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 "business profile" ...
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Cyber Espionage: The Chinese Threat
It’s the biggest threat facing American business today but the least talked about by corporate executives. Experts at the highest levels of government agree, cyber espionage is threatening to steal American wealth, American jobs and ultimately America’s economic security and the biggest aggressor is China. Due to the nature of the crime, the cost to American businesses is nearly impossible to pinpoint. Experts say Chinese hackers are constantly probing corporate networks, sifting through endless amounts of data to decipher what is valuable intellectual property, chemical formulas or proprietary technology. One conservative estimate from the National Counter Intelligence Executive puts the cost of economic espionage at up to $400B annually, but the report states such estimates vary “so widely as to be meaningless,” reflecting the scarcity of data available. CNBC’s David Faber and the Investigations Inc. team spoke with many corporate executives about China’s aggressive effort to target American businesses and their most valuable assets, but many refused to comment on camera for our report, citing becoming more vulnerable to attack by speaking publicly about the issue. However, not one executive denied their company is at risk of cyber-attack on a daily basis or the possibility of losing valuable intellectual property to cyber spies. Government and industry experts we spoke with on-camera have witnessed such costly cyber-attacks during their careers and attest to the fact there are only two companies left in America today: Those who know they’ve been hacked and those who don’t. From a whistleblower claiming telecommunications giant Nortel was one of the first casualties of this all-out cyber war, to high profile and public attacks on Google and RSA, its clear defending against cyber espionage is the new normal for American business.
Tags: Chinese hackers; American businesses; cyber attacks; cyber espionage
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Durham insider loans pile up
Tim Durham “is one of Indiana’s highest-profile businesspeople” and appeared to be rising to the top of the super rich. But behind his image, a story of deception and lies is revealed. After an investigation of his company, Fair Finance Co., revealed this deception and he was accused of securities fraud. Also, he was alleged to be using a Ponzi scheme, “using money from new investors to pay off previous purchasers of investment certificates”. Now, Durham and his company face a number of lawsuits.
Tags: financial; finances; economy; Ohio; securities regulators; business; wealth; investors
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Big Fish in a Big Pond
"An investigative profile of Frank Dulcich's Pacific Seafood Group, which reavealed a crippling monopoly that has overtaken the West Coast seafood business, affecting fishermen, smaller seafood buyers, the prices consumers pay for wild seafood and the availability of the product"
Tags: seafood business
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The Life and Business of Aaron Feldman
The stories explored the “fascinating and complex life of Aaron Feldman, businessman and Mexican immigrant who had been thrust into the public eye after his company, Sunroad Enterprises, had been allowed by the city of San Diego to build a 12-story office toward that was 20 feet taller than the Federal Aviation Administration allowed.†They revealed a “powerful, but intensely private man,†and offered “exclusive details of his ups and downs in the business world and his aggressive, hard-nosed reputation.â€
Tags: Aaron Feldman; Sunroad Enterprises; president; business profile; Federal Aviation Administration;
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Corruption at Dallas City Hall
The authors investigated a corruption scandal at Dallas City Hall. The investigation commenced after FBI agents executed high profile search warrants on the city council offices, businesses, homes and vehicles. The FBI wasn't talking and neither were the two officials known to be the subjects of the raids. It fell to the press to explain the city's and FBI's activities.
Tags: corruption; FBI; search warrants; covert operation; lobbying; city council; Dallas City Hall; Texas Public Information Act
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The Kingmaker
This story profiles Don Blankenship, chief executive of a West Virginia energy company and a rising power in state politics. It covers his roots, his political beliefs and tactics, and his leadership of the energy company he heads. It also focuses on how his relationship with his chief political advisor has enabled his success.
Tags: coal; energy; West Virginia; politics; business; campaign finance; political advisor
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Outsourcing the Pentagon
This study examined $900 billion in defense contracts in the six fiscal years between 1998 and 2003. After assembling Pentagon databases into a single table of 2.2 million records, the study identified and profiled defense department contractors who received at least $100 million between fiscal years 1998 and 2003. Among other findings, no-bid contracts accounted for 40 percent of the Pentagon's business in that time period.
Tags: Military; Defense spending; government contracts; Pentagon; Halliburton; Science Applications International; PACs; the Carlyle Group; CAR
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"Yonkers Inside Out"
While examining the politics, economics and development efforts of Yonkers as it rebuilds downtown, the newspaper found a history of legal disputes and financial difficulties with a high-profile developer. The investigation raises questions about how Yonkers picks developers for large projects. A related story shows how state officials plan to sell an 84-acre office park for less than $9 million to a private corporation set up by city officials. The corporation, independent of the city and not subject to local oversight, might resell the property for more than 10 times the purchase price.
Tags: developers; development; city government; quasi-government; arson; Department of Housing and Urban Development; HUD; baseball stadium; Local Development Corporation; taxes; business incorporation records; OSHA; campaign finance
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Drug killings boom in just 16 months
In this package of stories, The Columbus Dispatch examines the reasons behind a surge in drug violence. According to the newspaper's computer analysis of crime records, the drug business in Columbus is marked by the kind of planned violence and territorial disputes often seen in other types of organized crime. Drive-by, multiple and drug killings are rising, as well as the fatal shootings of bystanders. The package includes profiles of some of the victims.
Tags: drug violence; drugs; drug killings; crime; organized crime
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The Insiders
Having received as many brickbats as bouquets, or even more, Martha Stewart has survived tough times. This Newsweek story delves into the insider-trading controversy involving Stewart and ImClone. Detailing Stewart's high-profile interactions with business bigshots, the article also takes a look at how the scandal might hit Stewart's business and her brand equity. And whether she'll survive it or not.
Tags: Martha Stewart; stocks; scandals; jet set; trading; ImClone; Bacanovic