Resource Center

Stories

The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast.

These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need.

Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:



Search results for "TAPE" ...

  • Des Moines Register Reader's Watchdog

    The Des Moines Register Reader's Watchdog column that takes on issues faced by individual Iowans who are at wits’ end and can't get answers from public officials, businesses and the justice system. Watchdog reporter Lee Rood's job is to give voice to readers who present important issues, to investigate all sides of those issues and to seek solutions that eluded others. This is a unique effort that both engages readers and values traditional watchdog reporting. At a time when journalists are seeking to remain relevant, build credibility and engage readers, she has launched this initiative that focuses not on the stories that she thinks are important, but on issues that are critical to our readers. In the past year, she wrote more than 60 columns, digging into watchdog issue brought to her by Iowans. Her work has put a new spotlight on wrongs that needed righting. Her work has led state lawmakers to propose legislation that requires Iowans to call 911 if they are present at the scene of an overdose. She has prodded the state attorney general's office to develop a plan to enforce laws that require companies to have worker's compensation insurance. She has fought through red tape for readers who didn't have someone in their corner to do so. Lee Rood's bold move to launch a new form of watchdog journalism for the Des Moines Register has made Iowans' lives better. Online, this body of work lives at DesMoinesRegister.com/ReadersWatchdog.

    Tags: Public officials; businesses; justice system

    By Lee Rood

    The Des Moines Register Reader

    2012

  • World’s Untold Stories: Secrets of the Belfast Project

    Forty years ago, during the height of Northern Ireland’s sectarian violence known as "The Troubles," a widowed mother with 10 children disappeared. Today, the answers to what happened could be found in audio recordings locked away in a U.S. college archive. But some don’t want the truth to come out. The audio recordings were collected for the Boston College Oral History Archives, from members of groups on both sides of the fighting. But this history project may contain evidence, that could threaten a delicate peace agreement – and the man credited with helping bring that peace to Northern Ireland, Gerry Adams. Adams, a prominent Irish politician and alleged former head of the Irish Republican Army, has vigorously denied the allegations. But many think the tapes could hold the key to solving the widowed mother’s murder – and more. In this episode of CNN’s documentary series “World’s Untold Stories”, Nic Robertson examines the risks and the benefits of exposing what truths may be on the tapes – and explains the ongoing battle between families, politicians, the courts, and academia, who are either seeking the truth, or seeking to protect it.

    Tags: Northern Ireland; Boston College; Gerry Adams; politicians; courts; academia

    By Bill Galvin; Sheri England; Nic Robertson; Ken Shiffman; Samantha Weihl; Neil Bennett; Earl Nurse; Blake Luce

    CNN

    2012

  • Poisoning the Press: Richard Nixon, Jack Anderson, and the Rise of Washington's Scandal Culture

    The narrative history of the bitter struggle between Richard Nixon and journalist Jack Anderson exposes corruption by both men and illustrates a larger story about the price of power in politics and journalism alike.

    Tags: Richard Nixon; Jack Anderson; Somoza; White House tapes; Watergate; assassinate

    By Mark Feldstein

    Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

    2010

  • The NYPD Tapes

    The series gives an unprecedented look inside the NYPD through the secret recordings documenting police misconduct made by Police Officer Adrian Schoolcraft. Evidence of civil rights violations, a severe staffing shortage, and downgrading of rape complaints are found within the 117 roll call recordings.

    Tags: police misconduct; NYPD; undercover; crime; recordings

    By Graham Rayman

    Village Voice (New York)

    2010

  • Killings At The Canal: The Army Tapes

    War crime by American soldiers in Iraq is something that has never been seen before, until now. Four Iraqi detainees were killed and no one knew why, until the videotapes of the interrogations were found and everything was revealed. Also, the rules of the Army led the American soldiers to kill these detainees, as written in a memo.

    Tags: Baghdad; sergeants; military; crime; Joshua Hartson; mission; murder; weapons; federal government

    By Abbie Boudreau; Scott Zamost; Richard Griffiths; Scott Matthews; David Doss; Jessi Joseph; Rich Brooks

    CNN (Atlanta)

    2009

  • "The Torture Tapes"

    A videotape smuggled out of the United Arab Emirates shows violent and graphic torture carried out by the brother of the "country's crown prince." A former business associate of the prince's brother released the tapes and revealed that he was tortured, too. The UAE government initially denied wrongdoing, but as word spread, eventually detained the member of the royal family. It is also suggested that the U.S. Embassy in the UAE ignored the issue.

    Tags: United Arab Emirates; Human Rights Watch; Sheikh; Gulf; Department of Homeland Security; UAE; House Human Rights Commission

    By Brian Ross; Vic Walter; Lara Setrakian; Angela M. Hill; Rehab El-Buri; Joseph Rhee; Rhonda Schwartz; Karen Brenner; Jon Banner; James Goldston

    ABC News

    2009

  • Not What the Doctor Ordered

    The Blade's investigation showed how patients are increasingly being harmed when insurers interfere with doctors' orders. Of the 920 doctors who responded to an online national survey about insurers, more than 99 percent reported that insurers had interfered with their hospitalization, referral, prescription or testing decisions. Interviews with about 100 doctors and their patients illustrated how insurers are becoming more aggressive in shaping patient care, eroding the doctor-patient relationship and putting people in danger.

    Tags: insurers; prescriptions; health care; patient care; bureaucracy; red tape; referrals; public health;

    By Steve Eder; Julie McKinnon

    Blade (Toledo, Ohio)

    2008

  • Police Beatings Caught on Tape: the Pictures that Chaged the Chicago Police Department

    FOX News Chicago discovered footage of an off duty officer beating a female bartender. They then "investigated the circumstances of the beating, the apparent lack of an appropriate police department response both at the time and during the investigation of the officer, and how other city employees may have tried to cover up the incident."

    Tags: police department; internal investigation; beating; assault; police officer; Chicago Police Department; police beating

    By Diane Carbonara; Craig Wall; Edward Bartlett; Nathan Halder; Andrew Finlayson; Larry Yellen; Dane Placko; Mark Suppelsa; Marsha Bartel; Jack Conaty

    WFLD-TV (Chicago)

    2007

  • Target Practice

    A grand jury subpoena requested that all of the Phoenix New Times' notes, tapes, stories and other material regarding Sheriff Joe Arpaio since January 1, 2004 be seized. The prosecutor even demanded names of any person who visited the newspaper's website since 2004 as well. This series tells the story of the New Times' struggle against over-reaching public officials, as well as a larger story about diminishing rights to privacy and freedom of expression.

    Tags: Andrew Thomas; Dennis Wilenchik; freedom of speech; courts; city government; state government; law enforcement; internet; First Amendment

    By Michael Lacey; Jim Larkin; Paul Rubin; Stephen Lemons; Sarah Fenske; Megan Irwin; Bill Jensen; Ray Stern; John Dickerson; Amy Silverman

    New Times (Phoenix)

    2007

  • Television Justice

    This series raised questions about the relationship between law enforcement and the NBC Dateline show "To Catch a Predator." The investigation revealed that police may sacrifice justice, and their role as independent investigators, in the interest of taping the prime-time show. This situation raises concerns about entrapment, tainted evidence, faulty warrants, and questionable arrest reports.

    Tags: television; police; justice system; sexual predators; sting operation; hidden camera

    By Byron Harris; Mark Smith; Kraig Kirchem; Michael Valentine

    WFAA-TV (Dallas)

    2007