Three major investigative reports that used social science research methods to: expose serial killings, shine a light on school cheating, and reveal truths about the home foreclosure crisis were named winners of the 2011 Philip Meyer Award.

First place is awarded to "Murder Mysteries" by Thomas Hargrove of Scripps Howard News Service. The series resulted in what experts say is the most complete database available of unsolved murders. Hargrove developed a unique algorithm to identify the likely traces of serial murders. Police in at least eight cities have acknowledged that the clusters found by Hargrove are either confirmed serial cases ...

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Each generation has what I might call generational moments: The Kennedy assassination for baby boomers, Sept. 11 for millennials. Professionals also may have moments that define a common experience. For those of us who practice and teach computer-assisted reporting, that moment might be our first encounter with "Precision Journalism," Phil Meyer’s groundbreaking book that has shown many of us the way. My moment came as a graduate student at Kent State University. I was browsing the journalism shelves at the library, looking for serendipitous moments to broaden my ideas and skills. One title stood out for sounding so odd ... Read more ...