IRE News
New workshop: Building a webscraper
A special workshop in programming for journalism, Oct. 10-13, 2013 at the University of Missouri-Columbia. IRE and the University of Missouri Journalism School are offering a special workshop Oct. 10-13 that will introduce the basics of newsroom programming by teaching how to build one of the simplest but most useful tools in a data journalist’s toolbox: a web scraper…
Read MoreUpdated FDA Medical Device Reports (MAUDE) available in the data library
The NICAR Database Library has just updated the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience Database(MAUDE). WHAT’S IN IT?Current with reports received by the FDA through June 28, 2013, the data include nearly 3 million records of problems involving medical devices. These problems include injuries, deaths and product malfunctions. The dataset has a unique…
Read MoreIRE begins student sponsorship program
IRE is committed to developing the next generation of investigative reporters by introducing more students to the organization. To do this, we need your help. Please consider sponsoring a $25 student membership on behalf of your alma mater, college media or for an intern at your news organization. You don’t have to know a current…
Read MoreUpdated FBI Uniform Crime Reports available in data library
The NICAR Database Library has updated the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, one of the best resources for national crime statistics. The most current reports are for 2011. WHAT’S IN IT?Many law enforcement agencies around the country 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 and arson.…
Read MoreNew webinar: Watchdogging Lions, Tigers, Bears, et al: Inside college sports
Jill Riepenhoff of The Columbus Dispatch shares tips on investigating college sports, from how to examine the rule book and find story ideas to using the NCAA’s infraction database and digging into athletes’ mysterious departures from their teams. Watch it here. Riepenhoff has worked at The Columbus Dispatch since 1985 and as a projects reporter…
Read MoreThe details of uncovering performance-enhancing drug abuse
T.J. Quinn leads discussion on “Performance Enhancing Drugs” as Michael Fish looks on. Photo: Travis Hartman. Major League Baseball continues to deal with its performance-enhancing drug issue and the fallout from lengthy suspensions to some of the games most prominent players, such as Ryan Braun and Alex Rodriguez. Want to find out how it got…
Read MoreGlobal Investigative Journalism Network launches crowdfunding campaign
The Global Investigative Journalism Network today launched a new crowdfunding campaign, raising funds to bring promising journalists from developing countries to the Global Investigative Journalism Conference and provide them with state-of-the-art training in investigative reporting, data journalism and cross-border collaboration. The crowdfunding campaign is done through Indiegogo, and the campaign video features reporters in Kenya,…
Read MoreAssessing and mapping dangerous intersections, traffic fatalities in your community
A still image from the Orlando Sentinel’s Blood in the Streets animated video. By Scott Powers and Arelis Hernandez, the Orlando Sentinel This past winter, after an Orlando Sentinel editor almost ran down a pedestrian for the umpteenth time – a moment which occurred about the same time that our breaking-news desk had to write…
Read MoreNew webinar: Search strategies, sites and databases for investigative reporting
Watch now: Search strategies, sites and databases for investigative reporting Google’s not the only search game in town. Learn about search sites that provide different pools of information and unique features. Discover resources to help with people finding, fact-checking and social search in the surface and the deep Web. Barbara Gray, Distinguished Lecturer & Interim…
Read MoreWhen nerds and words collide
In 1999, Nora Paul organized a gathering at The Poynter Institute of a group of journalists who were on the cutting edge of computer-assisted reporting at the time. The result was a short book titled “When Nerds and Words Collide,” featuring chapters from many leaders in data-driven journalism. It also details the beginning of what…
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