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IRE Journal
Reaction to ‘fracking’ investigation typifies journalists’ challenges
By Charles N. Davis Journalists and journalism advocates rightly focus a great deal of energy on freedom of information law, defending the rights of the press and public to access governmental information. Attempts to control the press through legal means constitute a daily threat to democracy and must be met with systemic pushback. Not all…
Read MoreCollaborative watchdog group follows the funds for rebuilding after Haiti’s aftershocks
By Jane Regan When a massive earthquake killed some 200,000 people and devastated Haiti, billions of aid dollars poured in from around the globe. Groups such as “God’s Pit Crew” and “Drops of Hope” descended on the island, ostensibly to help people rebuild their lives. Although many of us in Haiti had lost friends, family,…
Read MoreInvestigative books of 2010
IRE’s annual list of investigative books can be downloaded as an Excel spreadsheet. More than 250 books published in 2010 made the list, which includes title, author and publisher. The annual list is compiled by Steve Weinberg. Author(s) Title Publisher Year published Abraham, Laurie The Husbands and Wives Club Touchstone 2010 Alter, Jonathan The Promise:…
Read MoreIRE Mentoring works
By Reyna Gobel and Margaret Engel Here’s a reminder to those attending this year’s IRE convention — don’t forget to sign up to be a mentor or a mentee. We did and lives changed as a result. Three years ago, we were matched by IRE and had breakfast in Phoenix during the annual conference. The…
Read MorePork or Protection? Follow the money in your community to fight terrorism
By G.W. Schulz Center for Investigative Reporting Nearly $70,000 worth of surveillance gear left unused in its original packaging by a county north of San Francisco. A $2,300 plasma TV for university cops. More than $1.3 million spent without maintaining proper documentation to show where it went. Millions more in bomb-disposal robots and new communications…
Read MoreWrestlers and real estate: Student investigation leads to probe of sales involving coaches, athletes
By Chris Ison University of Minnesota Even to seasoned reporters, long-term investigative projects look like mountains. The long climb will bring breaking news stories and beat duties that distract them, impatient editors who divert them, and months of digging that might turn up little to justify the time and expense. Combined, an exciting idea can…
Read MoreStaying On Track
By Mike McGraw, The Kansas City Star I’ve been a reporter for nearly 40 years, with most of that time spent as an investigative reporter. I love what I do and have never wanted to do anything else. Three things turned me on to investigative reporting: Covering organized labor in Kansas City in the 1970s…
Read MoreA push for investigative reporting in Bolivia
By Tracey Eaton, Flagler College Some reporters wanted to explore eastern Bolivia, where hundreds of Guaraní Indian families live in a state of semi-slavery. Others proposed investigating women’s rights and sexuality. No doubt, Bolivian reporters are eager to dig into all kinds of difficult and intriguing issues. Mexican journalist Pedro Enrique Armendares and I found…
Read MoreOvercoming obstacles to investigate public officials
By Andy Curliss, The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) Our running investigation has focused on former Gov. Mike Easley of North Carolina. We have revealed numerous instances of unreported gifts, favors or other perks provided to the governor while he was in office and shown how many of those people who made the gifts benefited…
Read MoreCharges vanish when officers miss court hearings
By Jason Riley and R.G. Dunlop, The (Louisville, Ky.) Courier-Journal It had been an open secret for years in Jefferson County’s courts — Kentucky’s largest court system — that many defendants in criminal and traffic cases were able to get their charges dismissed simply because the arresting officer didn’t show up for hearings. But when…
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