Register today to take advantage of the early bird rate of $190.  After Monday, March 1, this rate will increase to $220 on-site.  Registration information can be found at http://data.nicar.org/CAR2010/reg. Cutting-edge panels and practical hands-on software training will highlight IRE’s 2010 Computer Assisted Reporting conference March 11-14 in Phoenix, Ariz. We’ll offer something for everyone – whether you’re a CAR beginner or a data wizard. This year’s conference will include:

• Training to prepare for the 2010 Census, including a special workshop on Thursday
• More panels on how to use free, open-source software ...

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With tight newsroom budgets, open-source software comes at the right price: free. This year’s Computer-Assisted Reporting conference March 11-14 in Phoenix offers several new hands-on classes:

• CrimeStat. Analyze crime incident locations with a free spatial ...

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Three major investigative reports that used social science research methods as key parts of their probes were named today as winners of the 2009 Philip Meyer Journalism Award. USA Today took first place with "The Smokestack Effect: Toxic Air and America's Schools." Reporters Blake Morrison and Brad Heath spearheaded a project that examined the levels of air pollution at schools across the country and identified thousands of schools where the air was far more toxic than in other nearby neighborhoods. In second place is The Seattle Times with "MRSA: Culture of Resistance." Reporters Michael J. Berens and Ken Armstrong ... Read more ...

In a video interview with IRE, Manny Garcia of The Miami Herald explains how Twitter and Facebook are helping his newspaper's ongoing coverage of the earthquake in Haiti. His advice applies to using social media tools on any breaking news story. Garcia shared his tips and advice during an IRE Ethnic Media Watchdog Workshop in January in New Orleans. Watch the video on our IRE On The Road blog.