The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. Add to that more than 3,000 tipsheets from our national conferences on how to cover specific beats or do specific stories and you have a resource that no reporter or editor should be without. These stories and tipsheets 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. Logged-in members can view the tipsheets free online:
Search results for "words" ...
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Telling (and Showing) The Story
Get beyond the "Date Dump" and make sure you report beyond data and words with this tipsheet.
Tags: Data Dump
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Text Visualization
Stasko's powerpoint explores several different methods to visual text. He also discusses the use of Jigsaw (Visualization for investigative analysis across document collections)
Tags: data visualization; word cloud; jigsaw; many eyes; phrase nets; TextArc; theme river; TIARA; PaperLens;
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Text Mining
Bones' tipsheet shows how he mined video for keywords used by 7 party leaders during 7 convention speakers. He used excel and access to analyze the data, and determine the words used most commonly by each of the party leaders.
Tags: text mining; computer-assisted reporting; word clouds; visualization; infographics
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Stupid Web Tricks
Welsh discusses three web tricks you can use to dress up your reporting or blog posts with tools you can find on the web. The how-tos include: how to publish a locater map from Google; how to create simple charts with Google Charts; and how to publish a word cloud with Wordle.
Tags: maps; Google; charts; graphics; reporting; fire maps; word cloud; infographics;
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Stupid Web Tricks
Welsh gives instructions on how to publish: a locater map from Google; a word cloud from Wordle; interactive charts from ManyEyes. Included in the instructions are ways to manipulate (or "jack" as Welsh puts it) the map/cloud/chart, and how to post it to your blog.
Tags: web; locater map; word cloud; charts; visualization; data; spreadsheet; PNG; GIF; content management system
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Twelve Steps for Clearer Stronger Writing
Writing for Broadcast can be tricky. Al Tompkins tells you the basic tips on how to write your story so viewers will stay tuned, what to say, and what not to say. He also advises you on how to write into your story, during your story and how to finish it smoothly and sharply. Not all is in words. Tompkins talks about key elements--beyond words--that will be your best friends if you want good broadcast quality delivery.
Tags: broadcast; writing; clear; sharp; words; silence; pause; tag; lead.
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Creating Your Own Databases and Spreadsheets
This tipsheet explains how to custom-package the wealth of electronic information on a computer disk, when and when not to create your own database, advice on data collection and words of caution on running your results and interpreting them accurately. It also includes a look at how to create surveys further beyond the "man-on-the-street" Q & A.
Tags: CAR; computer-assisted reporting; database; spreadsheet; survey; broadcast
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Putting it All Together
Investigations don't just exist in the form of the printed word anymore. This tipsheet offers other ways to reinforce an investigation, such as photo ideas, graphic ideas, and even methods of making a website that interacts with the story.
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Basic Craft Pointers: If I Had to Choose Six Things; Narrative Toolbox: Idea Stage through Revision
Kate Long of the Charleston Gazette lists the six most important things to keep in mind when writing. The second part of the tipsheet explains how to "create a movie in the reader's mind."