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 "watchdog reporting" ...
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Des Moines Register Reader's Watchdog
The Des Moines Register Reader's Watchdog column that takes on issues faced by individual Iowans who are at wits’ end and can't get answers from public officials, businesses and the justice system. Watchdog reporter Lee Rood's job is to give voice to readers who present important issues, to investigate all sides of those issues and to seek solutions that eluded others. This is a unique effort that both engages readers and values traditional watchdog reporting. At a time when journalists are seeking to remain relevant, build credibility and engage readers, she has launched this initiative that focuses not on the stories that she thinks are important, but on issues that are critical to our readers. In the past year, she wrote more than 60 columns, digging into watchdog issue brought to her by Iowans. Her work has put a new spotlight on wrongs that needed righting. Her work has led state lawmakers to propose legislation that requires Iowans to call 911 if they are present at the scene of an overdose. She has prodded the state attorney general's office to develop a plan to enforce laws that require companies to have worker's compensation insurance. She has fought through red tape for readers who didn't have someone in their corner to do so. Lee Rood's bold move to launch a new form of watchdog journalism for the Des Moines Register has made Iowans' lives better. Online, this body of work lives at DesMoinesRegister.com/ReadersWatchdog.
Tags: Public officials; businesses; justice system
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Dark Markets
The Wall Street Journal’s coverage of financial markets in 2012 performed a rare and extraordinary service: It exposed evidence of hidden manipulation by corporate executives and professional traders that the markets’ official government watchdogs were utterly unaware of. Reflecting potential widespread harm to millions of ordinary investors, federal prosecutors and securities regulators raced to follow the Journal stories with major investigations. A team of reporters spent six months creating a database examining how more than 20,000 corporate executives traded their own companies’ stocks over the course of eight years. What the team found was disturbing: More than 1,000 executives had generated big profits, or avoided big losses, by trading their company stock in the days ahead of corporate news announcements that led to big moves in the shares. The Journal also exposed a regulatory loophole that had helped the executives take advantage of inside knowledge ahead of other investors. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office and the Securities and Exchange Commission all launched investigations the day the Journal article appeared.
Tags: Financial markets; corporate executives; stocks; Federal Bureau of Investigation
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Seattle Police:Vanishing Videos
This story began as a relatively simple venture; how to get copies of police dashboard camera videos to provide watchdog oversight of a police department facing growing criticism. It grew into a major expose of questionable police tactics and a battle for public access to critical public records that is currently before the state Supreme Court. Over the course of a year and a half, KOMO TV’s fight for videos and the video database became a game of strategy and attrition as the Seattle Police Department denied us access to public records at every opportunity. We tried every means at our disposal to get these records including direct appeals to elected officials. Finally, with no other recourse, KOMO TV sued the SPD and the city of Seattle. Only then did we make our fight for these records public. What followed in 2012 was a cascade of stories; people coming forward alleging police misconduct and an attempt to hide the videos that would tell the truth. In addition to KOMO TV’s public records lawsuit, our investigation has prompted state legislators and other open records advocates to pursue changes in state law to ensure these records can no longer stay hidden.
Tags: police; camera videos; SPD; Seattle Police Department; public records
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Pension Madness
In "Pension Madness," New Jersey Watchdog exposes systematic state pension abuses in New Jersey. The report documents 170 "retired" public officials who collectively pocket $12 million a year in retirement pay in addition to their current salaries.
Tags: Pension; New Jersey; State Pension
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Subtraction by Addition: A watchdog report on MPS' failed construction program
The series focused on a failed $102 million neighborhood school building program to add classrooms, gyms, libraries, labs and entire schools for Milwaukee schoolchildren. The investigation found that tens of millions of dollars of classrooms added since 2001 sit empty or severely underused.
Tags: school district; construction; enrollment; classroom; academic; test score
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The Watchdogs
The Chicago Sun-Times runs a weekly investigative column dubbed "The Watchdogs," a chance for smaller investigative pieces to be published. 2007's entries include stories out of Chicago City Hall and the suburbs; county and state government; and the presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama.
Tags: stories; documents; watchdogs; column; watchdog reporting
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Biodefense Security Failures in Texas
"Following a watchdog's report that a Texas A&M researcher had been infected with the bioterror agent Brucella in a lab, The Dallas Morning News used state and federal open records laws to pursue dozens of additional security breaches and disease exposures at other state universities."
Tags: bioterror; biodefense; security breaches; lab accidents; disease control; disease exposures
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Peddling Influence
This series examined the influence of special interests on the Texas Legislature and the lack of oversight by regulators. Linking campaign and lobbyist spending to legislation, the stories showed how lawmakers have favored lobbyists and their pet causes over the public interest, And we discovered that the Texas Ethics Commission has failed to property investigate complaints of violations and allowed questionable practices to continue.
Tags: state government; politicians; politics; special interests; legislation; congress; watchdog reporting
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Regulation of Contractors A Blueprint for Problems: Despite long history of complaints, lawsuits, Hollywood company, entrepreneur unfazed
Reporter Mc Nelly Torres investigates South Florida business owner John Pluto and the problems with a system that allows an entrepeneur to open a new business even though his past companies have been plagued with problems. Current laws offer little protection for the consumer and even when consumers investigate a company's background, it's difficult for them to know who is behind the business.
Tags: construction; state law; business; consumer watchdog; consumer
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Tennessee Waltz: Legislation for sale
Times reporters exposed fraud and graft among Tennessee state legislators, and an FBI investigation of the matter. The state's ethics watchdog agency was found to be passive and ineffectual, failing to audit legislators, or keep records or enforce regulations.
Tags: state government; watchdog; corruption; lobbying; fraud; graft; state legislature; ethics; bribery; lobbyists; FBI