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 "Lawyers" ...
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Secret Justice: Gag Orders
This is a booklet which highlights and explains various aspects of gag orders. According to the booklet, "A judge's issuance of a gag order is hardly news these days, and not many journalists seem willing to challenge them. But the ease with which they are obtained poses a real threat to newsgathering, and to the public's understanding of the judicial process." The booklet contains multiple articles by various authors about gag orders.
Tags: gag orders; judges; trial; court; judicial process; lawyers; gag order
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Investigating Pretrial Release
A quick look into pretrial releases and the problems they present. Wilson provides 17 questions to ask local law enforcement agencies to determine how pretrial releases are handled in your area and what if anything should be changed.
Tags: law enforcement; cops; police; pretrial release; courts; bail; criminal record; crime; judge; lawyer; warrant
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Deals with Cops May Be More Than You Bargained For
Getting access to police scenes or even activities such as drug raids can be a big boon for a broadcast station. However the legal strings attached may be more than reporters might think. Tobin details the legal implications of working with police departments. He also explains ways to avoid certain pitfalls in such deals.
Tags: law; media law; lawyers; police; broadcast; legal issues
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Newsgathering and the "Inadvertent" Crime
While covering the news, reporters often come across many illegal activities. Sometimes this crosses a line from reporting on illegal actions and possibly engaging in them to aid a story. Tobin explains how the law rules on such matters and how to make sure you stay within legal limits.
Tags: law; legal issues; media law
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A Promise is not Just a Promise
Anonymous or confidential source use is on the rise. Tobin gives a short brief on the importance of keeping promises with anonymous sources and the legal implications if those promises are broken. He also offers tips for reporters on ways to maintain legality while dealing with anonymous sources.
Tags: sources; anonymous sources; unnamed sources; confidential; legal; media law; law; lawyers
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Internet sites for health care fraud and abuse
Schulte provides a list of helpful web links on health care fraud and abuse. Great for reporters staring on the health and hospitals beat.
Tags: health care; fraud; abuse; malpractice; hospitals; doctors; department of health; HHS; medicare; medicaid; lawsuits; lawyers
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A Doctor Database
Heisel gives reporters tips on building a doctor database in this valuable handout. This tipsheet contains useful hints and detailed information on what fields you should have in your database to get the most out of your reporting. Heisel also includes story examples.
Tags: doctors; lawyers; malpractice; health board; hospitals; lawsuits; data; databases; data entry; medical board
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Covering Law and Order: It's a Lifestyle
Solomon makes a good case for immersing oneself into the criminal justice beat in this tipsheet. He stresses common sense, research, and hard work to get the good stories that are out there.
Tags: justice; crime; cops; police; courts; proceedings; lawyers
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Covering a local prosecutor's office effectively day to day
In the criminal justice system, not everything plays out like Law & Order. Sometimes the prosecutor is the bad guy. Steve Weinberg discusses how journalists can improve the coverage of their local prosecutor and why it is so important in this informative tipsheet.
Tags: prosecutors; crime; law; courts; lawyers; district attorney; prosecutorial misconduct; plea bargains
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Judging the judicial system
Delays in the judicial system can last months and years longer than reasonable. The Courier Journal's investigation into this issue illustrated the severity of the problem in Bullitt County. Schaver passes along pointers to reporters working on similar stories.
Tags: judges; lawyers; law; judicial system; prosecutors; bail bonds; database. felonies; felony