazil's first International Congress on Investigative Journalism in Rio de Janeiro, where the Brazilian Association for Investigative Journalism organized the …
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…
A series of investigations into the methamphetamine crisis and other issues received the first Philip Meyer Awards, highlighting significant contributions of social science methods…
Three major journalism investigations were recognized with the inaugural Philip Meyer Awards for their use of social science methods, including exposés on methamphetamine regulatio…
The IRE and NICAR Data Library assisted multiple broadcast news stations in analyzing various datasets, including crime rates on college campuses, felon hunting licenses, poverty r…
A statistical analysis of jury selection in Dallas County reveals continued racial bias in juror exclusions, highlighting slow progress since a 1986 exposé.
The article investigates the distribution of post-9/11 disaster loans, revealing that many funds were allocated away from directly impacted areas, raising questions about financial…
Computer-assisted reporting (CAR) experts who conduct database analysis and investigative work often go uncredited in published stories, despite their crucial contributions to majo…
IRE and NICAR offer intensive boot camps and specialized seminars to train journalists in computer-assisted reporting, data analysis, and using databases and mapping software to un…
Google Maps API offers journalists a powerful tool for visualizing spatial data and creating interactive maps, though reporters must be aware of its limitations including precision…
A guide to IRE resources and past investigative stories that can help journalists cover issues related to coastal development and environmental vulnerability.
Florida Today used GIS to identify thousands of residents in hurricane-prone areas who were eligible for evacuation assistance but had not signed up for the program.
Matthew Waite explains how to use GPS and GIS tools to rapidly map hurricane destruction, providing better visual context and reporting for readers.
WNYC's analysis of enrollment data found that special education students in New York City are disproportionately concentrated in the city's worst-performing high schools.
This section lists the professional backgrounds and expertise of journalism contributors, many of whom specialize in computer-assisted reporting (CAR) and data analysis across vari…
David Herzog provides a roadmap for journalists to use computer-assisted reporting to investigate the long-term impacts of Hurricane Katrina on local communities.
IRE provides comprehensive resources for journalists covering boating accidents, including databases, tipsheets, and archived articles accessible through their dedicated webpage.
The Philip Meyer Journalism Awards, a new annual award recognizing journalism that employs social science research methods, is currently in its inaugural judging phase with 28 entr…
An investigation found that Colorado school districts use narrow legal definitions to exclude serious violent incidents from their public accountability report cards.
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel's year-long investigation into FEMA revealed systemic waste, fraud, and a lack of accountability in disaster relief payments.
Journalism veterans suggest maintaining a library of essential databases like Census data and property tax rolls to prepare for reporting on disaster aftermaths.
The Charlotte Observer's analysis of Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data revealed that black borrowers receive high-interest loans at four times the rate of white borrowers, promptin…
This article explains XML (Extensible Markup Language) and its practical challenges for database users, particularly in government agencies, demonstrating how XML's flexible struct…
IRE and NICAR provide computer-assisted reporting resources and databases for business journalists, including tools for investigating labor violations, SBA loans, and federal contr…
The St. Petersburg Times describes how it compiles an annual report ranking the 10 largest public companies in the Tampa Bay area by gathering financial data from SEC filings and c…
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…
The article provides examples of computer-assisted reporting investigations on business topics, demonstrating how journalists use data analysis to uncover stories about lending dis…
The Salt Lake Tribune conducted a computer-assisted investigation into Utah's high personal bankruptcy rate by analyzing a random sample of 1,053 cases filed in 2003-2004, collecti…
A journalism team in Washington state used GIS data analysis to investigate wildfire risks in their rapidly growing county, discovering that 5,500 residents live in high-risk fire …
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…
IRE and NICAR's Database Library has updated its Toxics Release Inventory data from the EPA through 2003, containing information on chemical releases and waste management from indu…
IRE and NICAR participated in the third Global Investigative Journalism Conference in Amsterdam from September 29 to October 2, featuring over 25 computer-assisted sessions led by …
Yong-Jin Kim, a veteran KBS reporter from South Korea, has joined IRE and NICAR as a visiting scholar to study U.S. investigative reporting techniques and computer-assisted reporti…
Georgia's transformation into a creditor-friendly state has left many borrowers struggling under high debts and fees, with a focus on fast foreclosure processes and small loan comp…
Ted Mellnik created the Philip Meyer Journalism Award to recognize journalists who use social science research methods and computer-assisted reporting, work that often goes unrecog…
Farmworkers in Immokalee, Florida, face hazardous transportation conditions while traveling to work, raising concerns over state regulation and safety in agricultural labor.
TextPipe Pro is a user-friendly text manipulation tool that helps journalists clean and process dirty data without requiring programming knowledge, offering 100 filters and powerfu…
Journalists investigating EPA enforcement of air pollution laws at oil refineries obtained enforcement data from the EPA's IDEA database system after struggling with initial record…
The article highlights computer-assisted reporting examples from IRE's Extra! Extra! resource, including investigations by the Salt Lake Tribune on excessive residential water cons…
A journalist uses GIS mapping and Census data to quantify racial segregation in Greensboro, North Carolina, revealing that the city is divided almost perfectly in half by race, wit…
Online resources for journalists covering hurricanes and tropical storms include UCF's interactive mapping application for comparing forecast models and the U.S. Navy's tropical we…
After investigating a drowning where a nanny's three 911 calls went unanswered, journalists discovered a systemic failure in Broward County's 911 emergency response system by obtai…
A journalist uses data analysis to investigate poorly maintained bridges in Ventura County, California after mudslides kill ten people, discovering that 99 of 485 county bridges ar…
Pricel Issa Seleman, a senior reporter from The African in Tanzania, joins IRE and NICAR as an Alfred Friendly Press Fellow to study investigative reporting, FOIA, and computer-ass…
IRE and NICAR have updated their OSHA workplace safety inspection database with records through February 2005, containing over 3 million records since 1972 that journalists can use…
Journalists use computer-assisted reporting and database analysis to investigate government contracts with private companies, uncovering connections between major contractors and c…
An examination of boating accidents on the Colorado River highlights an increase in alcohol-related incidents and hit-and-run accidents, with a focus on the tragic death of local t…
An investigation into unusually high test scores at Wilmer Elementary in Texas reveals possible cheating by educators. The analysis shows that scores improved significantly compare…
A journalist analyzed Pentagon casualty data to reveal that South Carolina and other small, rural states had disproportionately high Iraq War death rates compared to their populati…
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.
IRE and NICAR offer multiple hands-on training programs in computer-assisted reporting, including weeklong boot camps in Columbia, Missouri, and specialized mini-boot camps for man…
A journalism newsletter highlights how reporters have used data analysis to investigate Iraq War-related stories, including military spending, casualties, and homeland security, wh…
The FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System tracks safety issues with pharmaceuticals and biological products to guide regulatory actions and inform public health reporting. Journalis…
Richard O'Reilly, a veteran computer-assisted reporting expert from the Los Angeles Times, has joined IRE and NICAR as a consultant to assist with special database projects and ana…
Military aviation accident data reveals insights into safety issues, stressing the importance of data analysis in investigative reporting.
Social network analysis tools reveal links of the Islamic American Relief Agency to terror activities, highlighting investigative techniques using data.
Journalists face dilemmas on whether to share data with others, balancing transparency against organizational interests.
IRE and NICAR provide resources and databases for journalists investigating crime statistics and law enforcement, including crime report analysis guides, FBI Uniform Crime Report d…
IRE and NICAR provide journalists with resources including databases, guidebooks, and tipsheets to analyze crime statistics and law enforcement data, such as FBI Uniform Crime Repo…
IRE and NICAR provide resources and databases for journalists to analyze crime statistics and law enforcement data, including the Uniform Crime Report, campus crime data, and guida…
IRE and NICAR provide journalists with resources and databases for analyzing crime statistics and law enforcement data, including the Uniform Crime Report, campus crime data, and g…
This guide explains how to administer a MySQL database for newsroom use and how to connect it to Microsoft Access to provide a familiar interface for reporters.
The Nashville Tennessean found that two-thirds of police chases violated department safety policies by analyzing paper records that contradicted the department's electronic databas…
IRE and NICAR offer specialized boot camps and training seminars to teach journalists how to acquire electronic information, analyze data using spreadsheets and databases, and deve…
A yearlong Post-Dispatch investigation used crime data and budgets to expose systemic incompetence, lack of training, and equipment shortages across St. Louis area police departmen…
Following an IRE and NICAR Boot Camp, reporter Ron Regan used the National Inventory of Dams database to expose hundreds of unsafe and uninspected high-hazard dams in Ohio.
The Los Angeles Times used GIS mapping and database analysis to visualize the dense patterns of unsolved homicides in South Los Angeles, leading to a reallocation of police resourc…
The 2005 Annual CAR Conference in Hollywood offers extensive training in database analysis, mapping, and investigative techniques for journalists of all skill levels.
IRE and NICAR offer multiple computer-assisted reporting training programs including full Boot Camps in Columbia, Missouri, a specialized program for editors, and a GIS mapping wor…
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.
A database matching investigation revealed that nearly 1,000 felons in Missouri held hunting licenses despite federal laws against felon firearm ownership.
The Dallas Morning News investigated how a farm tax loophole intended for family farmers is being exploited by large corporations and land developers to save millions in taxes.
Dateline NBC investigated racial disparities in traffic stops by analyzing millions of records and using internal benchmarks to identify patterns of suspicion.
This article discusses how journalists can use campaign finance and voter registration data to investigate political influence and structural changes following the 2004 election.
Journalists can use data from multiple sources like the U.S. Census and specialized databases to investigate child welfare issues and quality of life disparities in their communiti…
This article introduces a series on implementing free, open-source software tools in newsrooms to create a computer-assisted reporting platform, starting with MySQL as a database s…
The IRE and NICAR Database Library automated routine tasks like updating Federal Election Commission and FAA data, and developed a system to automate state-sliced data extraction f…
The IRE Resource Center provides copies of journalism stories that used computer-assisted reporting to investigate transportation safety issues, including studies on truck driver f…
The IRE and NICAR Database Library provides access to updated U.S. Department of Transportation databases that journalists can use to investigate safety issues in the trucking indu…
A Pittsburgh journalist investigates the city's record homicide rate in 2003, discovering that murders are concentrated in specific neighborhoods and disproportionately involve you…
A journalist describes their first computer-assisted reporting project analyzing 1.6 million municipal court records from Bexar County, Texas, focusing on data import procedures, d…
Extra! Extra! is an online resource from IRE that catalogs investigative and computer-assisted reporting stories, allowing journalists to search by category and discover relevant r…
An investigation into the high death rates of children at the Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon, using state databases.
IRE and NICAR have launched the Scraping Project to help journalists efficiently extract data from online public databases by sharing and collaborating on web scraping scripts that…
IRE and NICAR offer intensive computer-assisted reporting (CAR) boot camps and training sessions in Columbia, Missouri throughout 2005, covering data analysis, mapping, and newsroo…
An examination of rail-crossing safety following a fatal train accident, using data to reveal maintenance lapses.
A look into issues faced by marine mammals in captivity at U.S. marine parks, revealing deaths and inadequate care.
An investigation into oil and gas leasing on federal lands, highlighting the major players and examining if industry rules are followed.
Journalists from top news organizations share expertise on computer-assisted reporting projects through panel sessions, tapes, and tipsheets available from the IRE Annual Conferenc…
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.
John Perry explains how to use Perl scripts and specific modules like WWW-Mechanize to automate the collection of data from court docket websites.
Aron Pilhofer explores the advantages of using MySQL for data analysis, highlighting specific features like regular expressions, GROUP_CONCAT, and ROLLUP.
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.
Reporter Brad Branan used GIS mapping to disprove local official perceptions about crime locations in Tucson, leading to significant law enforcement resource increases.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer used GIS mapping to reveal potential redundancies in fire station locations, suggesting that consolidation could save taxpayers millions.
Reporter Judd Slivka details the difficulties of normalizing crime data from five different federal agencies to investigate public safety in Western parks.
IRE and NICAR's Hazardous Materials Incident Reporting System (HMIRS) database provides journalists with detailed incident reports on hazardous material releases across all transpo…
IRE and NICAR are launching the Scraping Project to help journalists use programming scripts to extract and format data from public government websites.
IRE and NICAR are offering computer-assisted reporting training programs in 2005, including week-long Boot Camps in Columbia, Missouri, specialized GIS mapping courses, and hands-o…
This article highlights the critical role of editing in the computer-assisted reporting process and details training opportunities designed specifically for newsroom managers.
IRE published a new environmental pollution beat book in collaboration with the Society of Environmental Journalists that provides journalists with tools for quick investigations, …
Journalists investigating environmental issues can now access a cleaned and enhanced EPA hazardous waste database through the IRE and NICAR Database Library, which includes additio…
David Donald provides a strategic list of ten 'dos' and ten 'don'ts' for journalists attempting to establish computer-assisted reporting practices in smaller newsrooms.
Veteran project editor John Ullmann offers essential guidance for newsroom managers on how to effectively lead and edit computer-assisted reporting projects.
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 …
Three award-winning investigative journalism projects are highlighted, including investigations into lead contamination in Detroit, oyster farm compensation in Louisiana, and gover…
Xpdf is a free command-line utility that allows journalists to efficiently extract text and tables from PDF files, converting them to formats like Excel in seconds rather than hour…
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 investigative journalism project by the Orlando Sentinel and WESH-Orlando uncovered widespread construction quality problems in central Florida's new homes, leading a reporter t…
A St. Petersburg Times analysis using geographic information systems reveals that housing prices in the Tampa Bay area are skyrocketing, transforming the region from having cheap h…
IRE's annual investigative reporting contest highlighted newspaper winners and finalists who used computer-assisted reporting, including investigations into pharmaceutical distribu…
A Charlotte Observer investigation reveals that airline maintenance problems have become a significant factor in fatal crashes, contributing to 42 percent of fatal accidents since …
Data analysis reveals a significant number of older individuals entering teaching in Oregon, challenging common assumptions about new teacher demographics.
IRE and NICAR offer multiple training programs in computer-assisted reporting, including week-long Boot Camps in Columbia, Missouri, GIS mapping mini-camps, and hands-on CAR classe…
David Donald has joined IRE and NICAR as training director, bringing extensive newsroom experience in computer-assisted reporting and investigative journalism. He is available to c…
The IRE and NICAR Database Library has released expanded mortality data from 1988-2001 and OSHA inspection records from 1972-2004 to help journalists investigate public health and …
An Indianapolis Star investigation found that over 9,300 taxpayers illegally claimed multiple homestead property tax credits on properties they didn't live in, costing Marion Count…
The Providence Journal used computer simulation software to model the crowd evacuation during the 2003 Rhode Island nightclub fire, demonstrating how computer models can be valuabl…
An investigation into voting rights violations in Teaneck, New Jersey, revealing racially polarized voting patterns and the potential for federal intervention.
The Dayton Daily News won an IRE Award certificate in 2003 for their investigative series 'Casualties of Peace' in the medium newspaper category. Information on ordering the story …
This article highlights several investigative journalism projects that analyzed U.S. Department of Transportation fatality data to examine traffic safety issues across different re…
IRE and NICAR are offering Computer-Assisted Reporting boot camps and Better Watchdog workshops to train journalists in using electronic data, databases, and investigative techniqu…
A KIRO-Seattle investigation using GIS analysis and geocoding discovered that over 600 sex offenders in Washington state live within 100 yards of licensed day-care centers, violati…
Georgia's HOPE scholarship program, funded by lottery revenues, has distributed $2.1 billion to 700,000 students but faces financial sustainability challenges and criticism for dis…
A Baltimore newsroom used MapPoint software to map over 3,500 sex offenders from the state registry, discovering clusters near schools, though they faced technical challenges incor…
IRE's annual investigative reporting contest received 595 entries, with many using computer-assisted reporting techniques like databases and tracking software. The article highligh…
A Cedar Rapids Gazette investigation into fatal accidents on Interstate 80 revealed that nearly half of 133 fatal accidents from 1994-2001 involved semi-trailer trucks, leading to …
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…
IRE and NICAR are offering hands-on computer-assisted reporting (CAR) training this summer, including a Boot Camp in Columbia, Missouri and a specialized GIS mapping workshop, with…
KIRO-Seattle investigated sex offenders living near day-care centers in Washington using mapping analysis to identify registered offenders within one city block of licensed facilit…
The article highlights the growing adoption of computer-assisted reporting (CAR) among journalists across various media outlets, emphasizing the learning opportunities and exciteme…
The IRE and NICAR Database Library updated their Single Audit database covering federal awards exceeding $300,000 annually from 1997 to January 2004, providing journalists with det…
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…
An investigation uncovers the increasing rate of violent attacks, including rapes, against Peace Corps volunteers, predominantly young women serving overseas.
Dave Moore explores the racial imbalance in juvenile arrests in Columbia, Mo., finding that African American youths are disproportionately arrested compared to their white counterp…
Curl is a free command-line utility that helps journalists efficiently download large datasets from websites by automating batch downloads of pages with consistent URL patterns, el…
CAR Tools highlights software useful for computer-assisted reporting, featuring recent reviews of mapping, analytics, and text parsing tools in the Uplink newsletter.
askSam is a flexible archiving and database program that allows journalists and investigators to organize and search large amounts of structured and unstructured data without forci…
CAR Tools highlights software useful for computer-assisted reporting, featuring recent reviews of mapping, analytics, and text parsing tools for journalists.
A journalist describes the process of investigating emergency response times in their community by obtaining and analyzing three years of 911 dispatch data, overcoming HIPAA privac…
The Arizona Daily Star investigated ambulance response times in Tucson using geographic information system software and public records data, revealing that emergency services frequ…
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…
IRE's 'In the News' web pages provide journalists with useful databases, publications, and internet resources to add depth to breaking news stories, such as DOT databases for repor…
IRE and NICAR's Database Library partnered with WCNC Charlotte to analyze Medicaid data, uncovering that pediatric dentists were performing unnecessary root canals on babies at dis…
IRE and NICAR offer computer-assisted reporting (CAR) training programs including weeklong boot camps in Columbia, Missouri and hands-on classes at their annual conference, designe…
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 and NICAR are exploring social network analysis as a tool for journalists to visualize relationships between individuals, businesses, and institutions, a technique long used by…
Journalists can access the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Injury and Death database through IRE and NICAR to investigate injuries caused by consumer products like space …
Journalists can access updated CPSC injury databases and explore new investigative techniques like social network analysis, with examples including consumer product safety investig…
A series exposed Florida doctors prescribing large quantities of narcotics to low-income Medicaid users, leading to high financial costs and overdose deaths.
An investigation into varying cardiac arrest survival rates across cities highlighted how some save substantially more victims due to differing emergency response capabilities.
A data investigation revealed that at least 10% of children listed as missing in a circulation area were not missing at all due to police oversight. This led to uncovering flaws in…
A detailed guide to understanding PUMS (Public Use Microdata Sample) data is available through IRE's Resource Center, with free access for members and paid options for others.
Ron Shawgo explains how to use Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) data and the IPUMS website to analyze population migration and education trends.
Garry Lenton describes how The Patriot-News used the FARS database and GIS mapping to show that Cumberland County had the highest truck-accident death rate along Interstate 81.
A bibliography of past Uplink articles detailing how journalists used Census data to report on race, poverty, and geography.
Paul Overberg explains the power of Census Summary File 4 for profiling 336 distinct racial and ethnic groups, highlighting reporting examples and methodological constraints like s…
IRE and NICAR have released an updated Home Mortgage Disclosure Act database for 2002, along with a guide by Jo Craven McGinty to help journalists analyze lending data and identify…
A Cleveland television station analyzed public school teacher sick day records and discovered an unusual pattern of absences on Valentine's Day, revealing potential abuse of sick l…
An announcement of upcoming computer-assisted reporting workshops, boot camps, and sessions at the IRE Annual Conference.
NICAR director David Herzog previews the upcoming Annual Computer-Assisted Reporting Conference in Cincinnati, detailing tracks for beginners, broadcasters, and advanced users.
A collection of brief reports covering editor training boot camps, patterns of teacher sick leave abuse, and updates to the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act database.
The Birmingham News investigates disparities in federal sentencing, specifically focusing on a case where a white-collar thief received a minimal sentence.
IRE and NICAR are offering computer-assisted reporting workshops in 2004, including CAR boot camps, mapping data training, and advanced statistics workshops for journalists. Fellow…
A guide to using GIS software (ArcView 3.2) and its Avenue scripting language to analyze the spatial relationship between convicted sex offenders and day-care centers, specifically…
A free SAS System Viewer tool available from SAS's website allows journalists to read and convert SAS data files into formats compatible with spreadsheets and database managers. Th…
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 St. Paul reporter used geographic information system software to analyze snow-emergency towing data and discovered whether certain neighborhoods were towed more heavily than othe…
IRE and NICAR provide journalists with resources like tipsheets and databases during breaking news events, including hurricane coverage, with many resources applicable to other dis…
The 2004 Computer-Assisted Reporting Conference will take place in Cincinnati from March 12-14, offering panels, workshops, and hands-on classes covering various reporting topics a…
A Duluth journalist uses computer-assisted reporting techniques to analyze arrest data and determine where Superior, Wisconsin's crime problems originate, examining whether extendi…
IRE and NICAR are offering multiple computer-assisted reporting training workshops and boot camps for journalists in 2024, including sessions on mapping data, advanced statistics, …
Searchable databases have become essential tools in modern newsrooms, allowing journalists to quickly access public records and connect information across multiple sources to enhan…
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…
Journalists are using remote sensing combined with GIS to uncover insightful stories. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch utilized satellite images to analyze development on the Upper Miss…
ParseRat is a $50 software tool that efficiently parses and cleans large datasets, particularly names, by breaking them into manageable fields and converting various data formats f…
The Los Angeles Times used the Naval Aviation Safety Database to investigate U.S. Marine Corps Harrier jet crashes, but encountered significant FOIA restrictions that excluded narr…
Journalists investigating air pollution trends in California's Central Valley discovered that standard statistical methods like linear regression fail with seasonal data, so they a…
Data analysis revealed that Louisville's air quality poses significant health risks, with toxic chemical concentrations hundreds of times higher than EPA safety standards, identifi…
Detroit-area journalists conducted a seven-month investigation using soil sampling, GIS mapping, and interviews to reveal that lead contamination in soil from old smelters and lead…
Journalists can use environmental data from EPA and state agencies combined with GIS mapping tools to create visualizations of pollution hotspots and contaminated sites for investi…
An examination of underused state vehicles in Arizona, highlighting wasteful spending amidst a budget shortfall.
IRE and NICAR are offering computer-assisted reporting training programs including CAR Boot Camps, mapping workshops, and statistics training at various dates throughout the year.
IRE's 'In the News' resource helps journalists quickly find databases and information sources when major disasters and news events occur, as demonstrated during the recent power bl…
An investigation into no-bid government contracts in Tennessee, revealing potential corruption and cronyism.
A look at the health of Puget Sound using various indicators of pollution, exploring sources and impacts on marine life.
An in-depth examination of the state of children in Northeast Ohio using data-driven storytelling to create a report-card approach.
Journalists can access three key databases—payrolls, pensions, and check registers—to investigate public employee compensation, benefits, and spending patterns.
A journalist explains how GPS technology and geographic mapping tools have become invaluable for reporting, allowing him to quickly create location-based analyses and maps for both…
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…
A journalist describes her experience updating a 1990 analysis of Maryland's highest-paid public employees, detailing her challenges obtaining salary data through public informatio…
Journalists used GIS mapping software to analyze the debris field from the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster and determine that approximately 216,000 people were in the path of falli…
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…
IRE's investigative reporting contest winners and finalists demonstrated how computer-assisted reporting, including spreadsheets and databases, uncovered corruption, government fai…
IRE and NICAR offer multiple computer-assisted reporting training opportunities including Better Watchdog Workshops, CAR Boot Camps, and an annual conference throughout the coming …
Ron Nixon, a veteran training director for IRE and NICAR who has trained thousands of journalists in computer-assisted reporting, is returning to newspaper work as the computer-ass…
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 Toronto Star received the Michener Award for its 'Race and Crime' series, which used a landmark database request to investigate police racial profiling.
The San Antonio Express-News analyzed traffic stop data, finding that black drivers were three times as likely to be searched as white drivers despite similar contraband find rates…
Stephen Doig explains how to use ArcView's 3D Analyst extension to create three-dimensional maps for news reporting, using a St. Paul income study as an example.
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer investigated two decades of missing-persons cases in Washington, finding that police negligence and database errors led to unsolved murders and unide…
Updates on the Mortality, Multiple Cause-of-Death database, upcoming ArcView GIS mapping training, and available tipsheets from the 2003 CAR conference.
An overview of 2002 IRE Award winners and finalists across television and magazine categories that used computer-assisted reporting to investigate corruption, medical malpractice, …
A list of upcoming training events for journalists, including GIS mapping workshops in Columbia, Missouri, and Better Watchdog Workshops across the U.S.
David Herzog reflects on the collaborative environment and diverse training sessions at the 2003 Annual CAR conference in Charlotte.
Updates on the Mortality, Multiple Cause-of-Death database, upcoming ArcView GIS mapping training, and available tipsheets from the 2003 CAR conference.
The article examines the complexities and various methodologies researchers use to measure residential segregation in American metropolitan areas.
The Charlotte Observer used federal procurement data to identify Department of Defense contractors in the Carolinas during the lead-up to the Iraq war.
Journalists from The Boston Globe and other organizations overcame data shortages by creating internal databases to investigate sexual misconduct within the Catholic Church.
Census reporters face challenges when Census tract boundaries shift over time, making historical comparisons difficult. The article explains how to use the Census Bureau's tract-to…
A newspaper investigation uncovered a scheme where California community colleges enrolled high school athletes in fake college physical education courses taught by their high schoo…
A journalist's first computer-assisted reporting project reveals that obtaining data is easier than determining how to use it effectively, ultimately leading to an unexpected story…
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists used ArcView mapping software to create maps illustrating global weapons trade connections and natural resource locations …
Following the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, journalists used the Federal Procurement Data System to analyze NASA contractor spending, with the IRE and NICAR Database Library qui…
Journalists from Korea's national broadcasting service attended a computer-assisted reporting boot camp at the University of Missouri, learning data analysis and spreadsheet skills…
Extra! Extra! is an online resource sponsored by IRE that provides summaries of investigative and computer-assisted reporting stories, searchable by category including health, home…
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…
IRE and NICAR offer computer-assisted reporting training opportunities, including CAR Boot Camps in Columbia, Missouri scheduled for May and August that teach journalists to use sp…
IRE and NICAR offer resources and databases to help journalists cover post-Iraq War issues, including military presence, reconstruction, and terrorism, with training opportunities …
A guide to organizing databases and resources for covering war-related stories, with focus on military and security data sources including Census Bureau information and Defense Dep…
The article discusses how journalists can gain access to restricted data for computer-assisted reporting by signing research agreements.
The IRE and NICAR Database Library offers specialized data processing and analysis services for news organizations, recently completing projects including Census data transformatio…
Sun's StarOffice and the free OpenOffice.org are impressive Microsoft Office alternatives with strong word processing capabilities, but they have limitations in spreadsheet functio…
Journalists can leverage SAS programs from government agencies to create lookup tables and translation tools in more accessible programs like Excel, Access, and FoxPro, enabling da…
A Hamilton, Ontario newspaper investigation into restaurant safety practices revealed widespread food-handling violations and inadequate health department inspections, while munici…
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram analyzed 5 million hospital discharge records using a federal statistical program to uncover patterns in patient care and hospital quality across North…
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…
Alan Cox, a pioneering computer-assisted reporting specialist at WCCO-Minneapolis, left the station after 25 years and is now freelancing, having helped transform how broadcast jou…
Journalists can use the Churches And Church Membership In The United States survey, conducted every 10 years by religious organizations, to analyze religious demographics and membe…
IRE and NICAR offer multiple computer-assisted reporting training opportunities including CAR Boot Camps in Columbia, Missouri and an annual conference in Washington, D.C. in June …
Medical errors cause tens of thousands of deaths annually, prompting journalists to use databases like MAUDE and state health records to investigate faulty medical devices, nursing…
Analysis of FDA data reveals issues with medical implants and regulatory system flaws.
Highlights of the upcoming Annual Computer-Assisted Reporting Conference in Charlotte, NC, including hands-on classes and workshops.
A journalist used ArcView GIS software to manually map shooting incidents around housing projects in Allentown by creating a point shapefile and joining it to crime data, since inc…
Journalists across the country use database reporting and open records requests to investigate poorly regulated assisted living centers and nursing homes, revealing widespread unde…
A spreadsheet technique using IF formulas to identify duplicate jury duty summons by comparing last names, first names, and street addresses, allowing manual review to remove true …
A Tribune-Review investigation using surveying and GIS analysis revealed that Allegheny County's jury selection process systematically underrepresents Black residents, with Black p…
Journalists in San Antonio investigated Bexar County's criminal justice system and discovered thousands of cases were dismissed due to lack of speedy trial, after fighting over a y…
Journalists across the U.S. are using GIS mapping technology with Census Bureau data to uncover demographic patterns, including language barriers, poverty pockets, and commuting di…
A journalist used computer-assisted reporting to investigate elevator safety in Missouri, creating a database to analyze inspection violations that had never been systematically ev…
The U.S. Census Bureau released Summary File 3 data in August and September 2000, containing detailed demographic information from the 2000 Census that journalists are using to inv…
IRE and NICAR are offering training workshops in computer-assisted reporting and Census 2000 data analysis for journalists, with multiple events scheduled in January and February a…
Reporters have leveraged computer-assisted reporting and data analysis, using resources such as the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports, to enhance their coverage of national and local cri…
Computer-assisted reporting reveals critical flaws in criminal justice systems, including Texas judges failing to grant speedy trials resulting in suspect releases, racial disparit…
An investigation into drunken driving deaths in the Philadelphia region used mapping and data analysis to identify dangerous road segments, overcoming Pennsylvania's restrictions o…
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 …
A journalist describes a method for crowdsourcing data cleanup by exporting chunks to Excel, having colleagues mark changes, then using Excel formulas to generate FoxPro code that …
The FAA has withheld enforcement database data from journalists since September 2001, citing security concerns and refusing to release information about security and hazardous mate…
CNN.com undertook a computer-assisted reporting project to assess the terrorism preparedness of major U.S. cities post-9/11, ultimately evaluating 30 cities based on population and…
West Virginia journalists investigated the impact of school consolidations on student bus rides by constructing their own database of 1,569 bus runs after discovering the state had…
Journalists are using GIS mapping and analysis to uncover trends in education reporting, from tracking student enrollment shifts across school districts to analyzing whether charte…
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…
Uplink newsletter announces a redesign with new features like mapping coverage while retaining popular sections, and introduces coordination with The IRE Journal plus four new cont…
The IRE and NICAR Database Library has added the Consumer Product Safety Commission Injury and Death database to its collection, offering detailed information about consumer produc…
Journalists are encouraged to use databases to add depth to school reporting, with the No Child Left Behind Act increasing the need for detailed education stories.
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…
A Chicago journalist describes obtaining prescription-monitoring data from Illinois to report on ADHD drug use in children, discovering that state records showing where patients li…
Investigative Reporters and Editors will hold a regional conference in Savannah, Georgia on October 19-20, featuring computer-assisted reporting training and investigative journali…
Tom Torok describes how The New York Times used an intranet to manage information after September 11 and provides guidelines for building newsroom tools that allow for decentralize…
Paul Overberg explains how journalists can use the Census 2000 Summary File 3 to research school enrollment trends, private school popularity, and neighborhood demographics.
The article explains important limitations of SF3 census data, including that it comes from a sample survey with imputed values and statistical margins of error that are larger for…
This article highlights investigative resources available through IRE and NICAR, including databases on medical device failures, physician malpractice, and vehicle recalls.
The article warns journalists about limitations in SF3 census data, including imputation methods for missing responses and significant error margins that are larger for smaller geo…
Journalists can use U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission databases to provide detailed insights into swimming pool accidents and other consumer product related injuries.
The Washington Post and a University of Missouri student received top investigative reporting honors for data-driven projects on child protection failures and storm water permittin…
Over 400 journalists attended the annual IRE and NICAR conference in Philadelphia to participate in hands-on classes and presentations focused on data analysis skills.
Reporters at The Kansas City Star utilized multiple databases to investigate and report on the fatal consequences of long-haul truck driver fatigue.
IRE and NICAR are offering multiple journalism training workshops in spring and summer 2002, including advanced statistics, GIS mapping, religious census data, and CAR boot camps f…
Journalists can use public databases like 10-K Wizard, FreeERISA, and Department of Labor records to investigate pension plans and retirement savings, with examples of reporters un…
VCU journalism students built a database of gifts given to Virginia legislators, highlighting expensive trips and potential conflicts of interest.
Ron Nixon reviews various software tools like Splitter and NameChop that automate the tedious process of parsing and cleaning dirty name and address data.
A guide to the most useful websites for investigative journalists, covering everything from charity tax filings to federal court records and expert finders.
A compilation of technical advice from NICAR listservs, covering file transfers, database management in Access, and mapping techniques.
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…
An exploration of various workplace data sources, including OSHA logs, pension filings, and workers' compensation records, used by journalists to investigate employer practices.
USA Today recounts how their data editors manually constructed a database of September 11 victims to verify death toll figures and tell personal stories.
This article outlines recent updates to the IRE and NICAR Database Library, covering databases for medical device failures, home mortgages, truck accidents, and fatal car accidents…
CNN's investigative project 'Flight Risk' examined aviation security issues, combining reporting by Mike Fish with database analysis and multimedia elements created by a team of ed…
A journalist describes how to build a functional intranet system using free ColdFusion Express software, Microsoft Access databases, and basic hardware, demonstrating that professi…
After 9/11, Atlanta airport officials resisted journalists' reporting on security vulnerabilities, restricting press access to terminals and criticizing coverage as unpatriotic fea…
CNN's investigative project 'Flight Risk' reports on aviation security issues, featuring database analysis and multimedia elements developed by a specialized team of journalists, e…
Journalists should prepare disaster coverage in advance by building databases and understanding data limitations, as exemplified by how newsrooms used FAA enforcement data after 9/…
The IRE Resource Center catalogs investigative reports on housing violations and slumlord practices, including stories about property owners evading enforcement and widespread code…
The Courier-Journal used computer-assisted reporting and traditional journalism to investigate code enforcement in Jefferson County, Kentucky, uncovering how a sprawling apartment …
Cross tabs and pivot tables are powerful data analysis tools that allow journalists to quickly reorganize and compare large datasets by rearranging fields into rows and columns. Th…
This brief announcement informs readers that stories from the Uplink newsletter will be available through the IRE Resource Center, with instructions on how to search and order them…
The Seattle Times investigated airport security at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport following the 9/11 attacks by analyzing FAA enforcement data, conducting interviews, and req…
The IRE and NICAR data library provides comprehensive FAA and NASA databases for investigative journalists to research aviation safety, enforcement actions, maintenance issues, acc…
After 9/11, a Dallas-Fort Worth newsroom used NICAR's federal contractor database to identify local defense companies that might benefit from increased military spending, finding o…
Newsday reporters created a comprehensive database of September 11th victims by collecting names from multiple sources, then used computer-assisted reporting and data analysis tool…
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…
This article provides journalism resources including a tipsheet with contacts for investigating terrorists and fringe groups, plus a story examining the threat of terrorist use of …
A journalist uses computer-assisted reporting techniques, including databases and online searches, to investigate a potential terrorist suspect with connections to Nashville and di…
The IRE Resource Center highlights investigative journalism stories exposing systemic failures in housing enforcement, including how slumlords exploit legal loopholes and evade pen…
A CAR reporter investigated security lapses at Lehigh Valley International Airport by analyzing FAA enforcement data, then used Department of Transportation enplanement data to ide…
The IRE Resource Center provides multiple tipsheets on airline security and aviation safety, offering guidance on accessing government agencies, crash investigation documents, and …
A journalist describes using CAR techniques and FAA security databases to report on security lapses at Newark Airport following 9/11, despite severe technological constraints and c…
The IRE Resource Center offers investigative journalism stories exposing housing code violations and slumlord practices, including reports on how landlords evade enforcement and ho…
The IRE Resource Center offers multiple tipsheets providing guidance for journalists investigating airline security and aviation safety, including information on relevant agencies,…
A journalist uses data analysis techniques to decode the FAA's cryptic airport security violation database, discovering it contains both security failures and successes, with diffe…
CNN's investigative project "Flight Risk" examines aviation-related issues through reporting by Mike Fish, supported by database analysis, editorial oversight, and multimedia desig…
CNN's "Flight Risk" project, a collaborative investigative report by Mike Fish with database analysis, design, and graphics from a team of specialists, examines aviation-related is…
A CNN.com investigation reveals that private security firms hired by airlines to staff airport checkpoints operate with inadequate staffing due to low wages, leading to high turnov…
Following 9/11, journalists analyzed FAA enforcement data to examine security violations at major U.S. airports and airlines, focusing on weapons detected over a 10-year period to …
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…
An investigation revealed that over 180,000 Illinois students were taught by teachers who had flunked at least one competency test. The analysis exposed significant gaps in teacher…
The IRE/NICAR organization is soliciting story ideas and technical insights from journalists, particularly those involving computer-assisted reporting techniques, innovative data w…
Two young reporters discovered that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had miscalculated Firestone tire-related deaths by including two pet deaths in their official…
The article outlines multiple investigative angles on underground storage tank regulations, including insurance fund depletion, inspection oversight, and equipment failures, while …
Journalists used computer-assisted reporting to uncover that thousands of underground storage tanks continue to leak and pollute water and soil despite federal regulations and bill…
A journalist discovers open source software like MySQL, Linux, and Apache as cost-effective alternatives to expensive commercial databases and applications for computer-assisted re…
A journalism investigation into New Bedford's drug court system revealed inconsistent sentencing patterns and high recidivism rates, with similar offenders receiving vastly differe…
A journalist with two decades of crime reporting created a comprehensive database of 435 child sexual assault cases to expose the reality that perpetrators are rarely strangers and…
Journalists built a custom database from scratch to track mortgage fraud by compiling public property records manually, highlighting both the control and risks of creating data sys…
An Oklahoma newspaper analyzes 2000 census data to explore racial segregation patterns, finding that school district boundaries may be a primary driver of residential segregation, …
A journalism investigation into secret U.S. government nuclear weapons contractors revealed how over 300 private companies processed radioactive materials in the 1940s-50s while he…
Consumer Reports built a custom database to rate America's airports from scratch, revealing that travelers in major metro areas increasingly have multiple airport options including…
A journalist discovers that while computer-assisted reporting on railroad crossing accidents is easily accessible, the most dangerous crossings aren't always the best stories, lead…
The IRE Resource Center offers tipsheets providing guidance on building databases for investigative reporting, including cost-effective strategies and best practices from experienc…
This article explains practical database tools and features that journalists can use to efficiently enter and manage large volumes of paper documents, including forms, input masks,…
Investigation into Montgomery County's lenient handling of repeat offenders in drunken driving cases, uncovering systemic prosecutorial lapses.
Following the 9/11 attacks, news organizations relied on CAR (Computer Assisted Reporting) and FAA enforcement databases to investigate airport security vulnerabilities, but the FA…
IRE and NICAR announce two new staff positions: Jeff Porter as the first full-time director of the IRE and NICAR database library and Aron Pilhofer as director of the Campaign Fina…
A smaller newspaper's approach to efficiently covering Census data releases through advance planning, dummy databases, and pre-written story templates, allowing them to compete wit…
A journalist at The News Tribune describes her journey learning computer-assisted reporting (CAR) while covering county government, starting with property records and navigating te…
A South Florida newspaper investigated whether the largest water users in drought-stricken Palm Beach County were conserving, facing significant obstacles from fragmented utility s…
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 Pittsburgh Tribune-Review used computer-assisted ratio studies to evaluate whether Allegheny County's $24 million property reassessment was accurate, finding significant flaws …
The IRE newsletter invites journalists to submit stories involving computer-assisted reporting (CAR), technical solutions, or uncovered beats for potential publication.
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 Pennsylvania newspaper obtained early data on a county property reassessment and used Excel, mapping software, and publicly available millage rates to calculate how individual ta…
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…
A CAR investigation exposes how more than 100 sex offenders in Florida live too close to schools and day care centers, violating the 1000-foot rule intended to protect children.
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…
Journalists covering census data between 1990 and 2000 must navigate new multiracial categories and measurement challenges by identifying clear trends rather than claiming scientif…
The Health Care Financing Administration provides publicly accessible Medicare data through its website that journalists and the public can use to research healthcare providers, co…
Mark Schaver reviews Zoot, a powerful shareware information management tool that helps journalists organize and retrieve interviews, documents, web pages and other research materia…
A journalist investigates how special interest money influences West Virginia's Legislature by analyzing campaign contributions, lobbyist spending, and conflicts of interest to sho…
The journalism newsletter invites readers to submit story ideas, technical insights, and beat suggestions related to computer-assisted reporting (CAR), with contact information pro…
The article describes 'stealth CAR' (computer-assisted reporting), a practical approach to teaching data journalism skills by integrating them into existing courses rather than off…
The U.S. Forest Service maintains databases on forest fires and arsons that journalists can use to investigate fire incidents, their causes, and impacts on communities. Two main da…
Virginia Commonwealth University journalism students analyzed state legislator gift disclosures and found lawmakers received approximately $118,000 in gifts from special interests,…
A Colorado reporter obtained the state's school grading formula and used Excel and statistical software to calculate what grades schools would receive under a proposed law, reveali…
St. Louis Post-Dispatch education reporters analyzed school funding disparities in Missouri and Illinois by adjusting for geographic costs and special student needs, using data ana…
Virginia schools are increasingly hiring teachers with alternative licenses who lack traditional qualifications like passing the PRAXIS I exam, prompting concern from officials and…
A Columbus newspaper uncovered racial and economic inequities in the school district by obtaining electronic records that revealed unequal opportunities across elementary schools, …
The IRE Resource Center offers education reporting tipsheets covering investigative angles on education data and teacher quality, including resources and best practices for educati…
A reporter at the Akron Beacon Journal used computer-assisted reporting and data analysis to investigate why one school cluster dramatically underperformed others, challenging assu…
California's class-size reduction law five years ago created over 25,000 new teaching positions, but this rapid expansion has led to a persistent teacher shortage that disproportio…
A Fort Worth high school football coach resigned after sexual assault allegations in a deal involving a $100,000 payout, prompting investigation into Texas's teacher licensing syst…
The article discusses how Oregon's suburban schools are not as exceptional as often claimed. Using analysis that accounts for family backgrounds, the research identifies schools th…
Journalists discuss using PL94 census data to identify neighborhoods with unusually high concentrations of children, with tips on verifying findings and where to expect such demogr…
A journalist describes how extensive preparation, including data processing systems and pre-planned story angles, enabled his newsroom to execute comprehensive 2000 Census coverage…
Journalists used computer programming and automated data searches through SEC records, patent databases, and other public sources to uncover financial conflicts of interest among r…
Reporters investigated the $500 million body parts industry, uncovering unethical practices between nonprofit tissue banks and for-profit processors through business records analys…
A seven-month investigation into Florida's auto insurance fraud revealed over 4,000 residents involved in at least 1,400 suspicious accidents during the 1990s, exposing a network o…
A tipsheet compiled by a St. Louis Post-Dispatch journalist providing useful transportation research websites and resources for journalists covering vehicle crashes, accidents, and…
Several IRE Award winners used computer-assisted reporting techniques including databases, mapping software, and data analysis to investigate stories ranging from insurance company…
Journalists investigate a pattern of fatal accidents involving Firestone Radial ATX tire tread separations on Ford Explorers, compiling court records and accident reports after dis…
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…
A Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter used transportation datasets to identify the most dangerous driving routes in Texas by normalizing accident data against traffic volume, demonst…
A journalist used database analysis to investigate overtime practices at Houston's Metropolitan Transit Authority, discovering drivers were working excessive hours and earning over…
An investigation into trucking safety reveals that many trucks avoid inspections by using back roads, and analysis of multiple federal and state databases shows that the official o…
A Florida newspaper's investigation into deadly crashes on Interstate 95 revealed that fatalities had doubled over five years, prompting state and local officials to take action af…
The Census 2000 data release presents increasing complexity for journalists using computer-assisted reporting, with upcoming Summary File 1 containing vastly more variables and det…
Investigates issues with Firestone tires on Ford Explorers, identifying a surge in tire-related fatal accidents and highlighting potential oversight by government and manufacturers…
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…
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.
Uplink journalism newsletter is transitioning to a bi-monthly publication schedule with expanded content, themed issues focusing on topics like education and transportation, and en…
A journalist reflects on attending a computer-assisted reporting bootcamp that challenged their mental capacity, and describes how CAR techniques have since become an integral part…
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…
NICAR Database Library announces updated datasets on hazardous materials incidents, AIDS cases, and NEA grants, while highlighting recent computer-assisted reporting investigations…
A St. Paul Pioneer Press investigation examined restaurant inspection records across the Twin Cities to determine whether establishments were following health codes and whether con…
A journalist describes using data journalism techniques learned at NICAR Boot Camp to investigate whether bad weather correlates with increased parking tickets by combining weather…
The article examines the growth of the American Indian gambling industry and investigates state lottery misconduct, revealing that despite gambling revenues increasing dramatically…
The Columbus Dispatch investigated Ohio's gambling industry by analyzing lottery sales data mapped by ZIP code and estimating out-of-state casino gambling through multiple data sou…
A Kansas newspaper obtained a traffic accident database revealing that some drivers had numerous accidents and convictions despite lax enforcement of license suspension laws, promp…
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-…
Enterprise joins allow journalists to match databases from different sources to uncover investigative stories, but reporters must use careful methodology to avoid false matches, in…
A Georgia news station used computer-assisted reporting to investigate certified nurse aides with criminal records working in nursing homes, discovering that state law allows hirin…
This article provides practical tips for creating an in-house computer-assisted reporting (CAR) newsletter, including featuring This-Is-How-I-Did-It articles, Q&A sections, softwar…
The article discusses the complexities in comparing racial data from the 1990 and 2000 Census due to changes allowing multiracial categories, and solutions to overcome these issues…
Despite a significant reform effort by New Jersey's child protection agency, children are spending more time in foster care. The article explores the state's lack of progress again…
A journalist recounts the challenges of implementing computer-assisted reporting in a newsroom, from the chaos of managing shared databases on CDs to eventually building a successf…
The IRE Resource Center provides several investigative journalism stories examining racial profiling by police departments, including traffic stops in Seattle, profiling practices …
Journalists investigating racial discrimination in traffic stops must carefully account for multiple confounding variables including the racial demographics of highway users, diffe…
The National CAR Conference in Lexington offers recorded panel tapes available through Sound Images, covering topics such as journalism combined with social research methods, case …
Journalists discuss their investigation into rampage killings, detailing the challenges of defining terms, accessing incomplete news databases, and lack of social science research,…
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution conducted a comprehensive investigation into gender equity in Georgia high school athletics by analyzing education department civil rights cases, s…
Media experts discuss the paradox of American privacy attitudes, where consumers claim to want privacy but willingly share personal data with corporations, while also debating the …
The Detroit Free Press investigated racial profiling in suburban police departments by manually collecting and analyzing 3,000 traffic tickets from Harper Woods, Michigan, finding …
A Louisville news organization investigated whether police were disproportionately stopping African-American drivers by matching police dispatch records with handwritten dispatcher…
A Chicago Tribune investigation used the FDA's MAUDE database combined with multiple public records sources to uncover how inadequately trained and overwhelmed nurses cause thousan…
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune investigates whether Minneapolis police use racial profiling. The report analyzes booking, jail, and sentencing data to determine if more black suspect…
This article explains how to use subqueries in database management to solve complex data problems, such as finding the most recent inspection for each facility or determining an of…
A tipsheet from The Miami Herald's Liz Donovan provides journalists with a comprehensive list of online public records databases and people-finder tools useful for investigative re…
A collection of IRE tipsheets providing guidance for reporters investigating housing issues, including inspection fraud, scams, rental industry practices, and related investigation…
IRE's Resource Center offers several investigative journalism pieces on housing issues, including The Seattle Times' housing affordability series and investigations into corruption…
The IRE Resource Center has compiled stories on emerging drug trends including designer drugs, ecstasy culture in major cities, and the growing use of GHB as a date-rape drug, feat…
A reporter used computer-assisted reporting to uncover flawed data in Florida's designer drug death study, revealing that state officials had improperly counted 80 cases unrelated …
A collection of journalism tipsheets providing guidance on investigating housing issues, including inspector misconduct, rental scams, and industry data collection.
An investigation by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and WSB-TV found that over 4,900 people in Georgia have received multiple second chances under the First Offender Act since 198…
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…
A Daily News article provides links to a story and accompanying maps and tables, with the full content also available in the IRE Resource Center.
An investigation into the effectiveness of housing inspections in St. Paul, revealing systemic issues in addressing repeat offenders of housing code violations.
A reporter and researcher collaborate to analyze prison data by matching Wisconsin inmate records with out-of-state prison populations to investigate whether privatized Tennessee p…
An analysis of Seattle's housing market reveals that despite rapid price increases in desirable neighborhoods, homes are more affordable now compared to the last 15 years due to ri…
Student journalists at Miami University fought a legal battle to access college disciplinary records, ultimately losing when the U.S. Department of Education intervened to enforce …
An investigation by The Chronicle of Philanthropy reveals that many large nonprofits are failing to accurately report fund-raising expenses on their IRS Form 990 tax returns, despi…
The article explains how to handle difficult-to-import data files using programming, specifically Visual Basic, when traditional tools like Excel's import wizard fall short. It out…
Journalists used data analysis and investigative legwork to de-anonymize the National Practitioner Data Bank by cross-referencing malpractice records with public state disciplinary…
A journalist describes lessons learned from a NICAR computer-assisted reporting boot camp while analyzing city employee salary data for a pay equity story, emphasizing the importan…
A journalist explores Russia's surprisingly accessible data markets, discovering that personal information can be purchased for relatively small amounts of money, starting with an …
An exploration of the significant economic impact of private foundations in Arkansas, revealing the vast assets they control and their contributions to societal needs.
The Columbus Dispatch highlights major investigations into educational inequality in Columbus schools and ineffective spending by the Appalachian Regional Commission, demonstrating…
A Columbus-based media company created an internal GIS users group across its newsroom, marketing, and direct mail departments to share mapping expertise, data resources, and softw…
A California journalist mapped school performance rankings across a county using GIS tools, discovering that highest-ranked schools clustered in wealthy areas while lowest-ranked s…
Journalists across Europe, particularly in Denmark and the Netherlands, are increasingly using GIS mapping software to analyze and visualize data for investigative stories, enablin…
A tipsheet from the 2000 IRE national conference introducing mapping as a computer-assisted reporting (CAR) tool, including suggestions for data visualization and guidance on acces…
A Roanoke journalist used GIS mapping and building permit data to reveal that over a thousand structures, including a new biomedical center, were being built in flood-prone areas d…
A three-day GIS bootcamp will be held in Columbia, Missouri from October 20-22, featuring instruction from Dateline NBC and St. Louis Post-Dispatch journalists on mapping, geocodin…
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…
The New York Times published a four-part investigative series analyzing 100 mass murder cases over 50 years, finding greater links to mental illness than violent video games and de…
The FBI's 1998 Uniform Crime Reports database is now available through NICAR's data library, containing crime statistics reported by law enforcement agencies, alongside other datab…
The article outlines different computer-assisted reporting (CAR) training models for newsrooms, including universal training, specialist fellowships, and outside vendors, with prac…
The Inquirer used Perl regular expressions to standardize 700,000 crime records with inconsistently formatted Philadelphia addresses, cleaning up about 70,000 malformed entries by …
Ferrett, a redesigned federal data analysis tool built in Java, enables journalists and researchers to easily query large government datasets like the Current Population Survey wit…
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…
SQL Server is a powerful database solution for journalists and computer-assisted reporters that can handle large datasets and networked data access far better than Access, eliminat…
The Star Tribune overcame significant legal and technical obstacles to build a criminal justice database linking probation and jail records across Minnesota counties, resulting in …
An Arkansas Democrat-Gazette investigation using court databases and case files reveals that repeat offenders often receive multiple convictions before facing prison time, highligh…
This article outlines cost-effective data journalism strategies for reporters, including using census data, school test scores, employee salaries, and economic indicators, while su…
Environmental reporters should access state-level databases for more current information than federal sources, prepare for lengthy FOIA requests, and thoroughly study relevant regu…
A collaborative investigation by three small Louisiana newspapers revealed that the state's Department of Environmental Quality failed to resolve long-standing pollution cases and …
A Montana journalist describes how computer-assisted reporting (CAR) enabled him to investigate felons with guns and discover databases unknown to officials, positioning small-mark…
A computer-assisted reporting specialist argues that newspapers of all sizes need dedicated CAR staff to provide authoritative data-driven coverage, sharing lessons from his succes…
IRE's Kentucky Fried CAR conference will be held in Lexington from September 14-17, offering over 50 panels and 40 training sessions on computer-assisted reporting techniques for j…
An investigative team explores if local law enforcement keeps its promise to enforce DUI laws by examining case dismissals when police fail to appear in court.
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…
This tutorial teaches journalists how to create a startup screen in Microsoft Access by building a Welcome form and using macros to launch it automatically when the database opens.
A programming competition demonstrates Perl's superior speed and efficiency for data parsing compared to VBScript, highlighting why Perl has become an essential tool for computer-a…
Journalists can use county tax assessment databases to expose unfair and inaccurate property valuations that create disparities in taxation across similar properties, as demonstrat…
Newsday provides resources for exploring property tax assessment disparities, including investigative stories about uneven tax burdens and links to national assessment data and pro…
The Consolidated Federal Funds Report (CFFR) data, compiled by the Bureau of the Census, provides detailed information about federal government expenditures across states, counties…
Maps cannot simultaneously preserve all properties of the Earth's spherical surface when flattened, so cartographers must choose which attributes (area, distance, direction, or sha…
The Charlotte Observer investigated deaths in North Carolina mental health facilities by analyzing death certificate data, uncovering a lack of oversight that allowed dangerous tre…
This article introduces Access Modules, which allow programmers to extend Access database functionality beyond built-in query tools and import features, starting with a basic 'Hell…
A short item pointing readers to another Uplink story or resource on tracking money.
This article describes three journalism tipsheets that provide guidance on using computer-assisted reporting (CAR) and backgrounding techniques to enhance deadline journalism, incl…
Three tipsheets from journalism resources offer guidance on deadline reporting techniques, including backgrounding sources, using computer-assisted reporting (CAR) databases for st…
Three tipsheets offer guidance on using computer-assisted reporting (CAR) and backgrounding techniques to enhance journalism under deadline pressure, with resources and database re…
The article highlights how online mapping services like MapQuest can assist journalists in finding directions to news story locations quickly and efficiently.
This article provides practical advice for using computer-assisted reporting on tight deadlines, emphasizing the use of familiar databases and expert networks.
This article explores the diverse ways newsrooms use intranets as research hubs, from tracking public records to storing training materials and commercial database links.
Reporters at The Record leverage voter registration records and intranet resources to access public information for investigative journalism, including voter data, salary records, …
This article details how 'The Record' established a newsroom intranet to democratize data access, allowing reporters to quickly background subjects and find demographic statistics …
Following a fatal train accident, a reporter used Federal Railroad Administration databases to reveal that Palm Beach County had the highest rate of railroad crossing crashes in Fl…
Reporters investigated the criminal backgrounds of public school employees by cross-referencing employment records with state prison and parole databases.
This article discusses the importance of preparation and 'thinking in rows and columns' to successfully integrate computer-assisted reporting into daily deadline workflows.
An investigation into Oklahoma City's choice school movement reveals that these schools disproportionately serve white, wealthy students from educated neighborhoods, while neighbor…
Instructions for converting character date fields (like '01021999') to formatted date fields (like '01/02/1999') using either Access or FoxPro database software.
A Pittsburgh Tribune-Review investigation uses computer-assisted reporting to analyze Pennsylvania lottery sales data by zip code and demographic information to determine whether p…
Two major investigative journalism projects: Louisiana newspapers examine environmental regulatory oversight, while Philadelphia Inquirer documents systematic crime classification …
The Pioneer Press analyzed nonprofit arts organizations' finances in the Twin Cities, finding they experienced significant financial growth during the 1990s. Newsday's investigatio…
A Providence Journal investigative reporter explains how to use Microsoft Access forms as building blocks for creating stand-alone programs that allow journalists to query database…
Pennsylvania journalists analyzed hunting accident data from the state Game Commission to debunk the myth that younger hunters are safer, discovering that hunters 17 and under are …
The St. Paul Pioneer Press investigated convicted felons who were illegally hunting in Minnesota and found 236 violent felons who had received hunting permits despite being prohibi…
These journalism investigations examine how illegal guns circulate through various channels including street distribution, law enforcement resales, and unlicensed online dealers.
Sarah Cohen from The Washington Post explains how journalists can access federal firearms databases, including the ATF's Firearms Tracing System and multiple sales gun database, wh…
An investigation into Connecticut's correctional system revealed systemic issues with prisoners escaping from halfway houses, linking this to failures in monitoring and arrest foll…
The Denver Post conducted an investigation following the Columbine massacre, focusing on how police guns became crime guns and detailing the 'Gun Pipeline' of firearms linked to va…
The Supreme Court upheld restrictions on drivers' license data access, creating varying challenges for journalists across states, while NICAR announces upcoming bootcamps and updat…
NICAR provides access to numerous government databases covering aviation safety, vehicle recalls, transportation accidents, and other regulatory records spanning multiple decades f…
NICAR maintains a comprehensive collection of public databases covering federal enforcement records, accident data, and safety reports across aviation, transportation, and maritime…
The MAUDE database tracks medical device failures and patient injuries, replacing the older MDR system, and offers journalists opportunities to investigate defective device manufac…
Computer-assisted investigations reveal operational inefficiencies in law enforcement and widespread housing code violations by government entities.
Data analysts must carefully handle missing data (nulls) in databases, as calculating summary statistics like averages on incomplete datasets can be misleading and misrepresent the…
The article explains that while the Earth is round, determining its exact shape is complex, involving different geodetic measurements and datums that affect how maps represent loca…
This collection includes two investigative journalism series: one analyzing high school performance using regression analysis of state test scores and lunch program participation, …
The IRE Resource Center offers tipsheets on investigating money flows in healthcare and conducting nursing home investigations, originally prepared for the 1999 IRE Conference by e…
The IRE Resource Center maintains a collection of investigative journalism stories on nursing homes, including reports on the warehousing of mentally ill patients and care quality …
An investigation into Ohio's nursing home system reveals systemic failures in care quality and regulatory enforcement, particularly affecting elderly residents without adequate fin…
Computer-assisted reporting (CAR) is underdeveloped outside the United States due to lack of electronic databases, but journalists can access valuable U.S. government and instituti…
Two investigative journalism series examine institutional accountability: one analyzes high school performance using statistical regression and socioeconomic factors, while the oth…
A Swedish financial crime agency created with extensive resources and specialized staff to combat organized crime instead spent its time prosecuting small business owners with book…
Danish journalists founded DICAR in 1999 to promote computer-assisted reporting (CAR) methods, establishing training programs, a membership association with 200 members, and online…
El Universal conducted a 32-question census survey of candidates before Venezuela's National Constituent Assembly elections, enabling readers to understand the elected representati…
The Tennessean investigated Tennessee's claim of above-average student test scores and found significant discrepancies between norm-referenced tests and independent assessments lik…
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 U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Safety Information System database has been updated through June 30, 1999, containing registration information on over 265,000 commercial and recreati…
The Uplink newsletter survey reveals that readers across all skill levels want more technical how-to content, prompting the publication to improve its coverage and incorporate more…
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 …
Robert Gebeloff sought solutions for parsing a semicolon-delimited ASCII data file lacking record separators, receiving eight different approaches ranging from Perl scripts to Word…
A journalism student uses computer-assisted reporting to investigate bridge conditions in Missouri, discovering that while database analysis provided initial leads, direct expert c…
Student journalists are increasingly learning computer-assisted reporting (CAR) skills to analyze data and uncover stories, with journalism schools adopting various approaches to t…
The Daily Oklahoman used geocoding and census data to assign demographic indicators like median income and educational attainment to Oklahoma City students by linking their address…
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…
A guide for journalists covering managed care and healthcare reporting, detailing key databases and sources including hospital procedures, disciplined doctors, financial records, a…
Newsday's investigative series revealed that managed-care companies employ doctors who have faced serious disciplinary action, despite promising quality care to patients. The inves…
The Dayton Daily News obtained military aviation accident databases through FOIA requests to examine safety patterns across the Air Force, Army, and Navy, discovering that analyzin…
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 2000 Census introduces significant methodological changes in how race and ethnicity are measured, making it crucial for journalists to understand these differences when reporti…
A journalist describes how computers and the internet have become essential tools for researching and reporting on the increasingly diverse religious landscape in America and globa…
Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) is hosting regional and national conferences in 2000, along with computer-assisted reporting boot camps and training programs for journali…
The 1999 IRE Awards accept entries until January 14, 2000 for journalism published or aired during 1999, featuring categories for investigative reporting, freedom of information, c…
GIS users troubleshoot why three map themes (streets, census tracts, and precincts) cannot be displayed simultaneously in ArcView, with experts diagnosing the issue as a projection…
A tech guide explaining how to properly convert latitude and longitude data from degrees/minutes/seconds format to decimal degrees for use in mapping programs, with practical examp…
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…
The Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS) dataset, maintained by the U.S. Department of Transportation since 1975, contains detailed information on fatal traffic accidents and can…
A journalist describes how computer-assisted reporting (CAR) tools, particularly Microsoft Excel, enable deeper data analysis and discovery rather than just surface-level coverage,…
The article provides resources for journalists to access data on foreign aircraft registrations following the EgyptAir crash, including commercial databases like Aviation Data Serv…
Uplink's next issue will feature stories on analyzing Census 2000 race classifications, applying computer-assisted reporting to religion coverage, and teaching CAR techniques in ac…
This tipsheet provides journalists with strategies for overcoming common excuses from data custodians who resist providing access to databases, including tactics for dealing with c…
Journalists seeking help negotiating for data access can turn to several organizations and resources, including the Reporter's Committee for Freedom of the Press, NICAR, IRE, and t…
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…
Journalists requesting data from government agencies should first gather detailed technical information about the dataset and then submit a comprehensive FOIA request that specifie…
Privatization of public data by government contractors creates barriers for journalists seeking access to records, with vendors charging excessive fees despite legal protections fo…
The article investigates ongoing issues with hazardous materials on airlines following the 1996 Valujet crash and evaluates the effectiveness of FAA's enforcement.
The article provides guidance on obtaining government databases through freedom of information requests, recommending a two-phase approach: first attempting friendly negotiations w…
A tipsheet from The Fresno Bee's Russell Clemings provides resources for investigating Year 2000 (Y2K) conversion issues, highlighting the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversi…
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…
A newsroom uses computer-assisted reporting to analyze school district violence and vandalism data, discovering that electronic data access and time management are crucial for time…
This resource guide provides tipsheets on analyzing police staffing and covering crime using computer-assisted reporting (CAR), including guidance on story ideas, data sources, and…
A journalist describes the challenges of obtaining and analyzing 911 dispatch records for a Columbus police response time investigation, including data formatting issues and missin…
Journalists across the country have discovered major inconsistencies in school violence reporting data, with schools using different definitions and methods to record incidents, re…
The IRE Resource Center houses several investigative journalism pieces examining school violence in the 1990s, including stories on firearm access, school arsons, and rising violen…
An Albuquerque newspaper obtained and combined three years of crime data from school district and city police records to reveal that district crime reports significantly underestim…
Journalists investigated school expulsion data by combining official statistics with on-the-ground reporting, uncovering significant discrepancies between state and federal gun-rel…
A journalist investigates allegations that San Francisco's District Attorney Terence Hallinan is dismissing serious criminal charges through excessive plea-bargaining, using Califo…
An Indianapolis journalist obtained Indiana's school discipline database and analyzed expulsion data school-by-school, discovering both valuable insights and important limitations …
Two upcoming journalism training events: a three-day mapping software seminar in Columbia, Missouri in October 1999 focused on geocoding and spatial analysis, and an IRE regional c…
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's investigation revealed that a Georgia town disproportionately targeted African-Americans for traffic tickets on a single road, generating $860,00…
The article discusses methods for handling pipe-delimited text files in FoxPro 2.6, which cannot natively support pipe delimiters, offering solutions including using FoxPro's built…
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…
Software programs like SPSS and Excel often produce different numerical results for statistical calculations like percentiles, and economists warn that journalists and analysts sho…
Journalists discuss the challenges of comparing SAT scores across states, noting that participation rates and demographic factors significantly affect results and that simple stati…
Federal law requires colleges to report annual crime statistics including violent crimes and drug/weapons violations, though the self-reported data should be verified against polic…
Education reporters can use publicly available school enrollment, budget, and employee data as investigative tools to analyze district performance and funding disparities, though a…
Reporters covering JFK Jr.'s plane crash used computer-assisted reporting techniques and online databases to produce compelling stories that went beyond basic coverage, including c…
Journalists covering plane crashes should develop expertise in aviation by learning how pilots think, visiting local airports, building source networks, and studying accident datab…
Uplink newsletter will feature computer-assisted reporting (CAR) topics including school violence coverage, data negotiation, and Census 2000, along with practical guidance for jou…
A New York Daily News investigation used data analysis and computer tools to expose disparities in organ transplants, revealing that African-American and Latino patients in the New…
Following JFK Jr.'s 1999 plane crash, aviation databases provided crucial context for understanding the accident, revealing spatial disorientation as a likely cause and highlightin…
This journalism newsletter announces upcoming Computer Assisted Reporting (CAR) training seminars in Columbia, Missouri covering database design and mapping software, along with in…
A journalist investigates racial disparities in death rates from preventable and treatable diseases, finding that Black men die at nearly three times the rate of white men, using C…
A journalist uses computer-assisted reporting to investigate teacher absenteeism in Lowell schools, discovering data processing errors and systemic issues hidden within 20,000 scho…
This article explains key concepts in regression analysis, including how to handle outliers, interpret t-tests, and make data transformations, while emphasizing the importance of u…
This article compares SPSS and SAS statistical software programs used in computer-assisted reporting, explaining that SPSS is more user-friendly and affordable for beginners while …
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…
This article provides guidance on crime reporting resources, including a Star Tribune investigation on repeat offenders and multiple tipsheets covering crime mapping, investigation…
Investigates lobbyist gifts to Missouri legislators, highlighting the state's lack of restrictions on such gifts and the resulting influence on lawmakers.
Examines the significant role of high school football in Georgia communities, highlighted by financial investments and social status, with data collection revealing the economic im…
Explores the issue of repeat offenders in Minnesota, focusing on the lack of prison sentences for felonies and crimes committed on probation. Uses data analysis to link multiple cr…
NICAR announces updated datasets including Uniform Crime Reports, National Bridge Inventory System, and Federal Contracts Data, along with tipsheets and resources to help journalis…
This article provides editors with practical guidance on managing computer-assisted reporting (CAR) projects through the concept, reporting, and writing stages, emphasizing thoroug…
A journalism guide providing data sources and techniques for investigating urban sprawl, including census data, building permits, property records, and mortgage information to unco…
A journalism educator explains the mathematical foundations of linear regression analysis, encouraging reporters to understand the statistical processes behind regression software …
Reporters struggling to extract data from FBI crime statistics published in Adobe Acrobat format can use Aerial software to convert Acrobat documents into editable text for spreads…
A 1999 IRE Conference handout provides journalists with practical guidance on backgrounding individuals online, starting with search engines and progressing to public records datab…
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 …
A hidden camera investigation reveals that pharmacists who make potentially fatal medication errors often escape disciplinary action because lawsuits target pharmacies rather than …
Journalists describe their process of investigating animal transactions using databases from zoos and wildlife organizations, emphasizing the importance of data verification, manua…
An investigative reporter pursues animal disposition records from accredited zoos to track where surplus animals are sent after leaving facilities, eventually seeking access to the…
The Charlotte Observer's investigative series exposed widespread construction defects in new homes across the Carolinas, revealing that overworked building inspectors and inexperie…
A journalist uses computer-assisted reporting to analyze 911 call records and death data, revealing that a private ambulance company failed to meet response time standards for card…
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.
The story explores the implications of Charlotte's potential shift from race-based busing to neighborhood schools, post a Supreme Court challenge.
This article explains three key strategies for building effective web databases for news organizations: using appropriate application server software, breaking traditional relation…
A guide to online resources for accessing satellite imagery and geospatial data from government agencies and international sources, presented at the 1999 NICAR conference.
FIPS codes are standardized federal identification numbers for geographic areas, but their inconsistent storage formats across government databases—sometimes numeric, sometimes cha…
Before diving into data analysis, journalists should visualize their data through histograms and other visual methods to understand its distribution and identify patterns or anomal…
Journalists describe how they used computer databases and laptops to track sources and conduct interviews for their book on Cold War submarine espionage, demonstrating that traditi…
The Philadelphia Inquirer's investigation into falsified crime statistics revealed that the city had systematically undercounted crimes for decades, with police finally admitting t…
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…
Reporters in Denmark founded the Danish Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting (DICAR) to promote data analysis skills and fight for better access to electronic public records.
A six-month data analysis by The Courier-Journal exposed widespread gender discrimination in Kentucky and Indiana high school sports, forcing new state compliance measures.
Paul Overberg explores how computer-assisted reporting provides efficiency by directing journalists toward specific data-driven leads for more effective shoe-leather reporting.
Periodistas de Investigación is working to bring computer-assisted reporting and investigative journalism techniques to Mexico and other Latin American countries to improve public …
Journalists at the San Antonio Express-News used GIS mapping and database software to show that 75 percent of buildings destroyed by a major flood were located within recognized fl…
A Tallahassee newsroom investigated local car dealers' claims of booming business by examining vehicle registration data, discovering sales were actually down significantly, which …
Real estate flipping—buying property and quickly reselling it for inflated profits—is a widespread scam involving appraisal fraud, straw buyers, and equity skimming that devastates…
A short report on using GIS to overlay landslide maps with building permits to identify risky construction areas before the 1998 El Nino storms.
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…
The San Jose Mercury News used computer-assisted reporting to analyze Nasdaq trading data, revealing that concentrated dealer competition forces investors to pay significantly high…
The Washington Post investigated police killings in Washington D.C. during the 1990s by examining FBI crime data, discovering that justifiable homicide records were initially missi…
Journalists investigating nursing home quality of care encountered resistance from Indiana state officials who claimed electronic census records didn't exist, but persisted using d…
A Newsday investigation revealed significant racial disparities in healthcare outcomes across the New York region, with Black patients receiving less effective treatments and more …
An investigative journalism project analyzed drinking water safety violations across all 50 states and federal agencies, finding that approximately 40,000 water systems violate saf…
The Indianapolis Star and Indianapolis News expanded their nursing home investigation beyond the initial exposé, uncovering alarming new findings including a 50% increase in violat…
Chicago Tribune reporter Mike Berens' investigation revealed that Illinois was placing mentally ill patients in nursing homes instead of institutions to save costs, leading to fede…
A Newsday investigation reveals significant racial disparities in healthcare outcomes between Black and white patients in the New York region, with Black patients receiving less ef…
Rural for-profit hospitals in Ohio are allegedly inflating the complexity of elderly patients' illnesses on Medicare claims to receive higher reimbursements, a practice known as up…
A journalism investigation used nursing home inspection data and SEC financial records to compare quality of care at six major publicly traded nursing home companies against other …
USA Today's investigation reveals that thousands of American public water systems violate safe drinking water laws with impunity because enforcement is virtually nonexistent, based…
The Tampa Tribune uncovered that a large nursing-home chain planned to evict more than 50 poor residents in Tampa. This initiated a broader investigation revealing systemic issues …
Investigative Reporters and Editors launched a redesigned website with improved navigation, new member features, and an online store, while also announcing staff changes including …
The article explains how data types work in database queries, specifically addressing a common mistake where journalists query date fields with just a year number instead of a comp…
A guide to transportation-related websites and databases organized by mode (air, rail, and road) that provide journalists with access to safety data, accident information, and regu…
This guide helps journalists investigate train and subway accidents using federal databases to identify safety patterns, problem railroads, and dangerous crossings. It provides rep…
A guide for journalists investigating potential corruption and mismanagement in state transportation departments, including curb cuts, right-of-way settlements, discretionary spend…
The NTSB's aircraft accident investigation process relies heavily on input from manufacturers and airlines who have financial incentives to minimize culpability, potentially delayi…
Aviation reporting requires meticulous research, developing reliable sources, understanding FAA and NTSB databases, and filing FOIA requests to uncover safety issues and regulatory…
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics publishes a free Directory of Transportation Data Sources that catalogs databases from dozens of federal agencies; journalists are also advi…
A guide for computer-assisted reporters on using accident and transportation safety data from federal and local sources, emphasizing the importance of data normalization and cautio…
A guide for CAR reporters on using accident and transportation safety databases, emphasizing the importance of normalizing data, understanding local versus federal sources, and ver…
IRE and NICAR are offering an advanced statistics workshop in May 1999 at UNC's journalism school, instructed by Philip Meyer and Sarah Cohen, with an optional SPSS basics session.…
Sacramento Bee reporters analyzed police crime data by subdistrict to identify neighborhood crime patterns and trends, then conducted community interviews to provide context and de…
Dateline investigated how federal agencies fail to enforce laws prohibiting the sale of unsafe vans to schools, using computerized vehicle databases to show that enforcement could …
A Philadelphia newspaper analyzes airline fare data from the U.S. Transportation Department to show that Philadelphia has the third-highest average fares among major U.S. cities, r…
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,…
Crime mapping helps readers assess neighborhood safety by visualizing either crime rates across areas or plotting specific incidents; The Virginian-Pilot successfully uses crime-ra…
A newspaper's 17-month computer-assisted reporting project to analyze Omaha crime data from 13 million mainframe records, overcoming government resistance and data cleaning challen…
An investigation into the coal mining industry's negligence of black lung disease laws, revealing routine defiance of mine dust level regulations.
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…
IRE and NICAR are launching initiatives to improve crime reporting through data-driven journalism and partnerships with public health experts, while also announcing upcoming nation…
Journalists should use inflation-adjusted figures when comparing dollar amounts across years, and the author recommends George Landau's NewsEngin tool as the most accurate and user…
A collection of web resources compiled by a journalist for crime beat reporting, including links to criminal justice databases, statistics sources, crime mapping tools, and law enf…
This journalism article provides a guide to the best online resources for accessing crime statistics and data, including major sources like the FBI, Bureau of Justice Statistics, a…
Computer-assisted reporting professionals tackle messy, unstructured datasets using various tools and techniques, with the NICAR-L community providing valuable collaborative proble…
A journalist investigating workplace deaths in Arizona using OSHA data discovered critical gaps in the database, finding 26 undocumented deaths after verification with state offici…
A Louisville jail death investigation revealed that nearly 90 percent of the jail's guards had been disciplined for workplace violations, with serious punishment rarely enforced du…
Police departments in major U.S. cities have resisted releasing electronic crime data to news organizations despite publicizing crime reductions, with Philadelphia's Daily News eve…
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.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch investigated deaths of inmates under privatized correctional health care, finding that obtaining information about doctors with disciplinary histories r…
The Philadelphia Police Department has systematically misclassified crimes to artificially lower reported crime statistics, which The Philadelphia Inquirer exposed through data ana…
The author argues for annual census counts instead of the current decade-long gap, highlighting how outdated census data makes local demographic reporting inaccurate and forces jou…
County population estimates provide valuable demographic breakdowns including age groups, births, deaths, and migration patterns that can fuel reporting on aging populations, immig…
Census data offers journalists multiple storytelling angles, from annual population updates to trend analysis comparing demographic patterns across geographic and socioeconomic lin…
Census data can be leveraged for both quick news stories and long-term investigative projects by combining population estimates with other datasets to reveal trends and disparities…
This guide helps journalists use the Census Bureau's website to find statistical data for reporting, explaining key resources like news releases, expert contacts, and major data fi…
A preparatory guide for journalists to get ready for analyzing data from the 2000 Decennial Census, emphasizing the need to develop spreadsheet and mathematical skills before the d…
NICAR's Database Library has expanded its collection with several new government datasets including mortgage disclosure records, Small Business Administration loans, arts grants, t…
NICAR journalists developed a FoxPro solution using the ADIR() function to efficiently append hundreds of identically structured database tables into a single dataset, avoiding rep…
Water quality in U.S. streams, rivers, and lakes has declined over the past decade, with agriculture being the leading source of pollution including sediment, nutrients, bacteria, …
A journalist discovers through spreadsheet analysis that Illinois had quietly weakened its emissions testing program, reducing failure rates to one-third before launching an expens…
An overview of how computer-assisted reporting (CAR) is transforming environmental journalism, providing analyses of toxic emissions and hazardous waste locations that would otherw…
The Oregonian and WNBC-TV are hiring a reporter and investigative producer respectively, while IRE maintains a resource page showcasing computer-assisted reporting projects and awa…
The NRC's public website provides daily nuclear reactor status reports that journalists can use to identify story opportunities when plants operate at reduced power or shut down un…
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…
The Toxic Release Inventory database from the EPA provides journalists with detailed information about chemical emissions from companies, accessible through the EPA website or the …
A journalist describes how public data access and database analysis revealed the extent of mountaintop removal coal mining in West Virginia, uncovering violations and complaints th…
A citizen activist group's threat of Clean Water Act lawsuits against Yakima Valley dairies exposed the region's rapid growth as Washington state's dairy capital and revealed wides…
Environmental journalists increasingly rely on computer-assisted reporting (CAR) to analyze large datasets of toxic emissions, hazardous waste locations, and chemical accidents, wi…
ArcView and MapInfo are the leading GIS software products for journalists, each offering distinct advantages in data integration and accessibility, with additional free alternative…
The article references LaFleur's mapping analysis and recommends statistical tools like the Index of Diversity and Percentiles for journalists, along with suggested reading on data…
Data journalists can use advanced statistical tools like the Gini coefficient to measure income inequality more effectively than basic descriptive statistics, allowing for meaningf…
A guide to free and paid government databases for accessing employment, economic, and demographic data at local, state, and regional levels, including resources from the Bureau of …
This article provides a detailed technical guide for converting GIS maps created in ArcView into publishable formats using Freehand and the shareware program epsConverter.
The Evansville Courier pioneered weekly crime mapping on the web to expand coverage of neighborhood crimes beyond major incidents, partnering with local police to visualize crime d…
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…
A journalism team created a comprehensive map of average daily traffic (ADT) data across the Philadelphia metropolitan area by collecting vehicle count information from state trans…
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and mapping software enable journalists to visualize complex data sets and uncover patterns that would be invisible in raw data, such as crime …
A 1998 guide for journalists on finding expert sources online through university directories, specialized databases, newsgroups, and advanced search engine techniques, emphasizing …
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…
This article explains different sampling methods for journalists analyzing large datasets, ranging from simple judgmental samples based on convenience to rigorous random samples, a…
Journalists should plan strategically before requesting school test score data by researching competitor coverage, consulting newsroom colleagues and community members, and maintai…
This article explains null values in databases—how they represent unknown or missing data and differ from zero or empty strings—and their practical implications for queries and dat…
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette created a comprehensive school statistics report ranking 100 schools across Pulaski County by developing a methodology that quantifies school performa…
Journalism schools are increasingly teaching computer-assisted reporting (CAR) skills, but many programs don't require students to take these courses despite managing editors activ…
A journalist discovers that wealthy school districts are disproportionately applying for technology funding through the FCC's E-rate program, while poorer regions lag behind, sugge…
New York news organizations routinely publish standardized test report cards that show wealthy suburban schools outperforming poor urban schools, but researchers find that many inn…
The Detroit Free Press and other major newspapers are moving beyond simple test-score rankings to produce more nuanced school report cards that account for socioeconomic factors an…
NICAR has updated its Hazardous Materials database containing Department of Transportation incident reports from 1971 through early 1998, including details on accidental releases d…
The article explains how Access and FoxPro handle Year 2000 date conversion, detailing their different assumptions for two-digit years and recommending data integrity checks when w…
A curated list of useful websites for journalists to improve their reporting, including databases, archives, and reference resources covering public records, newspapers, and consum…
Small newsrooms can access Computer Assisted Reporting (CAR) resources through in-house staff, local professionals, universities, and online guides to improve their reporting capab…
A guide to promoting computer-assisted reporting (CAR) skills at small news organizations through two strategies: making CAR tools widely available and accessible to all staff, and…
A small-town newspaper in Indiana used computer-assisted reporting to analyze traffic crash data and uncover safety issues on a busy road, revealing how poor planning and excessive…
Journalists investigating health care quality can use sampling techniques to efficiently explore large databases and paper records before committing to full data collection, testin…
This article explains how to conduct more effective Web searches by using field-specific searches, understanding record structures, and modifying search strategies when initial res…
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…
A journalism investigation into bankruptcy filings in the Tri-County area revealed that most filers were low-income individuals burdened primarily by credit card debt, not the weal…
Wilson highlights resources for accessing toxics information, including the Right-to-Know Network and Environmental Working Group's report on toxics-to-fertilizer practices, while …
An investigative journalist describes how digital distribution via email and the Web amplified her Pulitzer Prize finalist series on toxic waste contamination in fertilizer, allowi…
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 guide to building databases for investigative journalism, emphasizing that reporters can use readily available public records and even small datasets to uncover compelling storie…
A primer explaining how Boolean logic operators (OR, AND, NOT) work to broaden or narrow search results in databases and search engines.
Advanced web search techniques using Boolean operators and specialized search engine features can significantly improve search results and save time by reducing irrelevant hits. Th…
A journalist argues that news organizations must demand access to government records, highlighting obstacles like privatization, escalating costs, and privacy concerns, while also …
Visual FoxPro 2.6 users can benefit from upgrading to Visual Fox to access a dedicated datetime data type with built-in functions for easier time and date handling. The article dem…
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 …
A reference table comparing how popular computer-aided reporting (CAR) applications handle date ranges and two-digit year defaults, showing variations in start dates, end dates, an…
Real estate journalism offers significant opportunities for impactful local reporting, as home values directly affect Americans' largest financial investment and can influence cons…
An investigation by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporters uncovers a link between campaign contributions and preferential treatment by Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson.
Before requesting government data, journalists must understand file layouts, data formats, and delivery mediums to avoid costly delays and technical obstacles. The article outlines…
Microdata refers to individual-level records from surveys that allow journalists to perform unique cross-tabulations and uncover news stories, though working with it requires prope…
The Miami Herald's 1997 investigation into Miami police officers fraudulently adding their names to arrest reports to collect court overtime led to the largest disciplinary action …
A journalist recounts the two-and-a-half-year investigation into the death of an infant at a military hospital, using databases and FOIA requests to uncover systemic issues with mi…
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…
New York Times journalists investigate Columbia/HCA Hospital Corp.'s questionable business practices and use computer-assisted analysis of 30 million medical billing records to det…
This newsletter announces updates to computer-assisted reporting resources, including new CAR project listings, upcoming IRE and NICAR training events, recently acquired databases …
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…
This article outlines best practices for investigative journalism, emphasizing the importance of identifying a single overarching theme to organize complex reporting, crafting comp…
Reporters using statistics must go beyond finding correlations to establish causation, but this is challenging without controlled experiments and complete data sets. The article pr…
Campaign contributions become newsworthy when journalists dig deeper than donation amounts alone, examining financial disclosures, committee assignments, and industry-wide spending…
Computer-assisted reporters at Indiana CAR conference are tackling the challenge of implementing Intranets in newsrooms to enable data sharing among journalists, with discussion fo…
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,…
A guide to setting up an Intranet system in newsrooms to enable reporters to search public records efficiently, covering essential infrastructure requirements including TCP/IP netw…
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…
A guide to using the National Bridge Inventory database for investigative journalism on bridge conditions, explaining key data fields like sufficiency ratings and status codes whil…
A tutorial on writing a FoxPro program to automatically clean up data by standardizing character columns to uppercase and left-aligned formatting, using a scan loop and lookup tabl…
A Houston newsroom used computer-assisted reporting to analyze Texas sex offender registration data, creating a searchable database and pamphlet to help viewers identify registered…
A Nashville newsroom's data analysis of speeding tickets uncovered a vehicular homicide that had fallen through the cracks, leading to the indictment of chronic speeder Corey Jenki…
A Phoenix TV station conducted a four-month computer-assisted investigation that uncovered paramedics and EMTs who falsified their criminal histories on job applications, revealing…
Mark Lagerkvist of News 12 Long Island conducted a six-month computer-assisted investigation into pension plan theft, analyzing 6 gigabytes of government data to uncover systemic w…
An investigative reporter used data analysis to expose that Ohio's Bureau of Worker's Compensation significantly understated the average time between injury claims and payment, dis…
A journalist investigates ambulance response times in Durham, North Carolina by obtaining and analyzing a government database, demonstrating how data journalism can uncover informa…
The author reflects on the complexity and difficulty of using computers compared to other 20th-century technologies, explaining why despite the challenges of learning FoxPro, they …
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…
This journalism newsletter showcases computer-assisted reporting (CAR) initiatives across broadcast and print newsrooms, featuring award-winning journalists who use data analysis t…
A journalist describes his conversion from skepticism to enthusiasm for computer-assisted reporting, illustrating how database analysis of ambulance response times in Durham, North…
Health care reporters have access to numerous public data sources including hospital discharge databases, financial records, Medicare reports, insurance payouts, and physician disc…
NICAR has released an updated OSHA database spanning 1974-1997 containing workplace safety information organized into four relatable tables, with experienced computer-assisted repo…
This article explains how to convert date information stored as character strings in Access databases into proper date data types using a two-step process involving string function…
Journalists can overcome math anxiety by using practical techniques like rounding numbers to relatable scales, developing numerical intuition through estimation exercises, and lear…
A new journalist uses database management skills learned at NICAR training to help organize and analyze standardized test score data from Montana schools, enabling the newspaper to…
Journalists and epidemiologists gathered at the first Risky Behavior conference to share expertise in health care reporting, learning how to use statistical analysis tools and CDC …
NICAR held an inaugural advanced seminar teaching experienced computer-assisted reporting specialists how to build web-based, client/server data warehouses using Microsoft technolo…
The Miami Herald's Broward County edition demonstrates how computer-assisted reporting (CAR) can be applied quickly to everyday journalism and breaking news stories without requiri…
KCBS-TV Los Angeles conducted a computer-assisted investigation of restaurant health inspections, discovering that many establishments hadn't been inspected regularly and that low-…
Investigative reporters analyzed USDA inspection data and found that meat and poultry plants repeatedly cited for critical violations are rarely shut down by the agency, with one T…
A North Carolina TV station analyzed restaurant health inspection databases and found significant inconsistencies in grading systems, with restaurants receiving 'A' ratings despite…
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…
Joel Grover discusses the impact of an investigative series on restaurant conditions in L.A., revealing widespread sanitary issues and prompting legal changes.
NICAR provides access to a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering topics from safety and health to finance and crime, enabling journalists to investigate…
This guide provides strategies for training newspaper staff in computer-assisted reporting (CAR), emphasizing the importance of mastering the skill first, finding internal allies, …
Computer-assisted reporting (CAR) has been slow to adopt in Australia compared to the United States, with cost, management attitudes, and training time cited as barriers, though a …
Journalists must overcome their fear of mathematics and learn essential numerical skills like calculating percentages, percent changes, and per capita rates to accurately report on…
The Philadelphia Inquirer discovered errors in Pennsylvania crime statistics after initially misreporting a 17 percent crime decrease in Delaware County, leading them to conduct a …
A Dayton Daily News investigation reveals serious malpractice and safety issues at military hospitals, where inadequately licensed doctors operate with minimal oversight and legal …
The Dayton Daily News expanded its use of computer-assisted reporting by hiring a CAR resource and providing training to reporters, enabling them to quickly analyze databases for s…
A guide to free online resources and tutorials for teaching Computer-Assisted Reporting (CAR) techniques in newsrooms, covering topics from general CAR skills to statistics, databa…
Two former journalists who became university professors describe the demanding reality of academic teaching, revealing that despite its appealing reputation, professorship requires…
A first-time computer-assisted reporting instructor shares lessons learned from teaching the course, including the importance of staggered deadlines, building student enthusiasm th…
A journalist recounts nearly making a critical mathematical error in analyzing mortgage data, revealing how computer tools can mask journalists' fundamental weakness with numbers a…
Brant Houston discusses the future of training journalists in computer-assisted reporting, addressing past challenges and proposing a roadmap for the integration of advanced CAR in…
NICAR maintains an extensive collection of federal government databases spanning multiple agencies and decades, covering topics from aviation safety and medical device complaints t…
A guide for journalists covering professional sports team relocations, emphasizing the importance of treating teams as businesses and understanding the financial significance of lu…
A step-by-step guide to using FoxPro programming to match and merge data from two database tables, specifically matching neighborhood names from a lookup table to loan records base…
NICAR offers computer-assisted reporting classes designed specifically for sports reporters, focusing on data analysis techniques like understanding averages versus medians and app…
The Daily Oklahoman uses FoxPro to automate sports statistics processing, reducing the time spent on prep football standings and basketball reports from eight hours to 30 minutes p…
A Minneapolis Star-Tribune computer-assisted reporting project analyzed Minnesota DNR enforcement data from 1987-1994, revealing a 28.2% drop in citations despite increased outdoor…
This article provides practical tips for journalists navigating open records act requests, including being specific about data needs, personalizing communications to school adminis…
The Kansas City Star used eight databases including NCAA-provided data on graduation rates and legislative votes to investigate the role of money in college sports, learning valuab…
This issue highlights investigative reporting in sports, focusing on coaching salaries in Texas high schools and NCAA's role in college sports finances. It discusses the AP's local…
News organizations are using computer-assisted reporting to move beyond homers and cover sports as a business, including salary comparisons, NCAA investigations, and statistical an…
NICAR provides access to a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering topics ranging from transportation safety and healthcare to campaign finance and crime …
NICAR offers specialized computer-assisted reporting training through workshops, on-the-road seminars, and intensive boot camps at various locations, teaching journalists to analyz…
Computer-assisted reporting can connect local news to global perspectives through Internet resources such as international news databases, statistics compilations, and government d…
The article provides practical guidance on managing paper-to-database data entry using Microsoft Access, emphasizing the importance of tracking data entry through automated sequenc…
Danish journalists are using Computer-Assisted Reporting (CAR) to investigate government effectiveness and access closed databases, with Jyllands Posten leading investigations into…
European journalists, particularly in Finland, are pioneering computer-assisted reporting by requesting raw data from government agencies despite weak open records laws, with train…
IRE and NICAR are expanding computer-assisted reporting (CAR) training globally, conducting workshops across multiple countries including Mexico, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany,…
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…
An investigation into bankruptcy abuse in Sweden reveals it as a tool for economic criminality, highlighting challenges in proving cases and detailing involved business networks.
Carlos Subero, a Venezuelan journalist, introduced computer-assisted reporting (CAR) in his country with unique political analyses using SPSS software, inspiring other Latin Americ…
NICAR provides access to a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering topics from transportation safety and healthcare to campaign finance and crime statisti…
NICAR offers specialized training programs in computer-assisted reporting for journalists, including on-the-road workshops, bootcamps, and conference sessions scheduled throughout …
A Minneapolis Star-Tribune reporter used birth records database and Microsoft Access to analyze trends in parental ages in Minnesota, discovering that parents are having children l…
This article explains how to use Windows NT 4.0's AT command scheduler to automate data processing tasks like running FoxPro during off-hours, allowing more time for analysis and r…
A journalist describes their first experience using spreadsheet software to analyze six years of Dare County tourism tax data on an extremely tight deadline, discovering that fall …
This journalism handout from the IRE National Conference provides guidance on writing compelling stories using computer-assisted reporting and data analysis, emphasizing the import…
Journalists can use statistical significance tests, particularly chi-square tests, to determine whether patterns in data like employment discipline differences represent real trend…
The Gazette in Colorado Springs conducted a reader survey of over 4,000 responses to identify the most and least popular comics, using Microsoft Access and Excel to analyze prefere…
Pet license data analysis is a popular and accessible first computer-assisted reporting project for journalists, offering quick stories that generate significant reader interest an…
The Detroit Free Press conducted a computer-assisted analysis of movie reviews from seven major newspapers, tracking ratings for over 200 films from January to March 1996 to compar…
Janet Roberts discusses how the Wilmington Morning Star utilizes computer-assisted reporting (CAR) to enhance feature stories with data analysis, such as the challenges African-Ame…
This article showcases the diverse applications of Computer-Assisted Reporting (CAR) beyond traditional investigative journalism, featuring examples from multiple newsrooms includi…
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…
NICAR offers specialized computer-assisted reporting training workshops, bootcamps, and seminars at various locations throughout 1997-1998, teaching journalists how to extract data…
News organizations must restructure their traditional hierarchical management to break down barriers between newsrooms, libraries, and training departments to effectively manage th…
This column demonstrates how to use string functions in Access to split fields, building on similar techniques previously covered for FoxPro, a practical skill for anyone working w…
A journalist questions the methodology of adjusting home prices for inflation, arguing that housing prices shouldn't be adjusted using traditional inflation measures since homes ar…
This IRE conference handout guide provides education reporters with computer-assisted reporting (CAR) techniques to investigate and compare school district data, including demograp…
Baltimore Sun reporters discovered that disadvantaged schools with the lowest test scores and highest poverty rates are staffed disproportionately with inexperienced teachers, limi…
Detroit Free Press reporters obtained salary data for over 22,000 Detroit Public School employees to investigate principals earning extra compensation for after-school activities a…
Journalists across multiple newsrooms have uncovered significant issues in public school systems, including middle-income student exodus, uncertified substitute teachers, unequal t…
NICAR provides access to numerous federal government databases covering topics ranging from medical devices and aviation safety to campaign finance and small business loans, enabli…
NICAR offers specialized computer-assisted reporting training through on-the-road sessions at various newsrooms and conferences, as well as intensive week-long bootcamps at their M…
Electronic filing of campaign finance reports is gaining momentum across states, potentially eliminating the need for time-consuming data entry in journalism investigations. Howeve…
The article provides practical methods for journalists to conduct meaningful investigative stories in limited time on topics like education achievement gaps, population trends, and…
A guide to online search engines and databases useful for journalists to background and locate individuals, including people finders, email locators, and archived newsgroup searche…
Reporters at the Omaha World-Herald used regression analysis to evaluate school effectiveness by comparing actual test scores to predicted scores based on student demographics, the…
A newsroom implements computer-assisted reporting (CAR) at The Free Lance-Star to investigate local issues through data analysis, resulting in investigations into police chases, la…
A University of Tennessee journalism class partnered with the LaFollette Press newspaper to produce an eight-page special report on Campbell County schools using state education da…
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…
Journalists at small newspapers are forming computer-assisted reporting networks to share training, data, and resources, with examples including CARwash in Washington state and sim…
Loraine Anderson discusses how the Traverse City Record-Eagle manages computer-assisted reporting with limited resources, sharing tips for small newspapers.
NICAR provides access to a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering aviation, transportation, finance, health care, and crime data from the 1970s through 1…
NICAR offers computer-assisted reporting training for journalists through various workshops, bootcamps, and on-the-road sessions throughout 1997-1998, teaching skills like data tra…
The San Jose Mercury News applied the USA Today Index of Ethnic Diversity to analyze population changes in their region, using a probability-based formula to measure how diverse di…
This article highlights useful internet resources for journalists, including sites for locating statistics from federal agencies and accessing news archives from newspapers across …
MSNBC investigated potential bid-rigging in FCC spectrum auctions by analyzing massive datasets to uncover whether telecommunications companies used coded bid amounts to signal com…
The National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting is expanding its databases and data analysis services for journalists, offering access to government records on health, safet…
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette developed a straightforward methodology for ranking schools by combining multiple quality indicators like test scores, teacher training, and diversity…
The Uplink newsletter highlights investigative journalism stories from outlets like the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, which can be accessed through the IRE …
The Charlotte Observer conducted a data-driven investigation using state databases to reveal widespread child abuse and neglect in North Carolina day cares, finding that over 100 c…
Plain Dealer reporters investigated FDA inspection records spanning two decades and found that more than half of drug experiments lacked adequate informed consent from human subjec…
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.
This journalism newsletter features computer-assisted reporting (CAR) techniques used by various news organizations to investigate topics including public housing, FDA procedures, …
NICAR and The Associated Press offer specialized computer-assisted reporting training through workshops, bootcamps, and conferences for journalists at various locations throughout …
IRE Executive Director Brant Houston announces an upcoming computer-assisted reporting (CAR) day at the National IRE Conference in Phoenix on June 12, featuring 20 panels and works…
This article outlines practical ways journalists can use spreadsheets to investigate and analyze public records, including employee payroll data, workplace injuries, budget allocat…
This article explains how to use FoxPro batch files and SQL queries to automate repetitive data processing tasks, specifically demonstrating how to add and modify table fields with…
Seattle Times reporter Byron Acohido won a Pulitzer Prize for his investigative series on safety problems with Boeing 737 rudder-control systems, uncovering a pattern of crashes an…
A journalist describes using databases, mailing lists, and online communities to research fisheries management, discovering that regulatory efforts consistently lagged behind fish …
This column explains three statistical methods—relative risk, odds ratios, and attributable risk—for extracting meaningful insights from crosstab data, using C-section rates among …
The Palm Beach Post discovered that Florida's 1996 crime statistics were significantly flawed because the state included police departments that failed to submit reports or submitt…
An investigation into the global status of fisheries by The Times-Picayune exposed alarming trends and the effects of market pressures on fish populations. This led to the Pulitzer…
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…
Newsday's newsroom mobilized quickly to cover the TWA Flight 800 crash. Reporters used computer-assisted reporting (CAR) to gather data from aviation databases, which helped give a…
Two major newspapers are hiring technology-focused journalists: the Orange County Register seeks a technology reporter, while the Dayton Daily News is recruiting a computer-assiste…
NICAR maintains a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering aviation, transportation, finance, health, crime, and safety data, available for investigative j…
NICAR and affiliated organizations offer specialized computer-assisted reporting training through on-the-road sessions, bootcamps, and conferences for journalists to enhance their …
The article highlights free government data sources from the 1990s that provide demographic information at the county level, including population estimates, migration patterns, and…
This article guides journalists on finding, interpreting, and using statistics responsibly to provide context and depth to their reporting, while warning against the misuse of data…
A journalist demonstrates how to use FoxPro database software to automate the creation of 133 personalized form letters with different addresses, saving hours of manual typing by u…
Journalists increasingly use statistics and data analysis tools like crosstabs to report stories based on comprehensive records rather than surveys, requiring different analytical …
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…
Nora Paul's column highlights internet resources for finding statistics, while journalists on the NICAR-L listserv recommend various statistics books and tools useful for reporters…
This guide explains how to properly analyze population data in computer-assisted reporting, emphasizing the importance of visualizing data through plots and calculating basic descr…
An investigation reveals that some hospital transplant programs secretly turned away donor organs matched to waiting patients without disclosing this to patients, who mistakenly be…
The article announces an upcoming IRE national conference in Phoenix and lists job opportunities in computer-assisted reporting at the Associated Press and The Baltimore Sun.
NICAR provides access to a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering aviation, transportation, crime, finance, health care, and safety records, useful for i…
NICAR and The Associated Press offer specialized computer-assisted reporting training through on-the-road sessions, bootcamps at their Missouri headquarters, and international prog…
This article provides sports journalists with five data-driven reporting ideas to improve coverage, including analyzing play-by-play statistics, tracking athletic spending and Titl…
The NashCAR computer-assisted reporting conference in Nashville showcased significant advances in journalism technology, featuring over 50 panels and 140 computers for hands-on tra…
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…
A journalism graduate describes his early career at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as a newsroom researcher, sharing lessons learned from data-driven reporting projects on topics rang…
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…
A college journalist used computerized police records, mortgage data, and census information to debunk persistent negative stereotypes about Lincoln's Malone neighborhood, revealin…
Sports reporters are underutilizing computer-assisted reporting despite sports being data-driven, with Tom Witosky of the Des Moines Register demonstrating how CAR tools like datab…
A newsroom explains how they build and maintain comprehensive crime databases from police departments and government agencies, then use data analysis to identify trends, track crim…
This article provides guidance on using publicly available crime and safety data from sources like the FBI and local police to evaluate community safety, track crime trends, and in…
Naomi Aoki discusses efforts by The Virginian-Pilot to provide readers with a more accurate picture of crime trends in the South Hampton Roads region through regular reporting on c…
Brant Houston has been named IRE executive director and plans to strengthen connections between IRE and NICAR programs. The newsletter features profiles of recent and soon-to-be gr…
NICAR offers a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering transportation safety, financial records, crime statistics, and regulatory compliance data from var…
NICAR offers specialized journalism training programs including on-the-road workshops, bootcamps, and conference seminars focused on computer-assisted reporting skills such as data…
NashCAR '97 is a national conference in Nashville offering over 50 training sessions on computer-assisted reporting techniques, including hands-on classes in spreadsheets, database…
FoxPro's DELETE TAG feature can be used as a marking system to identify and filter records in a table without adding columns, allowing journalists to sort and categorize data like …
A local news team used computer-assisted reporting to investigate funding disparities in school field trips across six districts, finding that similar-sized districts spent varying…
IRE launched a satellite feed on February 4-5 showcasing television investigative stories that used computer-assisted reporting techniques, featuring stories on topics like pension…
NashCAR, a national computer-assisted reporting conference in Nashville (March 6-9), will feature new panels, speakers, and comprehensive training reflecting the dramatic growth an…
The Census Bureau is a valuable ongoing source of data for journalists beyond its decennial headcount, offering accessible information on demographics, housing, business, and socia…
The Associated Press is modernizing its approach to data-driven journalism by building a national computer lab and database distribution system to enable reporters across all burea…
A journalist used the Fatal Accident Reporting System database to investigate whether fatal crashes involving older drivers were increasing disproportionately in New Jersey, compar…
A collection of short items including a story about an Indiana court clerk's refusal to release public records and multiple job listings for journalists with CAR skills.
NICAR provides access to a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering aviation, transportation, finance, health, crime, and safety records for investigative …
NICAR and the Associated Press offer specialized journalism training through on-the-road sessions, national conferences, and intensive week-long bootcamps covering data analysis, s…
The schedule and panel descriptions for the 1997 National Computer-Assisted Reporting Conference, featuring hands-on training and expert-led sessions on diverse CAR topics.
The Sun-Sentinel analyzed 70,000 pawn slips from Fort Lauderdale in 1995 to investigate the link between pawnshops and property crime, finding that 39 of the top 50 frequent pawner…
A technical tip explaining how to use FoxPro's 'copy structure extended' command to document database layouts and create data dictionaries.
A Gannett newspaper series utilized a state transportation database to reveal that heavy school buses and commercial trucks were routinely violating weight limits on aging bridges.
NICAR announces Sarah Cohen as its new training director and previews the upcoming NashCAR conference scheduled for March 6-9 in Nashville with prominent CAR journalists and extens…
This article lists various CD-ROM resources available to journalists for backgrounding people, researching government budgets, analyzing crime statistics, and mapping locations.
The article provides journalists with valuable online resources for background research on people and businesses, including tools maintained by news researchers and prospect resear…
This article explores how the Internet and commercial on-line services have revolutionized investigative reporting by making complex background research accessible and affordable.
NashCAR, NICAR's 1997 national conference in Nashville (March 6-9), will offer comprehensive computer-assisted reporting training for journalists at all levels, including sessions …
NICAR provides access to a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering aviation safety, elections, healthcare, transportation accidents, crime statistics, and…
NICAR and The Associated Press offer specialized journalism training in data analysis, spreadsheet building, and database management at various locations and conferences throughout…
An aerospace reporter discovered a 20-year-old Boeing 747 crash near Madrid through aviation industry publications and FAA records, which revealed a potential link to the TWA Fligh…
A journalist used NASA's Air Safety Reporting System database to uncover near-miss airplane incidents at Newark Airport, demonstrating how this anonymous reporting system can revea…
Free aviation data websites like Landings.com offer FAA Service Difficulty Reports but may be incomplete compared to full databases obtained through FOIA requests, with the officia…
Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) is seeking an executive director to lead the organization's training and professional development initiatives, requiring a journalist or e…
NICAR announces an expanded program for 2000 including new Uplink columns on statistical methods, affordable databases for journalists, intermediate and advanced seminars on data a…
The National Association of Fleet Managers publishes a benchmarking guide that helps reporters evaluate the performance of public service vehicle fleets, including those used by la…
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…
A guide to learning FoxPro string functions through hands-on experimentation, using the practical example of splitting name fields separated by commas to help journalists master co…
The American Medical Association website now features a searchable database where users can look up doctors' addresses and basic credentials through the AMA Health Insight section.
Journalists investigating emergency medical services should examine whether paramedics are deployed on fire trucks and consult ER doctors and the American Heart Association, while …
A report on EMT response times in Hillsborough County, Florida, reveals the EMS system's failures in meeting national goals, influenced by computer-assisted reporting techniques.
Cleveland Plain Dealer reporters discovered that Level II hospitals were illegally accepting severely premature babies to increase profits, resulting in significantly higher death …
A series titled 'Vital Signs' investigates the health of New Jersey hospitals, spurring significant discussion and action within the state's medical establishment.
A new hands-on seminar scheduled for January 24-26 will teach advanced database skills including data cleanup, database design, and front-end construction for experienced database …
David Herzog, the computer-assisted reporting editor at the Allentown Morning Call, is departing in December to join the Providence Journal-Bulletin as a CAR specialist on their in…
NICAR offers a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering transportation safety, finance, health care, crime statistics, and regulatory compliance, with data…
NICAR and The Associated Press offer specialized journalism training through on-the-road sessions, conferences, and intensive bootcamps covering data analysis, spreadsheets, databa…
IRE Executive Director Rosemary Armao has announced her resignation to return to active journalism at the Baltimore Sun, prompting a search for her replacement.
Johnny Dataseed reflects on his year as NICAR's training director, traveling the country teaching computer-assisted reporting techniques to journalists while balancing the challeng…
A Gannett Newspapers analysis of 2,175 personal ads from northern New York City suburbs reveals that men and women continue to approach dating with fundamentally different prioriti…
This article provides an introduction to FoxPro's Report Writer tool, demonstrating how to create formatted reports from database queries using a night burglary data example and st…
A comprehensive guide to online resources and tools for using the Freedom of Information Act to obtain information from government agencies, including reference lists, discussion g…
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…
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…
Journalists facing freedom of information obstacles can seek legal assistance through the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press hotline, email, or website, or contact the Ju…
Journalists face significant obstacles when attempting to obtain electronic records and databases from government agencies, which often cite prohibitive fees, privacy concerns, and…
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.
NICAR provides access to a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering topics including campaign finance, healthcare, transportation safety, crime statistics,…
NICAR offers specialized training in data journalism and computer-assisted reporting through seminars, conferences, and intensive bootcamps at various locations throughout 1996-199…
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…
NICAR announces plans to expand its computer-assisted reporting programs and services, including increasing publication frequency, adding new seminars, hosting a national conferenc…
A guide for journalists on using basic mathematics, particularly percentages and percent change, to accurately report numerical information in news stories, with practical examples…
Tim Henderson shares a tip for transposing data in Excel by using Copy and Paste Special with the Transpose option, noting that the Cut function does not work for this operation.
This article explains how to use custom FoxPro functions (DateTime, DateTimeDiff, and Hours) to calculate elapsed time between two date-time combinations, which is useful for analy…
Fresno Bee reporters analyzed California test scores against socioeconomic factors, finding that some schools with disadvantaged students outperformed wealthier districts, challeng…
A San Francisco Chronicle investigation using database analysis revealed that the INS rarely punishes employers who hire undocumented immigrants, with over 7,000 cases resulting in…
In 1994, Times-Picayune reporters Mark Schleifstein, John McQuaid, and Bob Marshall investigated troubled Gulf of Mexico fisheries using computer-assisted reporting and internet re…
The EPA's Toxic Release Inventory database provides accessible, detailed information on chemical emissions from companies nationwide, making it an excellent resource for computer-a…
A journalist investigates bird deaths at California wind farms, discovering that nearly 680 birds of prey were killed over three years, with deaths increasing annually despite the …
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…
NICAR provides access to a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering topics including campaign finance, health care, transportation safety, crime statistics…
NICAR and the Associated Press offer specialized training programs in computer-assisted journalism across multiple cities and conferences, teaching reporters to use databases, spre…
IRE and NICAR have published '100 Computer-Assisted Stories,' a collection of accounts from newspaper and television reporters about their investigative projects using computer too…
The National Fire Information Reporting System is a comprehensive database containing detailed fire incident data, but its complexity, manual data entry errors, and inconsistencies…
David Migoya explains how he used the National Fire Information Reporting System (NFIRS) to investigate fire statistics, land baron ownership, and the effectiveness of smoke detect…
Richard Mullins provides technical instructions on how to use SQL keywords and functions in Microsoft Access and FoxPro to retrieve top-ranked data results.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune education team successfully used spreadsheets on a tight deadline to analyze and compare eighth-grade test scores across 300 school districts.
IRE, NICAR and The Richmond Times-Dispatch are hosting a Computer-Assisted Reporting Workshop for Minority Journalists in Richmond, Virginia on November 15-17, offering hands-on tr…
Penny Loeb from U.S. News & World Report shares lessons learned from implementing computer-assisted reporting (CAR) in a newsroom, including the importance of mission statements, t…
Broadcast journalists struggling to get management support for computer-assisted reporting programs can start by investing in their own equipment and beginning with small projects …
This article explores different newsroom models for implementing computer-assisted reporting at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Boston Globe, Baltimore Sun, and Seattle Times.
NICAR provides access to a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering topics including campaign finance, healthcare, transportation safety, crime statistics,…
Pedro Enrique Armendares has been appointed as the training director for a new investigative reporting project in Mexico, supported by a grant from the McCormick Tribune Foundation…
Brant Houston discusses the various models newsrooms use to manage computer-assisted reporting and provides updates on NICAR initiatives, including the NashCAR conference and train…
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 journalist investigates the Federal Maritime Commission's claim that a shipping cartel agreement would save importers and exporters $65 million, discovering the agency based this…
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune used HMDA data to investigate racial disparities in home lending, debunking bank claims of improved performance. The study showed that despite aggressiv…
An investigation in Philadelphia revealed that SBA loans were disproportionately awarded to businesses in wealthier neighborhoods rather than struggling communities. The reporter u…
This article provides a comprehensive list of story ideas and methodologies for business reporters to use computer-assisted reporting (CAR). It covers the use of spreadsheets, data…
NICAR is offering week-long bootcamps in computer-assisted reporting skills, including spreadsheet and database training, with the next session scheduled for January 5-10 in Columb…
NICAR provides access to a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering topics including election contributions, healthcare, transportation safety, crime stati…
A comprehensive guide to free, searchable online databases available to newsrooms, including telephone directories, business listings, legal databases, mapping tools, and specializ…
Drew Sullivan of the Associated Press highlights NameBase, a free research tool from Public Information Research that indexes names from various sources covering topics like CIA ac…
The article provides practical tips for efficiently loading tape data into a PC database program, emphasizing the importance of thorough testing to catch formatting errors before p…
IRE, NICAR, and The Richmond Times-Dispatch are offering a Computer-Assisted Reporting Workshop for minority journalists in Richmond, Virginia from November 15-17, featuring hands-…
NICAR has expanded its computer-assisted reporting bootcamp programs from six-day immersive courses to include road seminars and specialized training, with over 225 journalists com…
An education reporter conducts her first CAR project analyzing employment data from Dutch universities, discovering that while cutting expenses, university boards ironically increa…
The Database of Databases project aims to help Canadian journalists and academics access government and organizational databases for computer-assisted reporting, addressing challen…
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…
A journalism resource guide explaining challenges in accessing international data electronically and recommending key U.S. government sources including the Census Bureau, State Dep…
Periodistas de Investigacion aims to establish an IRE-like organization in Mexico to promote investigative journalism and CAR training.
IRE and NICAR dedicate this newsletter issue to international journalism resources, featuring experiences from journalists in the Netherlands, Canada, and Denmark, plus reviews of …
WDIV-TV in Detroit is hiring three producers for its I-Team, Consumer Unit, and Medical team, requiring television news experience and investigative reporting skills for the I-Team…
NICAR provides access to a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering topics including campaign finance, healthcare, transportation safety, crime statistics,…
The article examines how journalists are increasingly using the Internet as a reporting tool, highlighting both successful examples and cautionary tales of misinformation, while pr…
The Federal Railroad Administration provides downloadable databases on train accidents, casualties, and grade-crossing incidents that journalists can use to investigate railroad sa…
An investigation into IRS prosecution data reveals significant geographic disparities in tax fraud prosecutions, with some regions like Roanoke, Virginia experiencing dramatically …
Journalists can develop airline safety indices using FAA data to help predict crashes and measure relative safety across carriers, moving beyond simple rankings to create meaningfu…
Journalists covering the ValuJet plane crash used FAA databases and aviation records to investigate the accident, but encountered challenges including data quality issues, inconsis…
NICAR instructor Richard Mullins emphasizes that all databases contain flaws and errors, such as data entry mistakes by government workers and incomplete information that even skil…
A correction by the Atlanta Constitution Journal highlights the risks of computer-assisted reporting, as the newspaper incorrectly ranked Atlanta's violent crime rate first when it…
Computer-assisted reporting enables journalists to produce detailed, fact-rich stories but also increases the speed at which errors can be made; this issue explores common CAR mist…
A Syracuse University research group analyzed IRS criminal prosecution data and found that taxpayers in some American communities face charges at dramatically different rates, thou…
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…
This newsletter highlights IRE journalism contest winners, available government census data for investigative reporting, staff promotions at NICAR, IRS criminal prosecution dispari…
NICAR offers a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering campaign finance, healthcare, transportation, crime, loans, and other areas from various agencies, …
Orange County Register reporters uncovered illegal egg transfers at a fertility clinic without patients' consent, using creative investigative techniques including database constru…
This guide explains the key differences between web indexes and search engines, helping reporters understand when to use each tool: indexes organize sites by general topic and requ…
The Washington Post hosted a five-day computer-assisted reporting seminar led by Post experts and NICAR trainers, aiming to make CAR a routine practice in the newsroom. Executive e…
The National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting will conduct 52 seminars across more than 25 states between January and June 1996, training over 1,000 journalists in compute…
An investigative journalist uncovers that Circle K's advertised partnership to sell UNOCAL 76 gasoline was misleading, as the gas was actually still coming from the same non-UNOCAL…
A Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel investigation by reporters Fred Schulte and Jenni Bergal exposed widespread fraud and poor care in Florida Medicaid HMOs, revealing that executives e…
Kansas City reporters investigated suburban sprawl and found that many homes in the metro area failed to keep pace with inflation between 1980-1990, while also discovering systemic…
A Pulitzer Prize finalist investigation by Dayton Daily News reporters revealed that the U.S. military systematically shielded hundreds of sex offenders, including child molesters,…
The Orange County Register's investigation into fraudulent egg transfers at UC-Irvine's fertility center required innovative reporting techniques to locate victims and obtain medic…
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…
This issue of Uplink highlights 1996 Pulitzer Prize winners and finalists who used computer-assisted reporting (CAR) to produce their award-winning journalism, featuring interviews…
Instructions for subscribing to IRE/NICAR listservs via email and accessing journalism resources through CompuServe's Journalism Forum.
The Corpus Christi Caller-Times is hiring a computer-assisted reporter/coordinator with at least two years of experience in database management, data cleaning, and investigative jo…
The Chicago Reporter created a custom database to track hate crimes in Chicago, revealing trends and failures in state data collection.
Two-day journalism seminars offering panel discussions and hands-on training in spreadsheet and database skills are being held at seven locations across the United States in May an…
IRE is donating $2,000 from Awards Contest entry fees to the Fund for Investigative Journalism, which has supported IRE members' investigative reporting for 25 years.
NICAR provides a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering campaign finance, healthcare, transportation, crime, loans, and other public records available fo…
This article provides a step-by-step guide for downloading and parsing columnar text files from the Census Bureau website into Excel, explaining how to use Excel's Text Import Wiza…
Brant Houston reviews two new books designed to help broadcast and student journalists navigate the Internet and online resources for reporting.
The National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting reviews its accomplishments over two years, including expanded staff, training of 5,000 journalists through 125 seminars, and…
Jim Morris recounts his experience utilizing Federal Railroad Administration safety databases to identify hazardous railroad crossings.
Aaron Elstein describes using FoxPro to analyze Illinois state workforce reports, uncovering racial disparities in government hiring and management.
Carnegie Mellon University's Statistics Department offers reporters a comprehensive resource for learning data analysis through real-world examples, including sports statistics, pu…
Neill Borowski explains how to use 'location quotients' to measure industry concentration in local economies compared to national averages.
Jeff Green of The Oakland Press built his own crime database by collecting data directly from 60 local police departments in Oakland County, finding it cleaner and more accurate th…
The article recommends that computer-assisted reporting specialists learn statistical analysis software like SAS or SPSS despite their high cost and steep learning curve, due to th…
This article provides a comprehensive overview of how statistical techniques like linear regression and logistic regression can be applied to journalistic investigations.
The Orange County Register won the Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting on fertility fraud, while Raleigh News & Observer reporters won for public service journalism examinin…
Paul Adrian joins WBNS-TV in Columbus as a full-time investigative reporter, starting April 1, with his computer skills and technical expertise helping to secure the position. The …
Paul Adrian joins WBNS-TV as an investigative reporter using computer skills, while Writer-L listserv relocates to nicar.org for feature and literary journalism discussions.
Television stations are increasingly establishing online presence with rich content including news scripts, investigative reports, editorials, photos, and searchable archives, movi…
Investigative Reporters and Editors is seeking a training director for a new nonprofit educational organization in Mexico focused on journalist training, with the position offering…
This article teaches journalists how to convert improperly formatted date data in FoxPro databases into proper date columns that enable calendar calculations and date-based queries…
NICAR has added Postgres95, a free relational database manager, to its website as a backend SQL server that offers advantages over single-user systems like Access and FoxPro for mu…
NICAR and IRE have expanded their websites with new searchable databases of investigative journalism resources, including the IRE Resource Center and Uplink abstracts, while also h…
KPNX investigated lead paint hazards in Phoenix by analyzing Census data to identify ZIP codes with the highest percentage of older homes built before 1978, then tested playgrounds…
Radio reporters at NPR and WBUR use computer-assisted reporting (CAR) and spreadsheets to analyze numerical data for campaign finance and political stories, translating complex num…
This article highlights two investigative journalism projects by KSTP-TV using Computer-Assisted Reporting (CAR) techniques: one exposing unlicensed home remodelers defrauding Minn…
A Dateline NBC investigation reveals that thousands of aging American dams pose serious safety risks to nearby communities, with many lacking proper emergency plans and regular ins…
The article discusses the growing adoption of computer-assisted reporting (CAR) among broadcasters, illustrating through anecdotes how TV journalists are applying these techniques …
The National Institute of Computer-Assisted Reporting and Medill School of Journalism are hosting a two-day workshop on March 23-24 at Northwestern University for broadcast journal…
Investigative Reporters and Editors is recruiting a training director for a new nonprofit educational organization in Mexico aimed at professional journalist development, with the …
NICAR provides access to a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering transportation safety, financial transactions, crime statistics, and regulatory complia…
Brant Houston's 'Computer-Assisted Reporting: A Practical Guide' is an introductory handbook that teaches journalists how to use computer tools and online databases for reporting, …
This collection of scholarly sources documents the evolution of computer technology adoption in newspaper journalism, from early database utilization in the 1980s through computer-…
A 1994-1995 University of Miami survey reveals that U.S. daily newspapers predominantly used Intel 486 processors, DOS with Windows operating systems, and increasingly adopted CD-R…
A 1995 survey of newsroom computer-assisted reporting (CAR) software usage reveals that Xy Write dominated word processing, Excel led spreadsheets, Paradox was preferred for databa…
Online service usage in U.S. newsrooms grew 7 percent from 1994 to 1995, with 64 percent of daily newspapers now using some form of online tools, though large newspapers adopted th…
Maptitude is an affordable mapping software offering extensive U.S. and world geographic data with Census information, though it has limitations including no Mac version, lower map…
CIESIN is a free online repository offering detailed census maps and demographic data that can be imported into Atlas GIS, with step-by-step instructions for downloading map files …
Desktop mapping software is becoming an increasingly valuable tool for journalists conducting computer-assisted reporting, allowing them to visualize geographic patterns in data th…
This issue of Uplink explores how newsrooms use desktop mapping programs to identify geographic patterns and create analytical maps that help visualize stories, covering available …
The National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting has appointed Neil Reisner as training director to oversee seminars that train thousands of journalists annually. Reisner bri…
A guide to using the Internet for campaign coverage, highlighting key websites and resources for issue backgrounds, voting records, and financial disclosures.
New York Daily News reporters investigated the firefighter disability pension system using freedom of information requests and data analysis, revealing that half of ex-firefighters…
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 …
Journalists can build their own databases from hard-copy documents when government agencies won't provide electronic data, using options like professional data-entry services, temp…
A reporter in the U.S. Virgin Islands used computer analysis of court records to expose systemic failures in the criminal justice system, finding that few violent crimes resulted i…
A Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation by Melvin Claxton at the Virgin Islands Daily News exposed systemic failures in the Caribbean territory's criminal justice system by using co…
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…
The new U.S. Patent and Trademark Information site offers improved search capabilities over its predecessor but has limitations, including the ability to search only one year at a …
A St. Paul Pioneer Press investigation found that driving instructors in Minnesota have similar or slightly worse traffic violation records compared to the general population, desp…
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…
NICAR provides access to numerous federal government databases covering elections, aviation, finance, crime, transportation, and small business data, with instructions for connecti…
Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) received a $544,000 grant to establish a Mexican Reporting Institute focused on training journalists in advanced reporting skills and comp…
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…
Journalists provide guidance on how to investigate nonprofit organizations for executive enrichment, hidden compensation, and misuse of tax-exempt status through examination of sal…
Swedish IRE has launched MEDIA, a European listserv connecting journalists interested in investigative reporting and computer-assisted reporting, with bilingual members available t…
Carol Napolitano is joining the Omaha World-Herald as a computer-assisted reporting specialist on their new public affairs reporting team, bringing her CAR expertise from her previ…
Jennifer LaFleur, a prominent computer-assisted reporting educator who trained hundreds of journalists at NICAR, has transitioned to a new role as database editor at the San Jose M…
Journalists offer practical strategies for analyzing OSHA workplace safety data, including using ZIP codes for location specificity, comparing data with state records to identify g…
OSHA provides four interconnected data tables tracking workplace accidents, hazardous substances, company violations, and site information that can be analyzed together using activ…
Journalists used databases and public records to investigate workplace safety violations and deaths, revealing that OSHA failed to investigate most workplace fatalities and that la…
NICAR provides access to a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering elections, aviation, finance, crime, safety, transportation, and education for investig…
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…
An AP investigation found that three-quarters of U.S. workplaces where serious accidents occurred had never been inspected by OSHA during the 1990s, with the agency spending more t…
An exploration of how government fines for workplace safety violations often undervalue the loss of life and limb. The article references reports uncovering minimal fines for fatal…
This journalism newsletter discusses upcoming election coverage resources through an IRE and NICAR conference focused on campaign contributions and polling analysis, while also fea…
A guide is available from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press on how to access and report on computerized government records at the state and local level.
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…
IRE offers several investigative journalism guides including books on reporting techniques, finding sources, and computer-assisted reporting methods, with prices ranging from $5 to…
The article explains how to search the U.S. Patent Office's database to find patents from your state or region, using Tennessee as an example, and demonstrates the search technique…
Microsoft Access is gaining popularity in newsrooms as a database management tool for computer-assisted reporting, offering a simpler query interface than competitors like FoxPro a…
The Asbury Park Press investigated banking discrimination in New Jersey by analyzing branch locations against commercial business data, finding that minority communities had signif…
Dayton Daily News reporters Russell Carollo and Cheryl Reed uncovered that hundreds of military convicts were collecting paychecks while imprisoned, totaling over $1 million monthl…
CAR Rock '95, a four-day computer-assisted reporting conference in Cleveland, attracted nearly 500 journalists for over 60 panels and 80 training sessions covering data analysis an…
The Chicago Sun-Times is hiring an experienced computer-assisted reporting journalist with at least three years of experience in data analysis and government database research. Int…
Madison County, Iowa's bridges are aging and in poor condition, with 85 requiring rehabilitation and 59 needing replacement at an estimated cost of $4.5 million, though the famous …
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…
NICAR is organizing three regional seminars in 1996 to provide free computer-assisted reporting training for minority journalists, covering spreadsheets, databases, and online reso…
NICAR maintains an extensive collection of federal government databases spanning elections, aviation, finance, crime, and education that journalists can access for investigative re…
The Asbury Park Press analyzed a database of amusement park injuries from New Jersey's Department of Labor, spending months obtaining records from an outdated computer system and m…
The Columbus Dispatch's investigation into municipal court data exposed widespread injustices including illegal jailing of poor people and secret cash deals for drunk drivers, requ…
An investigative series exposes the misuse of a court database, unveiling illegal practices such as the jailing of poor individuals and secret cash deals to avoid convictions in Oh…
A journalism newsletter highlighting resources for reporters, including government bulletin boards for tracking piracy and organ transplant data, Commerce Department's consolidated…
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…
Government agencies including the Census Bureau and FDIC are increasingly making reports and databases available exclusively online to save money and distribute information faster,…
A curated directory of online resources for covering health-care insurance and Medicare policy, including government databases, statistical reports, historical documents, and relev…
The United Network for Organ Sharing, a federally funded non-profit organization, maintains a comprehensive online database providing public access to organ transplant data includi…
Journalists in Florida used databases to expose serious problems in Medicare and Medicaid HMOs, including poor access to care and high patient complaint rates, leading to state inv…
Cleveland Plain Dealer reporters used state birth and death certificate databases to uncover failures in Ohio's system for routing high-risk pregnancies and premature infants to ap…
IRE conference attendees can purchase cassette tapes of presentations and handouts from the Miami national conference through Sound Images and the IRE resource center. A list of co…
An investigative series by The Hartford Courant explores the state of drinking water in Connecticut, revealing that a significant portion of the population is supplied by systems w…
The Wall Street Journal used computer-assisted reporting to analyze FDIC bank filings and reveal that major banks lend significantly less to small businesses than their advertising…
KPNX-TV in Phoenix is hiring an experienced reporter with at least three years of journalism experience, including expertise in computer-assisted reporting.
A New Bedford newspaper reporter describes how using government websites helped him quickly find sources and information for stories about FCC licensing and disability access compl…
Many university journalism programs have not adopted computer-assisted reporting education despite its proven benefits, facing obstacles like equipment costs, institutional resista…
Many university journalism programs have not adopted computer-assisted reporting (CAR) training despite its proven value, with barriers including equipment costs, institutional res…
The article describes how media organizations, government agencies, and online resources provided coverage and background information about the Oklahoma City bombing, including det…
IRE's 20th annual National Conference in Miami (June 8-11) is offering an Optional Day on June 8 focused on computer-assisted reporting (CAR) across various journalism beats, featu…
Philip Meyer, a Pulitzer Prize-winning pioneer of computer-assisted reporting, shares five statistical techniques journalists can use to strengthen their stories, including adjusti…
A curated list of recommended books for journalists to improve their numerical literacy and data analysis skills, covering topics from news statistics to mathematical understanding…
This article explains three essential mathematical formulas for computer-assisted reporting in journalism: percent change, percent of total, and per capita, with practical examples…
NICAR provides journalists with access to numerous federal government databases covering elections, aviation, mortgages, crime, and other regulatory data for investigative reportin…
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…
This article explores how journalists use statistical analysis and computer-assisted reporting to improve accuracy in covering stories, featuring an example of a young researcher a…
Journalists increasingly use statistical analysis and regression techniques to investigate stories and verify claims, moving beyond anecdotes to provide more rigorous and convincin…
Investigative journalists at two major newspapers analyzed birth records to expose how hospitals inadequately care for sick and premature newborns, with Ohio hospitals keeping high…
NICAR provides journalists access to a comprehensive collection of federal government databases including election contributions, aviation records, mortgage disclosure data, and cr…
An investigation into Broward County's seventh-largest school district revealed millions spent on questionable personnel practices, including widespread nepotism, excessive overtim…
An NBC journalist describes a months-long investigation into commuter airline safety using FAA databases, discovering that Mesa Airlines had a decade-long pattern of safety violati…
The Investigative Reporters and Editors annual conference in Miami (June 8-11) offers intensive computer-assisted reporting training across three tracks covering introductory skill…
A New Jersey analysis of over 2,000 public high schools reveals that poverty is the strongest factor correlating with test scores, prompting investigation after the state stopped p…
This newsletter edition of Uplink explores the potential of computer-assisted reporting on educational issues like school segregation and SAT scores, and highlights reporters’ util…
This journalism newsletter focuses on computer-assisted reporting techniques for education beat coverage, featuring expert journalists discussing data analysis methods for stories …
IRE and NICAR staff analyzed 109 years of Punxsutawney Phil's Groundhog Day predictions by digitizing historical newspaper records and discovered that the groundhog sees his shadow…
The Miami Herald has appointed Rich Gordon as newsroom technology coordinator for a two-year term to develop computer-assisted reporting training and implement technological improv…
Bob Port is leaving the St. Petersburg Times to join the Associated Press in New York as a special assignment editor for investigative reporting. The St. Petersburg Times is now se…
University of Miami Professor Bruce Garrison is conducting an annual survey to track the growing adoption of computer-assisted reporting in U.S. newsrooms, with 1994 data showing 2…
A survey by University of Miami Professor Bruce Garrison tracks the growing adoption of computer-assisted reporting in U.S. newspapers, while the journalism field experiences perso…
Notebook computers have significantly improved in speed, storage capacity, and expandability, making them viable tools for reporters doing data-intensive work. Modern notebooks now…
The Miami Herald's investigation of Dade County's criminal justice system used 10 different criminal databases to reveal that convicted felons were significantly less likely to go …
Journalists debate how to properly interpret FBI crime data, particularly regarding which assault categories to include in local crime analyses, with experts emphasizing the import…
The Boston Globe's investigation into elevator and escalator safety, enabled by analysis of a state inspection database, revealed that nearly 40 percent of passenger elevators were…
A newspaper investigation into pesticide spray incidents revealed systematic regulatory failures by discovering that government agencies were withholding or underreporting violatio…
Armstrong reveals safety failures in elevators and escalators through data analysis, leading to significant state-level repercussions.
Journalists increasingly analyze crime statistics themselves, but face significant challenges with data accuracy, as demonstrated by errors in FBI crime databases including missing…
Uplink's new monthly column features guidance from journalism experts on using internet resources and public records for investigative reporting, including examples of award-winnin…
This journalism newsletter covers several technology and reporting developments, including a bug discovery in OS/2 Warp, promotions in online journalism, new books for digital jour…
NICAR is conducting computer-assisted reporting training sessions across the United States in February through April 1995, with most seminars open to all journalists at various loc…
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch integrates computer-assisted reporting into everyday journalism practice, involving all reporters and editors in data usage.
The Seattle Times analyzed two decades of FAA service difficulty reports to document a pattern of rudder malfunctions in Boeing 737s, finding connections to unsolved crashes and pr…
The Cleveland Plain Dealer exposes issues with FAA's Service Difficulty Reports, including missing and inconsistent data regarding airplane maintenance.
Investigation into Delaware's farmland preservation program reveals misuse by wealthy landowners and companies to avoid property taxes.
This month's Uplink newsletter features several examples of computer-assisted reporting (CAR) in journalism, including case studies from newspapers in Delaware, St. Louis, Clevelan…
Uplink highlights recent investigative journalism stories from 1994 that used public records and databases to uncover issues ranging from suicide and elevator safety to parking tic…
NICAR offers journalists access to multiple government databases including FAA incident reports, FBI crime data, Social Security death records, federal contracts, mortgage disclosu…
A guide to efficiently cleaning and standardizing inconsistent data entries in databases using FoxPro queries and keyboard macros, using employee name variations as an example.
Journalists can obtain EPA Toxic Release Inventory databases to analyze industrial pollution patterns in their regions by zip code and facility type using basic database software. …
Environmental reporters can leverage several EPA databases including ERNS, PCS, and AIRS to find enterprise stories about pollution, spills, and industrial compliance, though state…
Environmental reporters can leverage government databases for computer-assisted reporting stories, with examples including investigations into toxic chemical spills and endangered …
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 …
This piece discusses a computer-assisted reporting project that investigated restaurant sanitation in metropolitan Detroit. The project identified hundreds of unsanitary establishm…
A journalism newsletter features multiple articles on computer-assisted reporting applications across different beats, including restaurant inspections, environmental reporting, pa…
The Hartford Courant created a customized FoxPro application to make computer-assisted reporting resources accessible to non-technical reporters by simplifying database searching t…
In 1994, CAR reporting concentrated on crime coverage, with notable investigations including the Wisconsin State Journal's examination of crime and socioeconomic factors in Madison…
David Milliron joins Gannett News Services as Special Projects Editor for Computer-Assisted Reporting, where he will coordinate database reporting efforts and provide training to U…
A guide to online newsgroups and mailing lists focused on statistics and social science research, including resources like sci.stat.consult, CUSSNET, STAT-L, and EVALTEN where jour…
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 Asbury Park Press developed a computer-assisted reporting program providing newsroom-wide access to databases and analytical software, enabling investigations into local issues…
Ralph Frammolino discusses the application of computer-assisted reporting (CAR) in creating a detailed jury profile for the O.J. Simpson trial, highlighting the effectiveness of ne…
This Uplink newsletter highlights how computer-assisted reporting (CAR) can be used effectively for beat and deadline journalism, featuring examples from reporters at major news or…
Computer-assisted reporters should investigate government computer systems for investigative story opportunities, including incompatible departments, poor data coordination, and pu…
The Drugs and Crime Data Center has published an online document containing over 1,500 street terms related to drugs and drug trade activities, accessible via FTP.
Over 500 journalists attended CAR Trek '94, a major computer-assisted reporting conference in Santa Clara featuring 60 panels, 75 training classes, and demonstrations of the latest…
The FBI will release its 1993 crime statistics in late November, with NICAR planning to be first to obtain the data across five databases covering homicides, property crimes, demog…
The Register's computer-assisted reporting program uses Dell computers running DOS/Windows with FoxPro databases and MapInfo mapping software, led by a single CAR specialist who ha…
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 guide to setting up newsroom Internet servers, emphasizing the need for experienced Unix support, careful planning to avoid problems, and consideration of Internet-savvy vendors …
The article discusses strategies for convincing newspaper editors and publishers to adopt computer-assisted reporting (CAR) programs, including hosting a special editors' program a…
The CAR Trek '94 conference was a major success, bringing together over 420 journalists from around the world to learn computer-assisted reporting skills, including internet naviga…
A journalism newsletter covering highlights from the CAR Trek conference in Silicon Valley, including training advice and computer-assisted reporting examples, with upcoming covera…
NICAR is seeking submissions from journalists about their experiences with data acquisition and computer-assisted reporting projects, whether successful or challenging, for publica…
Asbury Park Press writers Paul D'Ambrosio and Michelle Hill won the 1994 New Jersey Press Association's Business Writing Award for their investigative series on redlining titled 'T…
When average values are skewed by outliers, the median provides a more representative number. This article explains a seven-step process for calculating medians in Paradox 4.0 data…
Journalists should investigate how government agencies and businesses purchase, implement, and manage computer systems, as decision-makers often lack technical expertise and may wa…
Science writers are using computer data analysis to investigate complex stories, as demonstrated by California reporters who analyzed toxic chemical releases in the Central Valley …
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 journalist investigating USAir Flight 427 discovers potentially alarming safety data showing two-thirds of USAir's 737s had reported level 5 service difficulties, but consultatio…
The National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting provided Federal Aviation Administration data on aircraft mechanical problems to multiple news organizations following US Air…
This month's Uplink newsletter showcases diverse applications of computer-assisted reporting (CAR) in journalism, including aviation data analysis, science reporting, voter fraud i…
The Charlotte Observer pioneered computer-assisted journalism in 1984 by using mainframe computers to analyze political contributions, and has since expanded this capability to inv…
IRE, NICAR, and the University of Missouri have launched two new email discussion lists (NICAR-L and IRE-L) for investigative reporters and journalists using computers for news gat…
The News Tribune analyzed drive-by shooting data from Tacoma and Pierce County police using database reporting techniques, discovering approximately 200 incidents over a year rathe…
Journalists express concerns about the Internet's reliability and verifiability as a news source, citing issues like unverifiable information, inconsistent access, and the need for…
CAR Trek, a four-day computer-assisted reporting conference in Silicon Valley from October 6-9, offers panels and hands-on training from pioneering journalists and top CAR practiti…
IRE's popular Optional Day program has become increasingly focused on computer-assisted reporting (CAR) training, with record attendance at the St. Louis conference, prompting deba…
A Wisconsin newspaper describes how it used computer-assisted reporting and traditional investigative methods to examine urban problems in Madison through a multi-part series calle…
NICAR is expanding its online presence through new platforms like JForum and CompuServe while preparing for the upcoming CAR Trek conference in Silicon Valley. The organization con…
The article highlights a CAR award won by The Olympian for a restaurant inspection database story, announces Illinois criminal justice system profiles for all 102 counties, and rep…
A Pennsylvania newspaper persuaded eight of ten major gubernatorial candidates to provide campaign finance reports on diskette rather than paper, overcoming technical and political…
Strategies employed by the Philadelphia Daily News to obtain campaign contribution records electronically from gubernatorial candidates, highlighting the hurdles and eventual succe…
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…
IRE and NICAR are hosting CAR Trek, a major computer-assisted reporting conference in Silicon Valley from October 6-9, 1994, featuring over 110 expert panelists and hands-on traini…
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…
NICAR is expanding its seminar schedule across multiple locations and growing its database library capabilities, offering data conversion services while encouraging readers to atte…
An editor's note directing readers to resources about an Asbury Park bridge investigation, including articles from Cox Newspapers and an NBC Dateline transcript resulting from a jo…
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…
Nine-track tapes remain the dominant storage medium for computer-assisted reporting, but alternative technologies like CD-ROMs and tape cartridges are challenging their dominance, …
Internet offers journalists powerful tools for gathering information and finding sources during crises and routine reporting, though its evolving nature and accessibility challenge…
An investigation into bridge safety using the National Bridge Inventory database found that one in six bridges in the state needs major repairs costing $4.8 billion, with reporters…
The National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting and Investigative Reporters and Editors launched two listservs to facilitate discussions on reporting techniques.
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…
This article explains how to use FoxPro commands like REPLACE and STRTRAN to standardize and clean up data fields such as addresses and city names, removing inconsistencies like pe…
The World Wide Web, developed at CERN, organizes the Internet through hypertext and hypermedia links, with the Mosaic browser making it accessible through a user-friendly graphical…
FedWorld, a government online database launched in 1993, has become a useful resource for journalists covering the White House and federal issues, while the Internet also offers sp…
A journalist describes eight essential online research resources accessed through CompuServe, including ProfNet for expert sourcing, newspaper archives, dissertation databases, and…
Kenton Robinson shares his experiences using online services and ProfNet to streamline reporting, emphasizing the efficiency and breadth of information available for journalism.
Uplink explores practical online data sources for journalism, featuring guides to Fed World, CompuServe, the World Wide Web, and ProfNet. The National Institute for Computer-Assist…
The IRE/NICAR conference in St. Louis on June 16, 1994 offers an optional day focused on computer-assisted reporting, featuring sessions on online research, databases, spreadsheets…
This article explains how to modify a database extraction program to prompt users for input instead of requiring manual code editing, making it more accessible to less experienced …
The second annual IRE computer-assisted journalism conference will be held in Silicon Valley in October, offering hands-on training in various computer applications and technologie…
A journalist uses computer mapping and database analysis to investigate whether banks are underserved in poor neighborhoods, discovering that statistical data initially contradicte…
Reporter David Washburn outlines key pitfalls to avoid when analyzing HMDA mortgage lending data, including proper data cleaning, appropriate tools, and verification strategies.
Reporters across the country are using computer-assisted analysis of Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data to uncover significantly higher loan-denial rates for minorities than white a…
NICAR is expanding its training programs by offering on-site computer-assisted reporting seminars across the country, in addition to its Missouri-based courses, while also providin…
The National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting announces expansion efforts including upgrades to its data library, planned seminars, and a computer-assisted day at the upco…
Several journalism staffing changes occur as reporters move between major newspapers, including Dan Browning's move to the St. Paul Pioneer Press and David Armstrong's transfer to …
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…
The Wall Street Journal obtained complete EEOC employment data through multiple FOIA requests, revealing that Black workers experienced unique job losses during the 1990-91 recessi…
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…
The article discusses the efforts and challenges faced by The Eagle-Tribune in Lawrence while conducting a computer-assisted investigation into the Massachusetts Welfare System. Th…
The Eagle-Tribune analyzed dog registration data from 20 communities in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, discovering that Max was the most common dog name overall and uncovering a …
The Akron Beacon Journal completed a year-long investigation examining racial disparities across multiple dimensions including crime, race relations, living conditions, health, edu…
A Wall Street Journal investigation of EEOC employment data from over 40 million workers revealed that Black workers were the only ethnic group to suffer net job losses during the …
The second annual IRE conference on computer-assisted journalism will be held in Silicon Valley in October, offering hands-on training in various computer applications and tools fo…
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch uses computer-assisted reporting to analyze restaurant health inspection data, revealing that despite high average scores, critical violations are not u…
NICAR is a new national institute jointly operated by Investigative Reporters & Editors and the Missouri School of Journalism that provides training, data resources, and expertise …
Uplink newsletter is expanding to 12 annual issues with more pages and content, and is asking readers to contribute computer-assisted reporting stories, tips, software recommendati…
Journalists already have foundational programming knowledge through SQL and database queries, and can now learn FoxPro programming to automate repetitive data tasks that go beyond …
The Morning Call newspaper has successfully used computer-assisted reporting to produce major investigative stories, including an exposé on a troubled local bank and analysis of mo…
An in-depth examination of violent crime in Tacoma using a database provided by the Law Enforcement Support Agency, highlighting areas of high crime and trends in violence.
Investigative Reporters and Editors and The News & Observer will host a four-day computer-assisted reporting conference in October 2024 in Raleigh, bringing together 50 expert jour…
Mary Field, a TV producer trained in computer-assisted reporting (CAR), struggles to implement the technology at her Chicago station due to budget constraints and lack of broadcast…
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.
Jon Schmid is departing MICAR to join the Raleigh News & Observer as an assistant database editor, with Matt Reavy, a doctoral student, taking over his editorial duties at Uplink a…
Monarch is a software tool that converts fixed-format printed reports into usable databases and spreadsheets, allowing journalists to extract data from agencies that cannot provide…
Journalists can convert messy print-image files from government agencies into usable databases by using word processing programs or specialized software to automatically remove hea…
The National Law Journal's investigative project revealed that the EPA has enforced environmental protection laws unequally, cleaning up toxic waste sites faster in white communiti…
The Post-Standard in Syracuse has democratized computer-assisted reporting by making data access easy and intuitive for all reporters, enabling daily use of databases for source-fi…
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…
Reporters from The Cleveland Plain Dealer and The National Law Journal won 1992 IRE awards for investigative reporting using computer-assisted research to expose environmental ineq…
A journalist describes using computer sampling and random simulations to determine whether suspicious settlement disparities among 15 corrupt lawyers in a Missouri workers compensa…
Investigative journalists face challenges with data entry for their stories, as hiring professional services often results in inaccurate work, leaving reporters to spend months ent…
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 article discusses how the Waterbury Republican-American tackled the challenge of making data accessible to all reporters by equipping them with notebooks and creating user-frie…
MICAR is offering a week-long intensive boot camp seminar from May 23-28 teaching journalists how to download and analyze data from magnetic tape using hands-on training in databas…
The Freedom Forum and Arizona State University's Cronkite School are hosting a four-day computer-assisted journalism seminar featuring renowned investigative journalists and hands-…
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 struggle to locate government databases, but a University of Minnesota doctoral candidate is creating a comprehensive directory of Minnesota's 2,000+ state government d…
Investigative reporters used computer database matching to uncover serious problems in school systems, including hundreds of convicted felons working as teachers and bus drivers, a…
The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) obtained and transformed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's massive computerized database into an organized knowledge base to…
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's NUDOCS database is an invaluable free resource containing over 2 million records since 1978 that journalists can access to research radiation in…
A Plain Dealer investigation using Freedom of Information Act requests and the NRC's NUDOCS database uncovered over 40 deaths from medical radiation overdoses that the NRC claimed …
The article lists several upcoming seminars and workshops on computer-assisted reporting for journalists, including programs from the Education Writers Association, University of N…
Journalists describe their computer-assisted reporting projects, including a major investigation into San Francisco's AIDS programs using database analysis and a congressional camp…
The article explains a software bug in XDB versions prior to 2.41 that incorrectly parses delimited files containing commas within quoted fields, and provides a practical workaroun…
USA Today's attempt to scan 7,500 pages of Congressional spending records proved far more difficult than expected, with scanning technology struggling with small text, formatting i…
CompuServe's Journalism Forum will host a two-week online lecture in January on computer-assisted reporting, featuring Chris Feola discussing program setup and Larry Krumenaker cov…
This article explains how to eliminate duplicate records in a database using programming languages, comparing the process to manually sorting through papers and removing duplicates…
Los Angeles Times journalist Michael Parrish and computer analyst Richard O'Reilly analyzed 10 years of hazardous material transportation data from the Department of Transportation…
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…
The article discusses the challenges of crediting computer-assisted reporting work in newsrooms and suggests potential solutions for fair attribution.
New Chicago Sun-Times managing editor Julia Wallace, who pioneered computer-assisted reporting at USA Today, aims to bring data analysis capabilities into the newsroom through a pl…
This article explains how string functions in database managers and spreadsheets can standardize and match data across different sources by allowing journalists to split, extract, …
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…
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 1990 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data contains significant errors in state coding, with Alaska's actual error rate reaching 35 percent due to misclassified Arizona loan applic…
The University of Louisville has created CARR-L, an online forum for journalists and journalism educators to discuss computer use in reporting, covering topics from database search…
FoxPro's SQL point-and-click interface makes database querying accessible to journalists of all skill levels, from beginners to experienced users, enabling more reporters to engage…
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…
Hazardous waste manifests provide detailed tracking of toxic materials that can supplement federal TRI data, with about half of U.S. states offering computerized access to these re…
Van Denton used a database to quickly produce a more detailed story on lobbyist spending, illustrating the potential of computer-assisted reporting.
MICAR founder Elliot Jaspin has left the University of Missouri to join Cox Newspapers in Washington, D.C., though he will continue advising the organization. A reporter at the Anc…
A guide for journalists new to computer-assisted reporting on cleaning corrupted business data from diskettes using XYWrite III Plus and XDB database software to prepare files for …
U.S. News and World Report used computer-assisted reporting to investigate medical devices through FDA data, discovering significant obstacles including duplicate records and unstr…
A journalist reflects on how technological seduction led him to pursue a lengthy investigation into California bus safety that ultimately yielded no significant story, illustrating…
Journalists trained in computer-assisted reporting discover significant gaps between classroom instruction and real-world newsroom application, facing challenges with equipment sel…
A database management technique uses the XDB commands Update and Xleft to create a standardized name field by extracting the first portion of company names, allowing grouping and s…
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.
Reporters face challenges in accessing electronic records due to bureaucratic tactics and legal ambiguities. Journalists are often confronted with delays, high costs, and record re…
Over 400 reporters attended a standing-room-only conference on computer-assisted reporting at an Investigative Reporters and Editors event in Portland, Oregon, featuring seminars, …
A technical guide explaining how to extract specific state records from the Toxic Release Inventory tape while preserving the document control number that links related pollution d…
The Greensboro News & Record uncovered a major bid-rigging scheme where North Carolina dairies defrauded school systems of approximately $8 million between 1982 and 1989 by manipul…
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…
Andrew Barron of the Greensboro News & Record won a Wilber Award for a computer-assisted reporting project examining readers' views on sin, combining survey data analysis with inte…
Two journalism projects showcase computer-assisted reporting: a Greensboro News & Record survey on sin and morality won an award, and a St. Louis Post-Dispatch investigation reveal…
This report challenges the assumption that money rules politics by analyzing campaign donations in Orange County. It reveals that powerful local Democrats contributed significantly…
Uplink issues a correction regarding its previous coverage of the Kansas City Star's Pulitzer Prize-winning USDA investigation, clarifying errors about IRE award wins, technical de…
Computer-assisted reporting (CAR) programs at major newspapers have succeeded through reporter persistence, collaborative support, adequate funding, and newsroom-wide training that…
Step-by-step guide on how to build better ranges in SQL for effective data reporting and analysis.
A tutorial on using SQL to categorize continuous data into ranges, demonstrating how creating a range field and grouping by it is more efficient than repeatedly running queries wit…
A comparison of three popular database management programs—FoxPro, Paradox, and XDB—used in computer-assisted reporting, examining their strengths and weaknesses based on journalis…
A New Jersey journalist created a bank safety ranking system using federal deposit insurance data to ease consumer fears following the 1991 Bank of New England collapse, helping re…
Reporters across the United States are increasingly adopting computer-assisted reporting techniques to conduct investigations and access government databases, with newsrooms like t…
A journalist shares their experience with XDB database software versions 2.30 and 2.41, describing problems with sorting accuracy, computational errors with large numbers, and RAM …
Greg Reeves of the Kansas City Star navigates complex challenges in accessing USDA farm subsidy data, which contributed to the Pulitzer Prize-winning series 'Failing the Grade.' Hi…
Winners of this year's IRE reporting competition exposed workplace safety failures and racial profiling in law enforcement through investigative journalism using computer-assisted …
Journalists using the XDB database software report significant technical problems including import failures, indexing errors, and inconsistent query results, leading some to switch…
A journalist uncovers how Missouri's Department of Education restricts access to standardized test data through bureaucratic obstacles, preventing even the state itself from analyz…
The Hartford Courant developed a database to investigate unsolved murders of minority women, discovering patterns suggesting a possible serial killer and prompting police attention…
A Minneapolis Star-Tribune investigation found that nearly one-third of rapists who underwent Minnesota's treatment programs were re-arrested within three years, compared to a one-…
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…
A San Jose Mercury News computer-assisted analysis of nearly 700,000 California criminal cases over nine years found that white defendants receive significantly better plea bargain…
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 …
Discussion of improvements in cable and hardware to resolve tape drive issues faced by reporters.
A Riverside Press Enterprise reporter used property tax databases to document how California's Proposition 13 creates vast disparities in property taxes between neighbors with comp…
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…
Small and medium-sized newspapers face challenges with the cost and complexity of acquiring computerized data for computer-assisted reporting, though some papers have found ways to…
Electronic Public Information Consultants, a new Seattle-based company founded by three University of Missouri journalism graduates, offers advanced analysis of government records …
MICAR has released a Reporters Working Guide to the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) that helps journalists download, organize, and analyze EPA pollution data to identify major pollut…
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…
Reporters at the Dayton Daily News investigated DUI cases in Ohio, revealing systematic issues in enforcement and the possibility for repeat offenses even after convictions.
The Boston Herald and other newspapers face challenges with data entry for computer-assisted reporting projects, with some looking into scanners as potential solutions to improve a…
Boston Herald reporters investigating campaign contributions discovered significant challenges with outsourcing data entry, including accuracy issues like duplicate records, incorr…
The Greensboro News & Record conducted a survey on perceptions of sin in the Bible Belt community using computer-assisted reporting, highlighting the integration of modern technolo…
The News and Observer in Raleigh democratized computer-assisted reporting by training all interested staff members, including interns, on database analysis rather than restricting …
The Dayton Daily News gained direct computer access to Montgomery County records, enabling reporters to quickly investigate property taxes, court documents, and other public filing…
MICAR has released a practical guide helping reporters use the EPA's Toxic Release Inventory database to investigate industrial pollution, with options to purchase the guide alone …
Explores the challenges faced by newsrooms in maintaining control over computer-assisted reporting projects and navigating technical bureaucracy.
Gary Post-Tribune reporter Joseph Conn used a GEO District computer program and a state librarian's assistance to quickly analyze census data and determine how many residents would…
The Sacramento Bee uses its mainframe computer system with a VAX network hookup and large hard drive for computer-assisted reporting, allowing multiple staff members to access cens…
St. Petersburg Times reporters used computer-assisted techniques to investigate the abuse of a Florida state statute allowing criminal records to be sealed, uncovering widespread m…
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…
Jimmy Montague offers advice on choosing and maintaining quality computer tapes, addressing common issues like short tape lengths and data write skips, and discussing the impact of…
George Landau discusses the benefits and uses of geographic information systems (GIS) in journalism, highlighting how they can transform raw census data into insightful stories by …
A newsroom used computer analysis to investigate Congressional speaking fees, moving beyond simple totals to identify patterns, top earners, and regional breakdowns that surpassed …
Paul Martin, a young journalist at the Palm Beach Post trained in computer-assisted journalism, finds the newspaper's CAJ program stalled due to recession-driven budget cuts despit…
A series on workers' safety, based on OSHA's database, reveals systemic failures in workplace safety regulations and enforcement in Ohio, highlighting minimal penalties for violati…
The Dayton Daily News is hiring a projects reporter with investigative skills and computer-assisted reporting expertise, requiring applicants to submit resumes and clips to the lis…
A new Reporter's Working Guide to the Toxic Release Inventory provides step-by-step instructions for journalists to download, organize, and analyze EPA pollution data to create mea…
Washington D.C. news organizations have access to vast government computer databases but underutilize computer-assisted reporting due to staff constraints, reliance on traditional …
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…
A four-part series reveals numerous flaws in California's toxic waste monitoring system, including unaccounted waste and regulatory failures.
The San Jose Mercury News responds to criticism in UPLINK's March issue, defending their superior coverage of California census data with more detailed statistics and faster report…
When purchasing data processing services from private companies or state agencies, organizations must carefully compare pricing models, which vary based on CPU time, system usage, …
Reporters using Qualstar 1260 tape drives are experiencing frequent malfunctions characterized by drives rocking back and forth, with the Missouri Institute for Computer-Assisted R…
This article examines the costs and pricing structures involved in computer-assisted reporting, explaining different fee calculation methods from data processing centers and advisi…
John Freed discusses the New York Times' investigative series on U.S. banking stability, utilizing federally available data to assess and report on potentially weak banks.
Investigative reporter Chris Szechenyi won a National Headliner's Award for his series on faulty defibrillators created through FDA data analysis, but was laid off by WRC-TV on the…
The Dallas Morning News is implementing a computer-assisted reporting program with a $15,000 budget, combining centralized database research functions with decentralized reporter t…
Connecticut journalists used the federal Toxic Release Inventory database to investigate unreported toxic emissions by manufacturers and significant gaps in state environmental pro…
The San Francisco Chronicle achieved detailed reports on the 1990 census data through advanced preparation and computer-assisted techniques, despite unexpected challenges.
When faulty database software causes reporters to publish incorrect information, liability depends on whether the case falls under contract or tort law, with reporters bearing resp…
Uplink invites journalism professionals to contribute stories, experiences, and insights about computer-assisted reporting to their forum at the University of Missouri.
The article describes the challenges faced by Plain Dealer reporters in covering the historical crash of an Emery Worldwide Airlines jet at Cleveland's Hopkins Airport, and how com…
MICAR is offering a week-long computer-assisted reporting seminar on May 5 that trains journalists with minimal computer experience how to obtain, transfer, verify, and analyze gov…
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…
An investigation by New York Newsday revealed that the city owes $275 million in tax overpayments to property owners, highlighting the ease of uncovering bureaucratic errors using …
The Palm Beach Post's investigation of over 22,000 property records revealed systemic inequities in how the county appraiser assessed homes, with expensive properties undervalued a…
Greg Reeves of the Kansas City Star shares his experiences implementing computer-assisted reporting, discussing the software and hardware challenges he faced, the efficiency gains …
Cleveland Plain Dealer reporters Bill Sloat and Keith Epstein investigated the National Weather Service's accuracy in issuing severe weather warnings after a deadly Ohio flood, dis…
The investigative report reveals a significant number of malfunctions in medical devices, particularly defibrillators manufactured by Physio Control Corp., leading to patient death…
The Boston Herald's computer-assisted reporting program has produced investigative studies on Massachusetts polluters and defense contractors, including findings that the state ran…
MICAR is offering a week-long seminar on computer-assisted reporting starting January 27, teaching journalists how to obtain, download, and analyze government computer data. The qu…
Crime reporter Scott North of The Herald used computer-assisted reporting and database analysis to investigate drug cases in Snohomish County, uncovering that drug offenders were d…
The Toxic Release Inventory reveals hidden dangers like benzene emissions from industrial plants near residential areas, forcing companies to become more transparent about their po…
A journalist discovers how the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reveals hidden industrial pollution like benzene emissions from an Ohio steel plant that residents never knew about, an…
The article provides eight practical tips for journalists introducing computer-assisted reporting to newsrooms, including learning technical language, understanding hardware/softwa…
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 …