The IRE office will be closed from December 25th to January 5th.
Posts by Erica Martin
IRE 2013 Conference information and updates
The 2013 IRE Conference begins in just a few days. Below are a few bits of information to help you prepare for this great conference! For the latest up-to-date information about panels, speakers and special events at the conference, please visit our conference website at https://www.ire.org/conferences/ire-2013/ Hotel InformationThe conference is taking place at the San…
Read MoreAnalysis: Supreme Court ruling a regressive one for access laws
In a disappointing unanimous decision yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states can ignore public record requests from non-residents. This is one of the most regressive, backward rulings the U.S. Supreme Court has issued on access laws for some time. Two reasons make this particularly alarming: The court continues to look at public records…
Read MoreBoating accident data updated in NICAR database library
Now that it’s just warm enough to get in a boat, the NICAR database library has updated the Coast Guard’s U.S. Recreational Boat Accident Database. WHAT’S IN IT?The updated data has accident reports from 1995 through 2011. Accidents involving vessel damage of more than $2,000 or disappearance of a person under circumstances that indicate death…
Read MoreFBI Uniform Crime Reports for 2010 now available in NICAR Data Library
The NICAR Database Library has updated the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, one of the best resources for national crime statistics. WHAT’S IN IT?Law enforcement agencies around the country are required to submit reports to the FBI on what are known as “index” crimes: murder, nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, motor-vehicle theft…
Read MoreA case for why journalists should learn statistics
Last weekend I flew to Phoenix for the IRE boot camp in statistics hosted at Arizona State University. Three days and 52 cups of coffee later, I can spot statistical significance. I can run a linear regression on a dependent and independent variable, and I might even be able to tell you what an R-Square…
Read MoreSBA disaster loan data updated in NICAR Database Library
In the wake of a disaster, individuals and business owners are often left with severely damaged property. Many turn for help to the Small Business Administration, which approves low-interest loans to help rebuild. For declared disasters in 2011 alone, the Small Business Administration approved over $1 billion in loans. NICAR has updated the SBA database of these loans,…
Read MoreUpdated SBA 7a data available in data library
Which businesses in your community have loans backed by the Small Business Administration? Find out using NICAR‘s recently updated SBA 7(a) loan data, which includes loans from 1953 through September, 2012. WHAT’S IN IT?The 7(a) program is the SBA’s most common loan program. It provides loans to small business owners who can’t obtain financing through…
Read MoreHMDA data updated in the Database Library
The Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data have just been updated in the NICAR Database Library — and we’ll help you turn it into a story. WHAT’S IN IT?This Act requires all banks, savings and loans, savings banks and credit unions with assets of more than $33 million and offices in metropolitan areas to report…
Read MoreData science, meet campaign finance
If you ever get the urge to feel a chill run down your spine, particularly if you’re interested in political journalism, give Sasha Issenberg’s new book The Victory Lab a good, close read. Here’s the headline: When it comes to using data to understand politics, journalists are playing checkers while political consultants are playing chess. Just listen to…
Read MoreOSHA Workplace Safety data updated at NICAR Data Library
The Workplace Safety database from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has just been updated in the NICAR Database Library. WHAT’S IN IT? This ten-table database holds information on workplace inspections performed by both federal and state OSHA offices in all states and U.S. territories, from 1972 to Oct 2011 – just under 4…
Read More