Archive for February 2009
Former police informant admits to lying
Barbara Laker and Wendy Ruderman of the Philadelphia Daily News report that a former police informant in Philadelphia claims that he and a narcotics officer lied about information used to convict alleged drug dealers. The informant, Ventura Martinez, said he fabricated information to earn money, fight the Philadelphia drug trade and to honor his close…
Read MoreThe CAR conference is quickly approaching. Register TODAY!
Gain the skills you need to become an essential part of any newsroom at the 2009 Computer-Assisted Reporting Conference in Indianapolis on March 19-22. Register today as early bird registration ends on March 6. From the beginner to advanced CAR specialist, you’ll sharpen your skills in data analysis, Web programming and reporting on dozens of…
Read MoreProblems with food safety protection are rampant
A watchdog report by Justina Wang of the Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, N.Y.) looks at how the latest salmonella contamination exposes vulnerabilities in the protection of U.S. food safety. Despite calls for stricter oversight, the system remains inadequate. The article points out that “federal officials hold little power to force recalls or oversee the daily…
Read MoreProPublica, WNYC launch project to track stimulus spending
WNYC-New York and ProPublica have started a Web site dedicated to providing “documents, data and original reporting to help citizens monitor the progress and effectiveness of the largest domestic spending bill in U.S. history.” The site, called ShovelWatch, can be found at http://www.shovelwatch.org/.
Read MoreNew to CAR? Share your data, get feedback
If you’re new to plumbing spreadsheets and databases, it’s likely that you might exhibit some anxiety about your new found skills. But take it from a seasoned professional, Maurice Tamman of The Wall Street Journal, don’t hesitate to share your data and check your work. Even if it means phoning up a competitor to see…
Read MoreU.S. citizens fall victim to escalating violence in Mexico
Over 200 U.S. citizens have been killed in Mexico since 2004, according to a report by Lise Olsen of the Houston Chronicle. “More U.S. citizens suffered unnatural deaths in Mexico than in any other foreign country — excluding military killed in combat zones — from 2004 to 2007, State Department statistics show.” Mexican Congressman Juan…
Read MoreTexas company exploited disabled workers
In an exclusive story, the Des Moines Register reported that a company had been sending mentally disabled Texans to work at a meat-processing plant in West Liberty, Iowa, for 34 years. The company housed the men in a 106-year-old bunkhouse and deducted from their pay $1,000 per month for room, board and “kind care.” After…
Read MoreInvestigative reporting offers hope amid economic tides
By Phil Williams, IRE Board Member If you read the industry news about the challenges facing journalism today, it’s easy to get discouraged. Positions on investigative teams — in some cases, whole teams — are being cut. Entire news organizations are closing their doors. The list of talented journalists looking for work grows every week.…
Read MoreBe fair to sources, don’t rough them up
When conducting an interview — or attempting to extract information from public officials who are less than forthright — it’s essential to be fair and upfront about your needs. While Tisha Thompson, a reporter for WTTG in Washington D.C., doesn’t hesitate to sit herself on public officials’ door steps at 6 a.m. to get the…
Read MoreInvestigating airline close calls
Curious about all the news stories surrounding safety and security at our airports and prompted by Dave Savini’s terrific investigation into safety issues and the lack of tracking of security badges at Chicago airports, I started asking questions about other facets of the industry. I talked with pilots, air traffic controllers and others about what…
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