IRE News
Updated 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 MoreBehind the Story: Investigating lost war records
In 2011, reporter Peter Sleeth was working on a historical account of a battle he had witnessed during his time as an embedded reporter in Iraq. His work on the piece stalled while researching Sgt. Jacob Butler, a soldier who had died in battle at As Samawah, Iraq in 2003. No one in the Army…
Read More2012 IRE Awards now open for submissions
ENTER YOUR BEST INVESTIGATIVE WORK INTO THE 2012 IRE AWARDS, NOW ONLINE. It’s that time of year again – time to consider entering your best work into the IRE Awards. Among the most prestigious in journalism, the IRE Awards recognize outstanding investigative reporting across all media. Eligible entries must have been published or aired between…
Read MoreJoin a live discussion about Econocheck
NICAR adviser David Herzog will be on hand Tuesday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m Eastern (11 a.m. Pacific) for a live Q&A about EconoCheck on the Journalism Accelerator. EconoCheck, an IRE-Sunlight Foundation resource launched during the 2012 campaign, helps reporters quickly find and understand data about key indicators. Drop by to discuss how journalists can continue to…
Read MoreBehind the Story: An information gap in child abuse cases
There were signs of problems before 15-year-old Jeanette Maples died of starvation and abuse in Oregon in December 2009. Although child services had been involved in the case, residents were shocked to find that Maples death had not been prevented. Oregonian reporter Michelle Cole wanted to know what, if anything, could have been done to…
Read MoreKnight-Mozilla OpenNews announces 2013 fellows
Knight-Mozilla OpenNews yesterday announced its 2013 class of fellows, who will work as developers and technologists embedded in newsrooms around the world. Fellows spend a year writing code along with reporters, designers and newsroom developers to create new tools for journalism. Fellows for 2013 and their placements include: Brian Abelson, The New York Times Manuel…
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 MoreBehind The Story: Comparing databases on bullying
Students head to lunch at Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Council Bluffs. The school district reported 58 alleged incidents to the state in five years, arguably a low rate for an urban district of 9,000 students. David Purdy/The Register In reporting, timing is everything. For Des Moines Register reporter Kyle Munson, the topic of bullying in…
Read MoreAdding depth to coverage of election results
For help in the scramble to provide instant results and analysis — all while sorting through close decisions on the local and federal level — check out these resources for adding depth to your election night coverage, the day after stories and long range post-election stories. Also, check out our look at data-driven stories leading…
Read MorePreviewing election day with data
How has data been used in advance of the election season? We’ve been looking for good data visualizations and data-driven reporting centered on the upcoming elections. Below is what we’ve found. Help add to our list by emailing suggestions to tony@ire.org or tweeting us @IRE_NICAR. The Washington PostThe Post’s 2012 election map shows what’s still in play…
Read More