The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. Add to that more than 3,000 tipsheets from our national conferences on how to cover specific beats or do specific stories and you have a resource that no reporter or editor should be without. These stories and tipsheets 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. Logged-in members can view the tipsheets free online:
Search results for "FARS" ...
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Mining the web for Data and Stories
This tipsheet lists valuable online resources including searchable data; downloadable data; advanced search strategies; mapping services.
Tags: online resources; data; online data; government data; databases; FedStats; Data.gov; USASPending.gov; BRB Publications; OSHA; MSHA; FARS: Federal Railroad Administration; GIS; mapping; census; Environmental Protection Agency; Federal Aviation Administration;
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Strong Coffee: Using Databases to Investigate Drunken Driving
Branan explores the value of pursuing a story on drunk driving, including what databases are helpful in such an investigation, and how to verify and analyze the information.
Tags: drunk driving; drunken driving; databases; CAR; computer-assisted reporting; FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting Systems); FBI Age, Race, Sex table, Justice data;
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Sources for Covering Auto Accidents
McGinty gives information on how to use the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatal Accident Reporting System, or FARS. He covers why it exists, how comprehensive and accurate the data is, and how it is tructured.
Tags: Transportation; car accidents; FARS; fatalities; national databases
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Investigating Trucking
This tipsheet is a comprehensive guide to reporting on the trucking industry. It begins with a list of questions to ask at the beginning of an investigation, like, "Did the truck driver have a valid Commercial Drivers License?" Next, the tipsheet lists some pieces of information that reporters should be able to find before deadline, that could make their stories better. Then, the tipsheet lists possible follow - up investigations; these are more long-term projects and might make for good enterprise stories. There is a description of how to go about each investigation. Finally, the tipsheet ends with a list of contacts and government agencies that could be helpful for a reporter writing a story about the trucking industry.
Tags: transportation; highways; FARS; accidents; driving; drivers licenses; traffic
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Traffic Fatalities
This tipsheet is a basic overview of what resources to use when reporting on traffic fatalities. McGinty offers some background on FARS, paper documents and driving records, and then explains how all three can all be helpful when reporting on the topic.
Tags: Fatal Accident Reports; analysis; drivers; traffic; Access; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Why do crime trends change?
This tipsheet looks at how crime trends become news, and gives reporters some guidance as far as how to view crime statistics to find meaningful stories. Basic laws of trends are covered, as well as common methods and problems. Some case studies of Cincinnati are included, as well.
Tags: None
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Tips for an effective data factory
This tipsheet offers ideas how to apply "Data Factory" concepts to working with any complex data set, such as a Census release. The handout is based on the Gannett experience with creating simplified data files and serving them on the web to the chain's 99 daily newspapers.
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God's Little Acre: Understanding Land Records
"Land is the most common form of wealth. It is also far easier to trace than stocks, bonds, or other more glamorous types of property. That makes land records vital for investigative reporters."
Tags: property; building standards; ownership; taxes; utilities; claims; mortgages; tax assessor; quitclaim deeds; grant deeds; land-use laws; land survey system
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Killing of a Journalist: How to effectively investigate the murders of journalists. An Experience from Mozambique.
In this tipsheet, the author talks about his "personal experience in Mozambique, related to the murder of [his] editor Carlos Cardoso and what has been done, so far, by his colleagues and the civil society in order to ensure that the people responsible for the assassination are in court."
Tags: journalism; international reporting; murder; danger; editor; Mozambique; risk; Carlos Cardoso
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Tipsheet No: 751
There is no handout for this session, but an audio tape is available for purchase from the IRE Resource Center. Contact us at (573) 882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org.
Tags: None