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With tight newsroom budgets, open-source software comes at the right price: free. This year’s Computer-Assisted Reporting conference March 11-14 in Phoenix offers several new hands-on classes: CrimeStat. Analyze crime incident locations with a free spatial statistics program. Flex free visualization software. Build Web applications with open-source software that works like Flash. Free mapping software. Can’t…
Read MoreAn investigation by Scripps Howard News Service sports editor John Lindsay found the National Football League has ramped up its campaign contributions and lobbying efforts, mainly trying to affect legislation on broadcasting rights and trying to preempt any move by Congress to intervene in a potential player lockout in 2011. The $3.148 million in lobbying…
Read MoreThree major investigative reports that used social science research methods as key parts of their probes were named today as winners of the 2009 Philip Meyer Journalism Award. USA Today took first place with “The Smokestack Effect: Toxic Air and America’s Schools.” Reporters Blake Morrison and Brad Heath spearheaded a project that examined the levels…
Read MoreBy Doug Haddix IRE Training Director Manny Garcia of The Miami Herald explains how his newsroom is using Twitter and Facebook to cover the earthquake in Haiti and its aftermath. The social media tools have helped with logistics as well as story tips from people in Haiti. Garcia’s advice applies to using social media tools…
Read MoreIn a video interview with IRE, Manny Garcia of The Miami Herald explains how Twitter and Facebook are helping his newspaper’s ongoing coverage of the earthquake in Haiti. His advice applies to using social media tools on any breaking news story. Garcia shared his tips and advice during an IRE Ethnic Media Watchdog Workshop in January in…
Read MoreEarlier this month, Sarah Cohen of Duke University and Jennifer LaFleur of ProPublica helped uncover some of the mysteries of stimulus reporting in a one-hour IRE webinar. A recording of this session is now available for purchase and download here. During the webinar, Cohen and LaFleur explain stimulus basics and how to follow the dollars…
Read MoreA report by Walt Bogdanich of The New York Times looks at the risks associated with radiation treatments. Advancements in how radiation is administered have made it a more effective treatment. “The Times found that while this new technology allows doctors to more accurately attack tumors and reduce certain mistakes, its complexity has created new…
Read MoreThe crisis in Haiti has sparked an outpouring of concern and aid pouring in from around the world. With this goodwill comes an opportunity for charities to shine and journalists to make sure that those charities are doing what they promise. Check up on charitable organizations in your community or educate your readers and viewers…
Read MoreAn investigation by The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, Calif.) uncovered problems with the taxpayer-funded Torres-Martinez tribal welfare program.”Beneath the surface of rampant poverty and joblessness on one of California’s poorest American Indian reservations is nearly a decade of mismanagement and misuse of millions in taxpayer dollars meant for those needing the money most, federal and…
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