Computer-Assisted Reporting Newsletter, 1990–2007
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…
IRE and NICAR offer comprehensive databases and resources for journalists covering energy, utilities, and power infrastructure, including the National Inventory of Dams, federal fu…
A new archive interface has been launched for the NICAR-L Listserv, offering improved search capabilities and organization by thread, month, and author, with advanced filtering opt…
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…
Uplink introduces its new interactive electronic version and website updates to better serve its readers with full-color graphics and searchable pages.
Matthew Waite presented on wikis at the 2006 CAR Conference, with his presentation available online, while the Special Libraries Association also featured a panel discussion on wik…
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.
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…
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 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.
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…
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 …
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.
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.
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…
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…
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 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.
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…
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 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…
Matthew Waite explains how to use GPS and GIS tools to rapidly map hurricane destruction, providing better visual context and reporting for readers.
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…
This spotlight section directs readers to multiple resources about hurricane destruction, including articles on mapping storm damage with GIS technology, identifying vulnerable pop…
This article explains XML (Extensible Markup Language) and its practical challenges for database users, particularly in government agencies, demonstrating how XML's flexible struct…
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 …
IRE members can obtain free ArcView GIS software licenses from ESRI with a three-year maintenance agreement, provided they complete qualifying GIS training through IRE, NICAR, or E…
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 …
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Social network analysis tools reveal links of the Islamic American Relief Agency to terror activities, highlighting investigative techniques using data.
This technical tip explains how to choose and configure numeric field types in Microsoft Access to ensure data like decimals and percentages are stored accurately.
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.
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…
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…
Journalists can access resources for social network analysis to visualize complex connections between people and organizations in investigative reporting.
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…
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…
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…
Journalists from top news organizations share expertise on computer-assisted reporting projects through panel sessions, tapes, and tipsheets available from the IRE Annual Conferenc…
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.
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.
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…
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.
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…
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 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…
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…
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 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…
The article highlights the growing adoption of computer-assisted reporting (CAR) among journalists across various media outlets, emphasizing the learning opportunities and exciteme…
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…
A journalist frustrated by Windows security vulnerabilities, particularly the Mydoom virus, decides to switch to Linux as their primary operating system and evaluates various Linux…
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.
CommonWealth magazine created 'Beyond Red & Blue,' an interactive report that maps 10 distinct political regions across the United States by analyzing county-level election data an…
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…
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…
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.
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.
This article provides a guide for journalists seeking free GIS data, highlighting government portals like geodata.gov.
The IRE Resource Center offers multiple tipsheets with practical guidance on creating and managing effective newsroom intranets, covering topics from content strategy to technical …
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…
NICAR is soliciting recommendations from Uplink readers for their favorite CAR (Computer-Assisted Reporting) tools to feature.
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…
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…
The IRE and NICAR Database Library launched an online subscription service in spring 2003 that provides journalists with cleaned, updated government databases in real-time, elimina…
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…
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, …
The IRE and NICAR Database Library has updated its FDA and NASA safety reporting databases with recent data, providing journalists with resources to investigate pharmaceutical and …
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…
Computer-assisted reporting in newsrooms is evolving beyond basic spreadsheets to require server-based data management solutions, with Red Hat Linux 9.0 offering a cost-effective a…
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…
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…
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…
A guide to purchasing GPS units for newsroom use, covering price ranges, key considerations for different use cases, and essential features like ruggedness and map displays versus …
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…
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…
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…
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.
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.
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…
IRE and NICAR offer resources and databases to help journalists cover post-Iraq War issues, including military presence, reconstruction, and terrorism, with training opportunities …
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…
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…
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 …
Exploration of open-source software in the newsroom, assessing its capabilities for journalism.
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 U.S. are using GIS mapping technology with Census Bureau data to uncover demographic patterns, including language barriers, poverty pockets, and commuting di…
Aron Pilhofer, former director of IRE's Campaign Finance Information Center, has joined the Center for Public Integrity and will continue contributing to journalism through regular…
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 …
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…
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…
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.
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…
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.
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…
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…
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…
A NICAR-L discussion post explains how to use the Trim function in an Access update query to remove leading and trailing spaces from database fields.
A quick tip explaining how to transpose rows and columns in an Excel spreadsheet using Paste Special.
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 provides multiple tipsheets on airline security and aviation safety, offering guidance on accessing government agencies, crash investigation documents, and …
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 journalist discovers open source software like MySQL, Linux, and Apache as cost-effective alternatives to expensive commercial databases and applications for computer-assisted re…
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,…
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 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 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.
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 tipsheet compiled by a St. Louis Post-Dispatch journalist providing useful transportation research websites and resources for journalists covering vehicle crashes, accidents, and…
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.
IRE and NICAR are offering numerous training opportunities in 2000, including a spring mapping bootcamp focused on Census data, statistics seminars, and computer-assisted reporting…
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 describes using data journalism techniques learned at NICAR Boot Camp to investigate whether bad weather correlates with increased parking tickets by combining weather…
A journalist describes building an inexpensive GIS mapping system for under $300 using free public domain data and off-the-shelf software, which was successfully deployed to analyz…
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 upcoming Census 2000 data release plans, provides technical solutions for importing fixed-width text into Access, and introduces the NICAR Database Library's …
A curated list of resources and software platforms for intranet development, including NewsEngin, FileMaker Pro, SQL Server, and ColdFusion with their respective website URLs.
This resource lists IRE tipsheets providing guidance on building, maintaining, and utilizing newsroom intranets, with materials covering setup, management, content, and survey resu…
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 National CAR Conference in Lexington offers recorded panel tapes available through Sound Images, covering topics such as journalism combined with social research methods, case …
The article provides a list of tipsheets from the IRE Resource Center offering guidance on building, maintaining, and running newsroom intranets, covering topics from initial setup…
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 article provides a list of IRE Resource Center tipsheets offering guidance on building, maintaining, and managing newsroom intranets, including practical advice from industry e…
The NICAR Database Library has expanded its collection with new datasets including Storm Events, National Practitioner Databank, DOT Truck Census and Accidents, and Airmen Director…
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 list of recommended websites for FileMaker information and tips, including the official FileMaker site and several community resources.
FileMaker Pro Unlimited 5 offers a quick and resource-efficient solution for setting up searchable intranet databases without programming, allowing newsrooms to deploy working data…
A curated list of web resources for learning and exploring Visual Basic programming, including Microsoft's official documentation and community-driven developer sites.
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…
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…
Guide to journalism mailing lists including NICAR-L for computer-assisted reporting, JAGIS-L for geographic information systems, and CENSUS-L for census-related discussions, with s…
A reference guide providing resources for geographic data visualization and mapping tools, including links to mapping software, GIS platforms, and computer-assisted reporting insti…
Journalists across Europe, particularly in Denmark and the Netherlands, are increasingly using GIS mapping software to analyze and visualize data for investigative stories, enablin…
Guide for journalists on accessing and using Census 2000 data through shapefiles and TIGER files, with resources for downloading geographic data from the Census Bureau and ESRI.
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 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 article discusses the importance of using GIS software to map U.S. Census data, highlighting the advantages GIS provides for creating detailed demographic maps effortlessly as …
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 guide to using CyberGuides for effective subject searching on the web, reviewed for the IRE Journal's May issue.
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.
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…
IRE and NICAR are offering Census 2000 workshops in three locations with expert instructors, while also updating several federal databases including the Consolidated Federal Funds …
A tutorial on creating and using a Microsoft Access module that removes leading, trailing, and extra spaces between words in database fields.
Instructions for converting character date fields (like '01021999') to formatted date fields (like '01/02/1999') using either Access or FoxPro database software.
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…
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…
A comprehensive list of international data sources including government databases for securities, census, immigration, and arms transfers, plus scientific research resources.
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…
Danish journalists founded DICAR in 1999 to promote computer-assisted reporting (CAR) methods, establishing training programs, a membership association with 200 members, and online…
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…
A compilation of religion-focused websites curated for journalists covering religious topics, including Christian organizations, churches, and interfaith resources.
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…
Student journalists are increasingly learning computer-assisted reporting (CAR) skills to analyze data and uncover stories, with journalism schools adopting various approaches to t…
Colorado journalists created an interactive tax calculator to help voters understand how proposed tax cuts would personally affect them, making complex fiscal policy accessible by …
A 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…
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…
A journalist describes how computer-assisted reporting (CAR) tools, particularly Microsoft Excel, enable deeper data analysis and discovery rather than just surface-level coverage,…
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…
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 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…
The Reporter's Desktop, a free collaborative website hosted by IRE, provides U.S. and Canadian journalists with curated links to essential reporting tools like mapping services, re…
Software programs like SPSS and Excel often produce different numerical results for statistical calculations like percentiles, and economists warn that journalists and analysts sho…
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…
This journalism newsletter announces upcoming Computer Assisted Reporting (CAR) training seminars in Columbia, Missouri covering database design and mapping software, along with in…
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 …
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…
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…
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.
This collection of online resources provides journalists with essential tools for learning statistics, polling ethics, spreadsheet management, and general data calculations.
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 …
A short report on using GIS to overlay landslide maps with building permits to identify risky construction areas before the 1998 El Nino storms.
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
Computer-assisted reporting professionals tackle messy, unstructured datasets using various tools and techniques, with the NICAR-L community providing valuable collaborative proble…
This newsletter updates on available conference audio tapes, campaign finance data resources, database processing capabilities, and upcoming IRE and NICAR conferences in 1999.
The Society of Environmental Journalists offers a comprehensive web resource hosted on IRE's website, providing journalists with topic-organized environmental links, story idea tip…
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…
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…
ArcView and MapInfo are the leading GIS software products for journalists, each offering distinct advantages in data integration and accessibility, with additional free alternative…
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 resource guide for journalists interested in mapping and data visualization, providing references to ArcView user groups and recommended books on cartography, statistics, and vis…
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 …
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 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…
The article explains two main categories of web research tools: raters and robots, and describes how hierarchical indexes like Yahoo and LookSmart allow users to search by drilling…
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 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…
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…
Wendell Cochran compiles a resource list of major computer companies and their websites addressing Year 2000 computer issues, including Microsoft, IBM, Apple, Dell, and others.
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…
The article recommends two websites for researching Year 2000 computer issues and provides links to searchable archives of IRE and NICAR mailing lists where these topics have been …
As the year 2000 approaches, companies and governments worldwide are spending billions to fix the Y2K bug that could cause computer systems to malfunction, though computer-assisted…
Cold Fusion is middleware software that allows journalists to query databases through web browsers instead of specialized database software, making data more accessible to newsroom…
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…
This article profiles Web sites and search services that provide free access to newspaper archives and online news searches, helping librarians and researchers find newspaper artic…
The article examines the shift from FoxPro to Microsoft Access in newsrooms for computer-assisted reporting, with journalists debating the merits of each database software for data…
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…
A guide for setting up an intranet in a newsroom, covering the hardware and software requirements including TCP/IP networking, Web browsers, and Web server options using Windows NT…
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…
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…
This article surveys popular Internet browser plug-ins and software tools, including both free and shareware programs like Adobe Acrobat Reader, Winzip, RealAudio, and Shockwave th…
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 …
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…
A journalism newsletter covering IRE membership information, NICAR listserv discussion forums, staff changes at news organizations, and updates to the Campaign Finance Information …
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…
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…
The Campaign Finance Information Center launches with a new website and newsletter, while NICAR expands its conferences, seminars, and online resources for journalists interested i…
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 …
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…
A first-time computer-assisted reporting instructor shares lessons learned from teaching the course, including the importance of staggered deadlines, building student enthusiasm th…
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 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…
Nora Paul from Poynter Institute provides a guide to sports websites and resources for journalists, recommending link pages and mega-sports sites to help reporters and editors veri…
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…
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…
NICAR announces expanded campaign finance resources, conferences, and seminars for journalists, including an annual March conference in Indianapolis and upcoming specialized worksh…
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…
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,…
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 offers specialized training programs in computer-assisted reporting for journalists, including on-the-road workshops, bootcamps, and conference sessions scheduled throughout …
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…
Periodistas de Investigacion has compiled a curated list of over 250 border resource links organized by theme, including environmental archives, government agencies, and health ini…
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 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…
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…
This article explains how to perform basic data manipulation tasks like updating and deleting records in both Access and FoxPro databases, comparing the syntax and safety features …
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…
Loraine Anderson discusses how the Traverse City Record-Eagle manages computer-assisted reporting with limited resources, sharing tips for small newspapers.
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…
This article highlights useful internet resources for journalists, including sites for locating statistics from federal agencies and accessing news archives from newspapers across …
This article explains how to create User Defined Functions (UDFs) in FoxPro programming language, demonstrating the process with simple examples like noDot() and rSplit() functions…
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…
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 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…
Instructions for subscribing to NICAR and IRE listservs to connect with journalists discussing reporting techniques and professional development.
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 …
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…
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 and The Associated Press offer specialized computer-assisted reporting training through on-the-road sessions, bootcamps at their Missouri headquarters, and international prog…
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…
This tech tip explains how to use database functions in Access and FoxPro to determine the day of the week from date fields, allowing journalists to analyze patterns like which wee…
A comprehensive guide to journalism career resources and job search websites for recent graduates, including links to major job boards, professional associations, and listservs tha…
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…
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 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 …
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…
A journalism resource guide listing websites and online tools for researching travel destinations, including maps, city information, flight bookings, and hotel reservations to help…
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…
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.
A technical tip explaining how to use FoxPro's 'copy structure extended' command to document database layouts and create data dictionaries.
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 Reporters Network has launched a redesigned website featuring a Media Directory where journalists can manage their own listings, along with two bulletin boards for news reporte…
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.
George Landau, formerly of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, has founded NewsEngin, Inc., a company offering affordable database applications and web-based tools for organizations. The …
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…
The article introduces two CD-based resources for journalists investigating aircraft: Jane's Electronic Information System, which catalogs civilian and military aircraft, and Inter…
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…
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…
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…
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.
This article provides journalists with comprehensive resources for researching health and medical topics, including reference books, internet directories, medical databases, and co…
NICAR and Philip Meyer are offering an Advanced Bootcamp in Chapel Hill from May 4-9, 1997, focusing on statistics and mapping for journalists. Registration is available through We…
Two journalism positions are available: a business reporter at The Buffalo News covering labor and trade issues, and a computer-assisted reporting editor or reporter at The Allento…
NashCAR, NICAR's 1997 national conference in Nashville (March 6-9), offers comprehensive computer-assisted reporting training for journalists at all skill levels with sessions for …
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…
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…
Journalism organizations met to address barriers preventing the Freedom of Information Act from effectively opening government records, identifying problems with FOIA implementatio…
NashCAR, NICAR's 1997 national conference in Nashville, will offer comprehensive computer-assisted reporting training for journalists of all skill levels, with specialized tracks f…
NICAR offers specialized training in data journalism and computer-assisted reporting through seminars, conferences, and intensive bootcamps at various locations throughout 1996-199…
NICAR announces plans to expand its computer-assisted reporting programs and services, including increasing publication frequency, adding new seminars, hosting a national conferenc…
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…
This article provides a comprehensive guide to online environmental resources and databases, including government agencies like the EPA, nonprofit organizations like CNIE, and spec…
The Society of Environmental Journalists has moved its website to the IRE/NICAR server and is launching upgraded online services including a search engine, archived publications, c…
ProfNet has expanded its query targeting capabilities to allow journalists to search for expert sources across five specific institution types, including colleges, corporations, th…
NICAR and the Associated Press offer specialized training programs in computer-assisted journalism across multiple cities and conferences, teaching reporters to use databases, spre…
NICAR's NashCAR conference will be held March 6-9, 1997 in Nashville, Tennessee, featuring hands-on training in computer-assisted reporting for journalists of all skill levels acro…
NICAR and Philip Meyer are offering an Advanced Bootcamp May 4-9, 1997 in Chapel Hill focused on statistics and maps for journalists.
Richard Mullins provides technical instructions on how to use SQL keywords and functions in Microsoft Access and FoxPro to retrieve top-ranked data results.
A guide for journalists on designing and evaluating research web pages, including planning questions, features to include, and criteria for assessing website quality and usefulness…
The Associated Press outlines ten essential guidelines for journalists to ensure responsible and professional use of the Internet and electronic services.
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.
ProfNet, an academic expert research tool, has faced reporter concerns after being sold to PR Newswire, which sells queries to paying clients and potentially compromises confidenti…
Neil Reisner provides a curated list of essential online resources and websites for business reporters. The list includes financial data providers, government agencies, and useful …
This technical guide outlines the key differences between FoxPro and Microsoft Access for journalists. It explains database object management, syntax variations in SQL, and the ben…
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…
A journalism newsletter covering job transitions and opportunities in newsrooms, with a focus on computer-assisted reporting skills and proposed NICAR training seminars for interme…
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 is offering an Advanced Bootcamp led by Philip Meyer on May 4-9 in Chapel Hill, focusing on statistics and maps for journalists.
A comprehensive guide to free, searchable online databases available to newsrooms, including telephone directories, business listings, legal databases, mapping tools, and specializ…
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…
The Database of Databases project aims to help Canadian journalists and academics access government and organizational databases for computer-assisted reporting, addressing challen…
The Quebec Launch Pad for Journalists is a comprehensive online resource providing journalists with links to government departments, news sources, and other useful information abou…
Jyllands-Posten, a major Danish newspaper, offers daily news coverage across multiple categories with both free summaries and paid full article access on its website.
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…
The redesigned reporter.org website is now live, hosting professional journalism organizations and mailing lists including IRE, NICAR, and various diversity-focused journalist asso…
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…
TRAC's IRS criminal enforcement website offers four main navigation options including roadmaps, data graphics, downloadable datasets, and topic-based, district-based, or comparativ…
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…
Instructions for subscribing to journalism discussion listservs through email and accessing IRE/NICAR resources via CompuServe's Journalism Forum.
The article provides guidance on locating listserv mailing lists and usenet discussion groups through several online resources including Tile.Net, Nova University's Inter-Links, an…
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…
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 Des Moines Register is hiring a systems editor to manage newsroom technical operations, supervise staff training, and oversee IT infrastructure for the 179,000-circulation news…
A guide to resources for calculating and understanding inflation rates, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tools, comparative inflation analysis methods, and salary and …
This article provides a comprehensive guide to online resources for learning statistics, including educational websites, courses, software tools, and reference materials designed s…
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…
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.
Instructions for journalists to subscribe to NICAR-L and IRE-L listservs for professional discussion and networking, with additional information about accessing IRE/NICAR resources…
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…
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…
The article discusses the growing adoption of computer-assisted reporting (CAR) among broadcasters, illustrating through anecdotes how TV journalists are applying these techniques …
Instructions for subscribing to journalism listservs NICAR-L and IRE-1 via email, with additional information about accessing IRE/NICAR resources through CompuServe's Journalism Fo…
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…
The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald are hiring journalists and technical staff to develop bilingual English and Spanish online news services, with positions including web designer…
A guide to useful websites for learning about and working with geographic information systems (GIS), ranging from beginner resources to professional tools and data sources.
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, …
IRE and NICAR have made their mailing list archives publicly accessible on their websites in multiple formats (HTML and plain text), allowing users to browse posts by thread, autho…
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…
A one-day conference on satellite imagery and its applications in news media will be held March 7 at American University in Washington, D.C., sponsored by multiple organizations in…
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…
A comparison of four geographic information system (GIS) software products including ArcView, Atlas GIS, MapInfo, and Maptitude, with pricing, features, and contact information for…
NICAR's website, administered by Wallace Winfrey, provides comprehensive information about the organization's events, training seminars, newsletter, and database library, while als…
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 …
Instructions for subscribing to journalism listservs and accessing IRE/NICAR resources for reporters to discuss best practices in the profession.
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 for journalists covering political campaigns, providing web resources for researching candidate positions, voting records, speeches, and campaign finances across multiple s…
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…
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 guide for journalists on how to research and background nonprofit organizations using online resources, including financial evaluation tools, trade publications, and comprehensiv…
This article directs readers to the IRS website on the U.S. Treasury Department's official domain.
Multiple computer-assisted reporting training seminars and bootcamps are available for journalists throughout early 1996, with registration open to all news professionals. Addition…
Swedish IRE has launched MEDIA, a European listserv connecting journalists interested in investigative reporting and computer-assisted reporting, with bilingual members available t…
The Nation of Islam's website was hacked and defaced with cyber-graffiti shortly after the Million Man March, with the hosting company removing the site to eliminate malicious file…
A newsletter covering recent internet and journalism news, including the defacement of the Nation of Islam's website, job moves by computer-assisted reporting professionals, and up…
NICAR's website, administered by Wallace Winfrey, provides comprehensive information about the organization's events, training seminars, newsletters, and database library, while al…
The Medill School of Journalism and NICAR are offering computer-assisted reporting training programs for journalists in December and January-March at their respective locations.
NICAR provides access to a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering elections, aviation, finance, crime, safety, transportation, and education for investig…
News organizations like the Virginian Pilot and Detroit's WDIV-TV are providing publicly accessible data online, reflecting a growing trend of transparency in journalism.
Instructions for subscribing to NICAR and IRE listservs where journalists can discuss reporting techniques and professional development.
A journalism newsletter highlighting Profnet's new email address, NICAR job openings, warnings about fake presidential websites, and examples of how reporter Amy Bayer uses Interne…
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announced plans to launch its own searchable patent database on November 9, and the SEC took over management of the EDGAR corporate financial r…
A guide to online resources for learning about patents, including the U.S. Patent Office, searchable databases, FAQs, law school resources, and patent search tools.
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…
Multiple journalism organizations are offering computer training bootcamps and workshops for journalists in fall 2024 and spring 2025, with programs focusing on computer-assisted r…
NICAR has moved its website to a new address at reporter.org and is expanding its online resources, including a new Russian journalism site and connections to other journalism orga…
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…
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…
Instructions for subscribing to NICAR and IRE listservs where journalists can discuss best practices and professional development.
The Car Rock '95 IRE/NICAR computer-assisted reporting conference has launched web pages featuring panel information, speaker biographies, and resources for both attendees and thos…
Government agencies are increasingly publishing reports and information online rather than in print, making it easier for journalists to access data quickly. The article provides a…
NICAR's website has expanded its offerings to include new home pages for Asian American Journalists Association and National Association of Black Journalists, with plans to add mor…
A detailed review of Windows 95 that praises its interface improvements and stability enhancements over Windows 3.1, while cautioning that full benefits require new 32-bit software…
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…
A guide to Internet resources for covering money and politics, featuring websites that track campaign finance, PAC contributions, and political activism, along with tools for acces…
Government agencies including the Census Bureau and FDIC are increasingly making reports and databases available exclusively online to save money and distribute information faster,…
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…
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 (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…
The 1996 federal budget is now available online through the U.S. Commerce Department's STAT-USA service in searchable text format, accessible via FTP, gopher, and the World Wide We…
The Investigative Reporters and Editors annual conference in Miami (June 8-11) offers intensive computer-assisted reporting training across three tracks covering introductory skill…
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…
This article provides journalists with a curated list of Internet resources for covering natural disasters, including government agencies, relief organizations, and specialized sit…
NICAR is offering computer-assisted reporting training sessions across the United States in March and April, with locations in Indianapolis, Stamford, Chicago, and Albany, plus an …
Notebook computers have significantly improved in speed, storage capacity, and expandability, making them viable tools for reporters doing data-intensive work. Modern notebooks now…
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…
Environment Canada's Green Lane is a comprehensive online resource offering regional and national environmental information, including weather forecasts, publications, program deta…
The Hartford Courant created a customized FoxPro application to make computer-assisted reporting resources accessible to non-technical reporters by simplifying database searching t…
A DOS command technique using DIR with specific options can create a comprehensive, sortable inventory of all files on a hard drive and save it to a text file for easy viewing or p…
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…
The Asbury Park Press developed a computer-assisted reporting program providing newsroom-wide access to databases and analytical software, enabling investigations into local issues…
The article examines how computers and online technologies are transforming human relationships and communication, while exploring implications for government, politics, and child …
Newspapers should cover technology stories addressing public access to government data, the internet's role in politics and communication, and emerging concerns about online safety…
Computer-assisted reporters should investigate government computer systems for investigative story opportunities, including incompatible departments, poor data coordination, and pu…
AT&T has launched an online directory of toll-free 800 numbers accessible through the World Wide Web at http://att.net/dir800.
The Freedom Forum and Nieman Foundation have launched online presences through NandO.net, offering conference transcripts, reports, and multimedia content focused on public-interes…
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 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…
This timeline documents the federal government's dramatic expansion of computer usage from 1946 to 1993, showing growth from a single ENIAC to millions of computers, while noting t…
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 …
A journalist describes setting up an Internet training room in San Jose, detailing the technical challenges of connecting computers to the Internet via T-1 lines and teaching begin…
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…
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 …
This month's Uplink newsletter showcases diverse applications of computer-assisted reporting (CAR) in journalism, including aviation data analysis, science reporting, voter fraud i…
A newsroom's technology inventory from the early 1990s detailing computer hardware, operating systems, and software applications including PCs, Unix systems, and various productivi…
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…
Dan Gillmor has joined the San Jose Mercury News as technology editor and is helping organize Internet training at the CAR TREK conference in October.
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…
Computer equipment prices from Japanese manufacturers are increasing due to dollar weakness, with Fujitsu raising prices on tape cart readers by $600, while American-made 9-Track d…
NICAR offers data transfer services using various media formats and provides access to numerous government databases including FEC contributions, FAA data, and mortgage disclosure …
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…
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…
Database management programs like Paradox often require temporary disk space equal to several times the size of tables being processed, and can fail when configured to use a full d…
Strategies employed by the Philadelphia Daily News to obtain campaign contribution records electronically from gubernatorial candidates, highlighting the hurdles and eventual succe…
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…
NICAR offers affordable data transfer services for journalists using various media formats and provides access to numerous government databases including FEC contributions, FAA dat…
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…
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…
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…
A guide for accessing Usenet newsgroups through an alternative method via listserv at a Belgian university email address using the /NNHELP command.
UC Berkeley's graduate journalism school has launched a new Mosaic website featuring resources of interest to journalists, including student photos and school information.
The EPA is expanding its Seattle-based bulletin board system due to a significant increase in public information requests, with plans to add a new phone line and potentially offer …
Canada's federal government launched the Open Government Project, an internet-based pilot program designed to increase public accessibility to government information, officials, an…
The State University of New York's Internet Demonstration Project launched ProfNet, a cooperative network that connects journalists with expert sources at universities, research in…
A reporter covers the 1994 Spring Internet World Conference in San Jose, exploring the latest Internet technology and graphical user interfaces (GUIs) designed to help users naviga…
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…
American University is offering a seminar on computers and federal government reporting, while NICAR highlights computer-assisted reporting stories and discounted software for jour…
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 article examines different data storage options for news organizations, comparing traditional tape storage with newer technologies like DAT cartridges and magneto-optical drive…
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…
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…
The U.S. Census Bureau is planning to replace its mainframe systems with Digital Equipment Corporation VAX minicomputers by 1996 in preparation for the 2000 census, while also expl…
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 …
A guide to eliminating duplicate rows in databases by creating a unique identifier field using the REPLACE ALL command with RECNO() function in FoxPro or dBase.
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…
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…
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…
The author describes using a nine-track tape drive with Computer Logics software to back up computer data after experiencing system failure, finding the reliable Save and Load util…
Tom Foster at the Syracuse Post-Standard has developed Paradox applications to make data available to newsroom reporters and seeks to connect with other journalists who have worked…
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…
Government agencies are transitioning from nine-track tapes to new storage technologies, with CD-ROMs and automatic tape library systems emerging as the primary alternatives by the…
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 article explores the legacy of 'superprogrammers' from the mainframe era who used ingenious but complex data compression techniques, and how modern database systems have largel…
The article lists several upcoming seminars and workshops on computer-assisted reporting for journalists, including programs from the Education Writers Association, University of N…
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…
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, …
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…
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 correction to last month's Tech Tips article regarding a database command for handling company name spellings in the BADSPELL database.
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 …
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…
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 startup journalism company struggles to recover a $2,000 down payment after canceling an order for a used computer tape drive from a vendor who applied unexpected restocking char…
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…
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 comparison of three popular database management programs—FoxPro, Paradox, and XDB—used in computer-assisted reporting, examining their strengths and weaknesses based on journalis…
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 …
Journalists using the XDB database software report significant technical problems including import failures, indexing errors, and inconsistent query results, leading some to switch…
Discussion of improvements in cable and hardware to resolve tape drive issues faced by reporters.
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…
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…
The Boston Herald and other newspapers are investing in scanning technology to reduce data entry errors and improve efficiency in converting documents to digital formats. While the…
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…
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…
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 …
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…
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…
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…
The Missouri Institute of Computer-Assisted Reporting and the U.S. Census Bureau are hosting a one-day seminar on April 15, 1991 at the University of Missouri-Columbia to teach rep…
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…
A journalist at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch shares his technical toolkit and software recommendations for efficiently managing and analyzing data on personal computers, including d…
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 …
Information about accessing MDR data available through NTIS on 3 reels of tape, with alternative availability through MICAR for $300 due to temporary NTIS closure.
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…
The article provides eight practical tips for journalists introducing computer-assisted reporting to newsrooms, including learning technical language, understanding hardware/softwa…