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 "inaccurate" ...

  • Security Cracks at the White House, Should Ultrak Guard Nuclear Labs?

    Insight reports on problems with a computer security system installed at the White House in 2001. The stories reveal that the system had once been down for a day; had not been tested but the factory before being installed; frequently gives inaccurate information about White House guests. A major finding is that security system lead contractor, Ultrak, Inc., has been taken over by Niklaus Zenger of Switzerland, who has ties to the Russian military.

    Tags: Secret Service; intelligence; FBI; president; Securities and Exchange Commission; corporate interests; national security

    By John Berlau

    Insight Magazine

    2002

  • Federal scrutiny on home deals

    In an effort to deal with property flipping and mortgage problems in Baltimore, federal officials have barred a half-dozen Maryland real estate appraisers from the Federal Housing Administration program that insures home mortgages. The action is part of a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development effort to deal with a growing problem of inaccurate appraisals.

    Tags: Federal Housing Administration; HUD; appraisers; home mortgages; FHA

    By John B. O'Donnell

    Baltimore Sun

    2001

  • Crying AIDS: Does sloppy research exaggerate the extent of Africa's crisis?

    An investigation by Toward Freedom Magazine of the AIDS epidemic in Africa reveals that sloppy research may inflate the reported number of AIDS cases on the continent. The World Health Organization estimates that 23.3 million people in Africa have AIDS. However, that estimate is "based on the most fragile of foundations. [The WHO's] definition of AIDS in Africa differs decisively from AIDS in the West. The WHO's clinical definition of AIDS in Africa is not based on an HIV test but on the combined symptoms of prolonged fever, persistent cough and others; none of which are uncommon in Africa."

    Tags: AIDS; Africa; research methods; data collection; inaccurate; World Health Organization

    By Tokunbo Ojo

    Toward Freedom Magazine

    2000

  • Study: Police stopped blacks twice as often as whites

    A study by the Courier-Journal reveals that Louisville police officers pulled over blacks twice as much as whites. The newspaper analyzed data from more than 1,600 traffic stops that occured on 30 days chosen at random. The newspaper makes no claims that the Louisville police department engages in racial profiling, however, three experts interviewed by the Courier-Journal say the study reveals evidence that it does. City officials declined to comment on the Courier-Journal's study, calling it inaccurate.

    Tags: CAR

    By Jim Adams

    Courier-Journal (Louisville, Ky.)

    2000

  • Holes in the emergency net

    The Arlington Heights Daily Herald reports that "Illinois residents have no reliable storehouse to use to determine whether their emergency workers are getting to them quickly enough. An examination of 1997 and 1998 data from more than 200 departments in northern Illinois found many of the average response times on record with the state fire marshal are inaccurate. Comparison checking is impossible and checking with a department directly is not easy. Several would not provide the Daily Herald with the requested average response times data or did not acknowledge a Freedom of Information Act request."

    Tags: CAR NFIRS National Fire Incident Reporting System Management Activity Report 34. FOI State Fire Marshall U.S. Fire Administration National Fire Protection Association

    By Madeleine Doubek

    Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Ill.)

    1999

  • Testing the V.E.T.

    WLKY-TV tests the accuracy, consistency and integrity of the vehicle emissions testing programs in Louisville and southern Indiana. The investigation found Louisville's machines to be woefully inaccurate and discovered rampant cheating going on during testing in Indiana.

    Tags: TAPE FOIA Open records Air pollution control district

    By Boel

    WLKY-TV (Louisville, Ky.)

    1997

  • No title (id: 8741)

    Harper's Magazine (New York) looks at the business of opinion polling in presidential races, and finds a cynical, inaccurate and overly powerful medium, April 1992.

    Tags: None

    By None

    Harper's Magazine

    1992

  • Body Trail Prompts Fear of Serial Killer

    The Columbus Dispatch was able to link what appeared to be the unconnected slaying of women in five states to the handiwork of a possible serial killer. The series of stories first exposed the links in the slaying then showed how law enforcement - despite high-tech tools and instant communication - fail to talk to each other, or depend to heavily on crime computers that are inaccurate or incomplete.

    Tags: None

    By Michael Berens

    Dispatch (Columbus, Ohio)

    1991

  • No title (id: 6367)

    New York Post reveals CBS News aired phony, stolen and inaccurate battle footage and news accounts of the Afghan-Soviet war; asked rebel forces to fake an attack, stole battle footage from a Boston University student and shot scenes of Pakistani training exercises, calling it a war, September - October 1989.

    Tags: Wilson

    By None

    New York Post

    1989

  • Poll Lists a Hole in Democracy's Armor

    Birmingham Post-Herald conducts computer-assisted investigations of voting irregularities in Alabama; finds inaccurate registration lists and questionable uses of absentee ballots.

    Tags: AL; voter registration; absentee ballot; CAR

    By Thomas Hargrove

    Post-Herald (Birmingham, Ala.)

    1988