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 "cable" ...
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Hidden Wealth of Azerbaijan President
The President of oil-rich Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has been compared to a Mafia crime boss in US diplomatic cables, and man analysts refer to him as a dictator. OCCRP looked deeper than those labels and found that the Aliyev family has systematically grabbed shares of the most profitable businesses in the country. Investigative reports by OCCRP and Radio Free Europe have revealed and more importantly proven for the first time that the ruling family has secret ownership stakes through offshore companies in the country’s largest businesses, including banks, construction companies, gold mines and phone companies. The government Aliyev runs gave these shares. The family also has secretly amassed high-end property in places like the Czech Republic. The Azeri government responded to the revelations first with silence and now claims that OCCRP is an agent of the rival Armenian government. Aliyev’s administration also failed to investigate the harassment and blackmail of OCCRP and RFE journalist Khadija Ismayilova earlier this year. While Azerbaijan has worked at improving its image worldwide, OCCRP’s reporting makes clear that a petty dictatorship remains in control.
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Updated Version of Well Connected Media Tracker
In October 2006, Well Connected, a project of the Center for Public Integrity, updated its Media Tracker. The Tracker is a tool to "identify the source of news and information filtered to their community through newspapers, broadcast, cable, satellite, phone lines and broadband." The Tracker also features political information. This set of stories tells about the new version of Media Tracker, with background stories which profile many of the "top companies in broadcast television, radio, telephone, cellular, cable, broadband and satellite TV and radio."
Tags: Internet; Media Tracker; media ownership; Well Connected; information filters; Center for Public Integrity
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Relicensing Oyster Creek
"An investigation into the weakness of the Oyster Creek nuclear generating station, the oldest commercial nuclear plant in the nation, as it seeks to run for another 20 years. The series found that the reactor's radiation containment system was so weak that it could not with stand core damage, and that this design flaw is common in the nuclear industry. The plant is also showing signs of poor aging, such as weakened reactor metal, failing control cables, and lack of proper training for employees. Employee errors have caused several safety issues at the plant which was rated one of the worst in the nation. "State officials also have failed to adequately design evacuation plans for the seaside tourist areas."
Tags: nuclear; reactor; radiation; evacuation; safety
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Paradise: At What Cost?
For a year-long convergence investigation into Southwest Florida housing prices, reporters for Naples Daily News custom-built a searchable online database of more than 100,000 real estate transactions and median home prices for more than 1600 single family neighborhoods and condo developments in Southwest Fla. They also did more than 500 interviews with local residents, housing and government officials. The series resulted in 33 stories, multiple video interviews, behind-the-scenes vodcasts, weekly podcasts, online reader chats
Tags: Broadcast; cable access television; CAR; computer-assisted reporting; convergence; Housing; development; economy; real estate; podcasts; vodcasts; online databases; reader response; interactive
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Well Connected in the States
Well connected in the United States is an investigation into the political influence of the telecommunications industry at the state level.
Tags: telecommunications; lobbying; state government; Public Utility Board; SBC Communications; AT&T Corp.; utilities; FOIA; cable television; political contributions
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Computer Games
This investigation found that government subsidized technology programs for schools were being poorly implemented in Houston. The reporters found "evidence of falsified documents, overcharging and unused equipment." In some cases, people with no understanding of technology were approving major installations; sometimes those people were taken advantage of and overcharged.
Tags: E-Rate; FCC; Houston Independent School District; education; grants; computer cabling
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Cable Barriers
An investigation of median barriers in Northern California freeways found cable barriers to be ineffective in protecting drivers. Lawsuits have been filed against the state stating that the barriers are 'obsolete, outdated, inadequate and archaic'. But dozens of miles of highways are still protected by these barriers even though plans to replace the cable barriers were approved three years ago.
Tags: median barriers; accidents; freeways; highways; cable barriers; concrete barriers; California; vehicle; deaths; Department of Transportation
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Were warning signs ignored?
The first modern suspension bridge in Maine and chosen as the world's most beautiful bridge in 1931, the Waldo-Hancock bridge now faces demolition. The Herald and the Maine Sunday Telegram detail this 2040-feet long bridge's history, its safety problems and their causes. Their investigation reveals that engineers had predicted structural problems with the suspension bridge's main cable as early as 1959. Furthermore, various state documents reveal confusion by state engineers over safety issues and also, the mistrust between state engineers and consultants who were hired.
Tags: MDOT; Gov.John Baldacci; Maine Historic Preservation Commission; bridge weight
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Power Trip- The Coming Darkness of Electricity Deregulation
This in-depth story talks about the ramifications of deregulation of the energy sector on a pristine natural environment. The report is set in the sylvan surroundings of Tucson, TX which is being made a potential host to high voltage cables suspended from 120-feet steel towers. Showing scant respect for this picturesque touristy ecosystem, the polity and businessmen are all out to ruin the settings with their lust for money, power and politics, says the author.
Tags: Energy; deregulatioh; Tucson; Texas; Electricity; Environment
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Road Kill. In race to lay fiber, telecom firms wreak havoc on city streets. Crews rip sidewalks, clog traffic to feed craving for high-speed internet. Mr. Browns surprise tunnel.
According to the article, "As telecommunications companies race to build the information highway of their visions, they are wreaking real havoc on the nation's streets. All over America, crews are ripping out newly paved roads, clogging traffic and leaving plenty of potholes behind."
Tags: telecommunications companies; roads; internet; high speed; traffic; information superhighway; cable; internet access