Public Safety (168)

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, …

Tracking problems with U.S. sky spies

Mike Fabey September-October 2006

Investigative Methods Data & Databases Public Safety

Reporter Mike Fabey used federal contract databases and technical research to investigate budget overruns and mismanagement in the Pentagon's classified satellite programs.

Tired truckers endanger Tenn. drivers

Nancy Amons September-October 2006

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

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.

Making sense of OSHA data

Mike Casey July-August 2006

Public Safety Data & Databases Investigative Methods

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…

Mapping finds holes in siren coverage

Gerry Lanosga July-August 2006

Public Safety Technology Investigative Methods

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…

Poor conditions plague medical helicopters

Alan Levin July-August 2006

Public Safety Investigative Methods Data & Databases

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.

Deadly roads

May-June 2006

Public Safety Data & Databases Investigative Methods

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…

Storm season

May-June 2006

Public Safety Data & Databases Technology

The IRE and NICAR Database Library has updated its Storm Events database through December 2005, containing over 600,000 records of U.S. storms including Hurricane Katrina with deta…

Rolling hazards in rail cargo

David Danelski May-June 2006

Investigative Methods Public Safety Health & Environment

Investigation into freight train derailments revealed ineffective track inspections and other issues that endangered residents.

Truck inspections

March-April 2006

Public Safety Data & Databases

The Database Library has updated the U.S. Department of Transportation truck inspection dataset through 2004, allowing journalists to investigate truck safety violations by company…

Mine safety stories

Brian Hamman March-April 2006

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

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…

Maps identify at-risk areas

John Kelly November/December 2005

Public Safety Demographics & Census Investigative Methods

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.

GIS, GPS after the storm

Matthew Waite November/December 2005

Investigative Methods Technology Public Safety

Matthew Waite explains how to use GPS and GIS tools to rapidly map hurricane destruction, providing better visual context and reporting for readers.

Boating resources

November/December 2005

Public Safety Investigative Methods

IRE provides comprehensive resources for journalists covering boating accidents, including databases, tipsheets, and archived articles accessible through their dedicated webpage.

SPOTLIGHT: For more about hurricane destruction see:

November/December 2005

Public Safety Technology

This spotlight section directs readers to multiple resources about hurricane destruction, including articles on mapping storm damage with GIS technology, identifying vulnerable pop…

Immigrants' deadly rides

Mike Schneider September/October 2005

Investigative Methods Public Safety Agriculture & Land

Farmworkers in Immokalee, Florida, face hazardous transportation conditions while traveling to work, raising concerns over state regulation and safety in agricultural labor.

readme.txt

May-June 2005

Technology Journalism & Newsroom Public Safety

This article highlights web-based resources for journalists covering hurricanes and tropical storms, including UCF's interactive hurricane forecast mapping tool and the U.S. Navy's…

Tracking hurricanes path to the coast

Matthew Waite May-June 2005

Technology Public Safety

A guide for journalists on how to use GIS mapping software to track hurricane paths by extracting forecast data from the National Hurricane Center website and formatting it in Exce…

911 data shows system's shortcomings

Scott A. Zamost May-June 2005

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

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…

readme.txt

May-June 2005

Public Safety Technology Journalism & Newsroom

This article highlights online resources for journalists covering hurricanes and tropical storms, including UCF's interactive hurricane forecast mapping tool and the U.S. Navy's tr…

Uncovering bad bridges at risk in mudslides

Dani Dodge May-June 2005

Investigative Methods Data & Databases Public Safety

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…

Boat accident data sheds light on dangers

Natalya Shulyakovskaya May-June 2005

Public Safety Investigative Methods Data & Databases

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…

Peace Accidents

Michael Fabey March/April 2005

Investigative Methods Data & Databases Public Safety

Military aviation accident data reveals insights into safety issues, stressing the importance of data analysis in investigative reporting.

readme.txt

November 2004

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

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…

NICAR has transportation data for journalists

Jeff Porter November 2004

Public Safety Investigative Methods Data & Databases

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…

Reservation deaths uncovered with data

Brent Walth November 2004

Investigative Methods Public Safety Demographics & Census

An investigation into the high death rates of children at the Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon, using state databases.

Data helps probe death on the tracks

Steve Orr November 2004

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

An examination of rail-crossing safety following a fatal train accident, using data to reveal maintenance lapses.

Where's the fire [station]?

September • October 2004

Public Safety Data & Databases Government & Politics

Cuyahoga County's 53 independent fire departments operating 103 stations cost taxpayers over $300 million annually with significant overlap in service areas, prompting calls for co…

Plotting firehouse coverage

Thomas Gaumer September • October 2004

Technology Investigative Methods Public Safety

The Cleveland Plain Dealer used GIS mapping to reveal potential redundancies in fire station locations, suggesting that consolidation could save taxpayers millions.

Data shows maintenance problems with planes

Ted Mellnik July-August 2004

Public Safety Data & Databases Investigative Methods

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 …

Examining evacuation during nightclub fire

Paul Edward Parker July-August 2004

Investigative Methods Technology Public Safety

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…

readme.txt

June 2004

Public Safety Investigative Methods Data & Databases

This article highlights several investigative journalism projects that analyzed U.S. Department of Transportation fatality data to examine traffic safety issues across different re…

Fatal crash data shows truck dangers

Kurt Rogahn June 2004

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

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 …

Analysis exposes attacks on volunteers

Russell Carollo June 2004

Investigative Methods Data & Databases Public Safety

An investigation uncovers the increasing rate of violent attacks, including rapes, against Peace Corps volunteers, predominantly young women serving overseas.

Sprawl outpaces private ambulances

Jeff Sonderman March 2004

Public Safety Data & Databases Investigative Methods

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…

Response times fall short

Enric Volante March 2004

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

The Arizona Daily Star investigated ambulance response times in Tucson using geographic information system software and public records data, revealing that emergency services frequ…

Showing deadly crashes

Garry Lenton January • February 2004

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.

Making sense of Navy aviation crash data

Richard O'Reilly September/October 2003

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

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…

GIS shows close call for Dallas

John Kelly July/August 2003

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…

Access forms help build inspections database

Mike Sherry November December 2002

Data & Databases Investigative Methods Public Safety

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…

Aviation data (updated)

November December 2002

Public Safety Data & Databases

NICAR provides journalists with aircraft registration data covering over 320,000 planes and FAA accident/incident databases spanning from 1973 to 2002, enabling reporters to invest…

Bits & Bytes

November December 2002

Data & Databases Public Safety

The Database Library has updated its collection of transportation databases, including the Fatal Accident Reporting System for vehicle accidents, truck crash data, and multiple avi…

Mapping finds bars, DUI wrecks linked

Rose Ciotta and Karl Stark November December 2002

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…

FAA withholds data

Jeff Porter September - October 2002

Public Safety Investigative Methods Data & Databases

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…

Rating cities' readiness to handle attacks

Mike Fish September - October 2002

Public Safety Investigative Methods Data & Databases

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…

Databases highlight tired truckers

Greg Reeves May/June 2002

Investigative Methods Data & Databases Public Safety

Reporters at The Kansas City Star utilized multiple databases to investigate and report on the fatal consequences of long-haul truck driver fatigue.

Following the riverboat pilots

Jeffrey Meitrodt March-April 2002

Investigative Methods Government & Politics Public Safety

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…

Links

February 2002

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…

Fighting the airport

Alan Judd and Maurice Tamman February 2002

Public Safety Investigative Methods Journalism & Newsroom

After 9/11, Atlanta airport officials resisted journalists' reporting on security vulnerabilities, restricting press access to terminals and criticizing coverage as unpatriotic fea…

Links

February 2002

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…

Lessons from disaster

Jeff Porter February 2002

Public Safety Data & Databases Investigative Methods

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/…

Data

February 2002

Public Safety Data & Databases

The IRE and NICAR data library provides comprehensive FAA and NASA databases for investigating aviation safety, enforcement actions, maintenance issues, and pilot credentials.

Meeting the data challenge

Justin Mayo and David Heath February 2002

Public Safety Investigative Methods Data & Databases

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…

Data

February 2002

Data & Databases Public Safety Investigative Methods

The IRE and NICAR data library provides comprehensive FAA and NASA databases for investigative journalists to research aviation safety, enforcement actions, maintenance issues, acc…

Tipsheet

February 2002

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 …

Tracking a suspect

Phil Williams February 2002

A journalist uses computer-assisted reporting techniques, including databases and online searches, to investigate a potential terrorist suspect with connections to Nashville and di…

Comparing foot traffic

James E. Wilkerson February 2002

Public Safety Investigative Methods Data & Databases

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…

Tipsheets

February 2002

The IRE Resource Center provides multiple tipsheets on airline security and aviation safety, offering guidance on accessing government agencies, crash investigation documents, and …

Security problems

Paul D'Ambrosio February 2002

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

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…

Tipsheets

February 2002

Public Safety Investigative Methods Journalism & Newsroom

The IRE Resource Center offers multiple tipsheets providing guidance for journalists investigating airline security and aviation safety, including information on relevant agencies,…

Putting together the data puzzle

John Perry February 2002

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

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…

Links

February 2002

CNN's investigative project "Flight Risk" examines aviation-related issues through reporting by Mike Fish, supported by database analysis, editorial oversight, and multimedia desig…

Access after attacks

Jennifer LaFleur February 2002

Government & Politics Data & Databases Public Safety

Following the September 11 attacks, federal agencies have begun removing public databases and records from their websites citing security concerns, despite no explicit White House …

Links

February 2002

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…

In-depth online

Mike Fish February 2002

Public Safety Investigative Methods Data & Databases

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…

CNN's 'Flight Risk'

Denise Prodigo-Herrmann February 2002

Public Safety Data & Databases Investigative Methods

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 …

Poor airport security

Matt Carroll February 2002

Public Safety Investigative Methods Government & Politics

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…

Bits, Bytes and Barks

November/December 2001

Journalism & Newsroom Public Safety Technology

IRE announced the postponement of its Philadelphia national conference to March 2002 due to 9/11 attacks, while promoting a January 2002 DC regional conference on topics including …

A pet project

Sean Mussenden November/December 2001

Investigative Methods Data & Databases Public Safety

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…

Airport performance

Jeff Blyskal November/December 2001

Data & Databases Investigative Methods Public Safety

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…

Tracking Rail Accidents

Russ Clemings November/December 2001

Public Safety Investigative Methods Data & Databases

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…

Airport Insecurity

Jeff Porter November/December 2001

Public Safety Investigative Methods Data & Databases

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…

Bits, Bytes and Barks

July/August 2001

Data & Databases Journalism & Newsroom Public Safety

NICAR has updated its U.S. Coast Guard boating accident and boat registration databases, which journalists can use to analyze local boating safety data, with pricing based on circu…

Two useful datasets

Raquel Dixon July/August 2001

Data & Databases Investigative Methods Public Safety

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…

Bits, Bytes and Barks

May/June 2001

Data & Databases Journalism & Newsroom Public Safety

NICAR has updated several journalism databases including FBI crime reports, bridge inspection data, and FAA accident records, with pricing tiered by organization size. Resources fr…

More Resources

Dawn Fallik May/June 2001

A tipsheet compiled by a St. Louis Post-Dispatch journalist providing useful transportation research websites and resources for journalists covering vehicle crashes, accidents, and…

Tread dangers

David Raziq, Anna Werner, and Chris Henao May/June 2001

Investigative Methods Public Safety Business & Economy

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…

Data galore

May/June 2001

Public Safety Data & Databases Technology

NICAR offers transportation datasets including FAA and NTSB aviation records that journalists can use to develop stories, with pricing tiers based on news organization size.

Water, roads and more

Devon Hammes May/June 2001

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

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…

Bus driver

Dan Feldstein May/June 2001

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

A journalist used database analysis to investigate overtime practices at Houston's Metropolitan Transit Authority, discovering drivers were working excessive hours and earning over…

Truck safety

Andy Lehren May/June 2001

Public Safety Investigative Methods Data & Databases

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…

Fatal highway

Tony Manolatos May/June 2001

Investigative Methods Data & Databases Public Safety

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…

Valuable accident data

Hurst Laviana January/February 2001

Investigative Methods Data & Databases Public Safety

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…

Railroad safety

Trebor Banstetter May 2000

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…

More gun issue sources

April 2000

Public Safety

A compiled list of key sources and contacts for reporting on gun-related issues, including government agencies, industry organizations, and advocacy groups.

Young hunters

James E. Wilkerson and David Washburn April 2000

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

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 …

NICAR databases (as of Feb. 1, 2000)

March 2000

Data & Databases Investigative Methods Public Safety

NICAR maintains a comprehensive collection of public databases covering federal enforcement records, accident data, and safety reports across aviation, transportation, and maritime…

Some recent CAR stories

March 2000

Computer-assisted investigations reveal operational inefficiencies in law enforcement and widespread housing code violations by government entities.

NICAR data library

January/February 2000

Data & Databases Investigative Methods Public Safety

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…

Troubled bridges

Mark Greenblatt January/February 2000

Investigative Methods Data & Databases Public Safety

A journalism student uses computer-assisted reporting to investigate bridge conditions in Missouri, discovering that while database analysis provided initial leads, direct expert c…

Uncovering secrets

Russell Carollo January/February 2000

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

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…

Fatal accidents

Maryjo Sylwester December 1999

Public Safety Data & Databases Investigative Methods

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…

Foreign planes

Maryjo Sylwester December 1999

Public Safety Data & Databases Investigative Methods

The article provides resources for journalists to access data on foreign aircraft registrations following the EgyptAir crash, including commercial databases like Aviation Data Serv…

Hidden Dangers Airlines and HazMat

Elizabeth Marchak December 1999

Public Safety Investigative Methods Data & Databases

The article investigates ongoing issues with hazardous materials on airlines following the 1996 Valujet crash and evaluates the effectiveness of FAA's enforcement.

Tales from the field

October 1999

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…

Being prepared pays

Elizabeth A. Marchak October 1999

Journalists covering plane crashes should develop expertise in aviation by learning how pilots think, visiting local airports, building source networks, and studying accident datab…

Kennedy crash

Andy Lehren October 1999

Public Safety Investigative Methods Data & Databases

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…

AMBULANCE RESPONSE TIMES: Cardiac crapshoot

Jack Dolan July/August 1999

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

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…

SAFETY THROUGH GIS

Jennifer LaFleur and John Woolfolk April 1999

A short report on using GIS to overlay landslide maps with building permits to identify risky construction areas before the 1998 El Nino storms.

Transportation sites

January/February 1999

Public Safety Technology Investigative Methods

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…

Hidden hazards (#618)

Penny Loeb January/February 1999

Public Safety Data & Databases Investigative Methods

This guide helps journalists investigate train and subway accidents using federal databases to identify safety patterns, problem railroads, and dangerous crossings. It provides rep…

Transportation scams and bungling - some tips (#847)

Bill Krueger January/February 1999

Investigative Methods Public Safety Government & Politics

A guide for journalists investigating potential corruption and mismanagement in state transportation departments, including curb cuts, right-of-way settlements, discretionary spend…

Using aviation safety documents (#677)

Byron Acohido January/February 1999

Public Safety Investigative Methods

The NTSB's aircraft accident investigation process relies heavily on input from manufacturers and airlines who have financial incentives to minimize culpability, potentially delayi…

Colliding databases (#816)

Elizabeth Marchak January/February 1999

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

Aviation reporting requires meticulous research, developing reliable sources, understanding FAA and NTSB databases, and filing FOIA requests to uncover safety issues and regulatory…

Must-have resource (#677)

Heather Newman January/February 1999

Public Safety Data & Databases Investigative Methods

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…

Crash course (#816)

Justin Mayo January/February 1999

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

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…

Planes, trains

January/February 1999

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…

Dealing wheels

Andy Lehren January/February 1999

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

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 …

FIRST VENTURES

Bill Muller December 1998

Investigative Methods Data & Databases Public Safety

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…

Daily nuclear feed

Tom Henry October 1998

Investigative Methods Technology Public Safety

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…

NICAR's DATABASE LIBRARY HAS RECENTLY UPDATED THREE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION DATABASES

July 1998

Data & Databases Public Safety Agriculture & Land

NICAR's Database Library has updated three FAA databases related to aviation enforcement, service difficulties, and accidents, while also adding USDA meatpacking inspection data sp…

DATABASE LIBRARY HIGHLIGHTS Hazardous materials

Seth Hemmelgarn July 1998

Data & Databases Public Safety Investigative Methods

NICAR has updated its Hazardous Materials database containing Department of Transportation incident reports from 1971 through early 1998, including details on accidental releases d…

FIRST VENTURES Clogged artery

John Kelly July 1998

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…

CAR hits the road

Nancy Amons March 1998

Investigative Methods Data & Databases Public Safety

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…

Problem paramedics

Chris Heinbaugh March 1998

Investigative Methods Public Safety Crime & Justice

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…

The Conversion

Stuart Watson March 1998

Investigative Methods Data & Databases Public Safety

A journalist investigates ambulance response times in Durham, North Carolina by obtaining and analyzing a government database, demonstrating how data journalism can uncover informa…

Highlights from the Database Library

Justin Mayo February 1998

Data & Databases Investigative Methods Public Safety

NICAR has released an updated OSHA database spanning 1974-1997 containing workplace safety information organized into four relatable tables, with experienced computer-assisted repo…

INSPECTION Du JOUR Restaurants Revealed

Joel Grover February 1998

Investigative Methods Data & Databases Public Safety

Joel Grover discusses the impact of an investigative series on restaurant conditions in L.A., revealing widespread sanitary issues and prompting legal changes.

Database update

Justin Mayo November 1997

Data & Databases Public Safety Technology

NICAR has expanded its database library with new aviation and health datasets including FAA enforcement records and NTSB accident data, while updating existing collections on trans…

Hunting for data

Kara Morrison November 1997

Investigative Methods Data & Databases Public Safety

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…

Reporter lands rudder story

Kara Morrison May 1997

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…

Disaster on Deadline

Ford Fessenden May 1997

Public Safety Investigative Methods Journalism & Newsroom

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…

Quick hits

Naomi Aoki March 1997

Investigative Methods Crime & Justice Public Safety

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…

Tracking the trends

Naomi Aoki March 1997

Crime & Justice Public Safety Investigative Methods

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…

Counting the crashes

Rick Linsk February 1997

Public Safety Data & Databases Investigative Methods

A journalist used the Fatal Accident Reporting System database to investigate whether fatal crashes involving older drivers were increasing disproportionately in New Jersey, compar…

Pushing the bridge limits

Dave Sheingold January 1997

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

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.

ADs, NPRMs and service bulletins

Bonnie Britt December 1996

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…

I've got a secret

Andy Lehren December 1996

Public Safety Investigative Methods Data & Databases

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…

You get what you pay for

Andrew Lehren December 1996

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…

National Association of Fleet Managers notice

December 1996

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…

What's the 911?

Chris Ford December 1996

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

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.

Don't get burned

David Migoya September 1996

Investigative Methods Data & Databases Public Safety

The National Fire Information Reporting System is a comprehensive database containing detailed fire incident data, but its complexity, manual data entry errors, and inconsistencies…

National Fire Information Reporting System availability notice

September 1996

Public Safety Data & Databases Journalism & Newsroom

The National Fire Information Reporting System is available through the National Technical Information Service for $1,265, covering data through 1994. NICAR may consider acquiring …

The heat is on

David Migoya September 1996

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

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…

Tracking rail safety

Penny Loeb June 1996

Public Safety Data & Databases Investigative Methods

The Federal Railroad Administration provides downloadable databases on train accidents, casualties, and grade-crossing incidents that journalists can use to investigate railroad sa…

Playing by the numbers

Andy Lehren June 1996

Public Safety Data & Databases Investigative Methods

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…

Crash course on plane crashes

Andy Lehren June 1996

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

Journalists covering the ValuJet plane crash used FAA databases and aviation records to investigate the accident, but encountered challenges including data quality issues, inconsis…

Oops! Uplink update

June 1996

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…

Riding the A-train

Jim Morris April 1996

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

Jim Morris recounts his experience utilizing Federal Railroad Administration safety databases to identify hazardous railroad crossings.

Facts and findings from "National Inventory of Dams"

March 1996

Public Safety Data & Databases Health & Environment

The National Inventory of Dams reveals critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, with nearly half of flood deaths in Georgia linked to dam failures and a significant portion of U.S.…

A look at old, decaying dams

Stan Dorsey March 1996

Investigative Methods Data & Databases Public Safety

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…

Bits, Bytes and Barks

January 1996

Investigative Methods Data & Databases Public Safety

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…

Tips

Jo Craven November 1995

Investigative Methods Data & Databases Public Safety

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…

Tale of OSHA tapes

Jo Craven November 1995

Public Safety Data & Databases Investigative Methods

OSHA provides four interconnected data tables tracking workplace accidents, hazardous substances, company violations, and site information that can be analyzed together using activ…

Beyond OSHA

Cassandra Sweet November 1995

Investigative Methods Public Safety Data & Databases

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…

Workplace inspections Short on surprises

Sarah Christian November 1995

Public Safety Investigative Methods Data & Databases

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…

OSHA falls flat

Jo Craven November 1995

Public Safety Investigative Methods Data & Databases

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…

The falling bridges of Madison County

Gwen Carleton September 1995

Investigative Methods Data & Databases Public Safety

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 …

Merry-go-round injuries

Rick Linsk September 1995

Investigative Methods Data & Databases Public Safety

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…

Finding the toothless tiger

David Hinchman April 1995

Public Safety Investigative Methods Data & Databases

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…

Uplink update

April 1995

Education Investigative Methods Public Safety

This journalism newsletter focuses on computer-assisted reporting techniques for education beat coverage, featuring expert journalists discussing data analysis methods for stories …

Go up the database staircase

David Armstrong March 1995

Investigative Methods Data & Databases Public Safety

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…

SDR reports still useful

Andrew Lehren February 1995