Posts Tagged ‘disaster’
IRE Radio Podcast | Crisis in Coal Country
Federal regulators counted 99 cases of advanced black lung over a five-year period in the U.S. So why is it that hundreds of miners with the most serious stage of the disease are walking into clinics across Appalachia? That’s the question NPR’s Howard Berkes set out to answer last year. Howard ultimately found that the…
Read MoreTrack the economic impact of Hurricane Matthew
View of Hurricane Katrina destruction in the city of New Orleans. (Photo by NOAA / Creative Commons) In the wake of any natural disaster, there’s a seemingly endless number of public service and accountability stories to chase. You want to know when the power is going to come back on. How many people have been…
Read MoreHow to build a better weather story: Tips for reporting before, during and after the storm
A graphic from the Seattle Times’ coverage of the Oso, Washington landslide Does your newsroom have the data and resources it needs to cover the next big storm? With a little preparation, you can have detailed information on critical infrastructure – like dams and levees – ready to go the next time a hurricane or…
Read MoreNew avenues for reporting on climate change and other global crises
By Pietro Lombardi The number of enterprise stories covering climate change, illegal resource exploitation, food and water security and other environmental threats has increased in recent years. Deborah Nelson, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and freelance investigative reporter for Reuters; Robert S. Eshelman, Environment Editor at VICE News; Andrew Revkin, Pace University, and Josh Meyer, Medill National…
Read MorePipelines, dams and pollution: How to investigation the environment in your community
By Lenore T. Adkins Some of the most important stories about the environment lurk beyond the city limits, but reporters often overlook those narratives because they aren’t in urban settings, said a group of panelists who investigate the environment. “Agriculture is vastly under-covered,” said Joseph Davis, editor of the WatchDog newsletter for the Society of…
Read MoreLessons from the storm: What we can learn from the Moore, Okla. tornado
One year ago an EF5 tornado tore through Moore, Oklahoma and left 25 people dead. A month after the storm, Oklahoman reporter Paul Monies and CBS News Southern Bureau Chief Scott Keenan talked about their experiences covering the twister during a session at the 2013 IRE Conference. Keenan encouraged journalists to question the injury and fatality numbers officials present.…
Read MoreInvestigating in the aftermath of natural and man-made a disasters
By Gwen Girsdansky Reporters and editors from The Oklahoman, Newsday, CBS News and WFAA shared their secrets for covering disasters Friday at the 2013 IRE Conference. Paul Monies of The Oklahoman recommended having a “go bag” ready before a disaster strikes. Fill it with items like a full change of clothes for after a night…
Read MoreInvestigating after an industrial explosion
A chemical plant explosion in Geismar, La. has injured more than 30 people and killed at least one, according to Louisiana State Police. It’s the first major explosion since the fertilizer plant in West, Texas, killed 15 people. When a major plant explosion happens, how do you figure out what went wrong? Journalists have been…
Read MoreCovering the tragedy in Newtown, CT
Shootings, especially those involving children and schools, devastate communities and garner unprecedented media coverage. But with the flood of media attention, reporters must remember those who were affected by the terrible events and take the necessary precautions while covering such a delicate story. In addition to the tipsheets and stories below, you can turn to…
Read MoreInvestigating charities calling for disaster relief money
In the wake of Sandy’s destruction, countless efforts will be made to help victims. Already, ABC/Disney has designated a “Day of giving,” the National Football League and it’s players association has pledged $1 million to the Red Cross and iTunes is directly accepting donations. Countless calls will be made for the public to donate to charities large and…
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