The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "anonymous sources" ...
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Supreme Court Spat
This story, produced by the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism and Wisconsin Public Radio, was first to report on a June 13 altercation in which Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser placed his hands on the neck of fellow Justice Ann Walsh Bradley in a dispute in her office in front of other members of the court. The article reported that the argument concerned the timing of the court's release of a decision upholding Republican Gov. Scott Walker's controversial bill to curb the collective bargaining rights of the state's public employees, and that the Capitol Police Department and the Wisconsin Judicial Commission were informed of the incident. The story also revealed that the Capitol police chief had come in to speak to the court's seven members about it. Although the initial story relied on anonymous sources, all of the facts were subsequently confirmed by on-the-record interviews, and later by police reports.
Tags: Wisconsin Supreme Court; police
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City councilman forced to resign over double billing
Acting on a tip from an anonymous source, the newspaper began an investigation of travel and meal expenses by members of the Roanoke City Council. The focus quickly shifted to councilman Alfred Dowe. Travel expense forms, receipts, credit card statements and other documents showed Dowe spent nearly $15,000 on city-related meals, lodging and travel in 2007 - almost as much as the other six council members.
Tags: city council; city government; travel expenses; Virginia; reimbursement; expenditure
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Rush to Judgment
Without using anonymous or unnamed sources the News & Observer looks at the "phony rape charges" brought against the three Duke lacrosse players. The paper specifically looked at the "prosecutorial and police misconduct"
Tags: Duke; lacrosse; sexual assault; rape; police department; Mike Nifong; Durham; misconduct
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The Dark Side of Whistleblowing
Whistleblower David Durand, celebrated as a hero, reaped $126 million from the feds for ratting on his company, TAP Pharmaceuticals, for billing fraud; then Durand's story fell apart. Reporter Weinberg counters the supposed journalistic tendency to "worship" whistleblowers by showing how federal law provides a profit motive for liars and disgruntled workers -- and even the government itself.
Tags: journalism ethics; business ethics; watchdog; anonymous sources; backgrounding; whistleblower
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Under Suspicion
A New Times investigation reveals "a pattern of police officers involved in the drug trade in one of Miami's inner-city precincts." The reporter finds that most drug dealers know the cops and often talk to them. Some of the major findings are that an officer has admitted being an accomplice in drug deals, and that some of the talks between dealers and cops have been recorded. The faulty officer, however, has never been charged despite having signed a confession, and the wiretaps have fallen through the cracks, the story discovers. The department's internal-affairs office failed to investigate the conduct of the police officers who allegedly had connections to drug dealers.
Tags: gangs; drugs; anonymous sources; street reporting; crime; FBI; corruption; institutional ethics; law enforcement
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"Inside the Columbine High Investigation"; "Kill mankind. No one should survive."
These two Salon.com reports focus on the events surrounding the shooting at Columbine High School and information about how the official police investigation was conducted. The second report, "Kill mankind. No one should survive," included parts of Eric Harris's diary, read to the reporter by an unnamed source.
Tags: Columbine High shooting; murder; violence; school violence Kate Battan John Keikbusch Dylan Klebold anonymous sources
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Missing Evidence Mystery
This investigation into the troubled Chicago Police Department drew from a "secret" internal audit and anonymous sources to reveal a spreading pattern of stolen items from the department's evidence vault. The investigation traced some stolen guns all the way back to the hands of criminals.
Tags: TAPE TRANSCRIPT Alderman William Beavers; Police and Fire Commission Criminal Courts Building
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No title (id: 12825)
The Daily Courier finds that a local church, with ties to other churches throughout the U.S. and overseas, is engaged in a number of unorthodox practices which includes the physical and mental abuse of its members. For years, the Daily Courier had received occasional calls from anonymous sources alleging abuses, but no one was willing to step forward and tell their story until a senior minister came forward. The Daily Courier followed trails which led to across the U.S., ultimately uncovering a sinister organization which made indentured servants of its members in order for church leaders to pay for their extravagant lifestyles. (February 28, March 1 - 3, 1995)
Tags: Jackson Former members other level charges criticism at church Contest entry Religion 39 pgs.
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The Smoking Files: Where There's Smoke There's Legislation
The Post magazine found that a number of internal documents from the Washington office of Phillip Morris Cos. Inc. have turned up at the Houston office of a small anti-smoking doctor's group called Doctors Ought to Care through anonymous sources. The documents are concerned with the company's struggle to prevent the government from legislating or regulating cigarettes out of profitable existence. The article provides unusual insight into the lobbying methods, campaign funding, policy priorities and advocacy of leading company in the American tobacco industry. Article includes actual text of memos. (Dec. 3, 1995)
Tags: Mintz