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 "coding" ...
-
Mapping Frontiers
Henderson offers utilities to make your Google Maps accurate. He identifies free tools online for mapping purposes across several platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux). Also discussed is the automation of geocoding with tools available online
Tags: mapping; geocoding; QGIS; ArcView; Python; Google maps; batch coding
-
Ways to Trace Every Business
Campbell walks through the steps to investigate a business, outlining the paper trail that all businesses must create - from a business license to Uniform Commercial Code filings to liquor licenses. Litigation filings also provide a wealth of information about businesses.
Tags: backgrounding business; licenses; trademark; articles of incorporation; UCC; Uniform Commercial Code filing; credit reports; mortgages; liens; professional license; litigation; courts; EDGAR; Securities and Exchange Commission; SEC; Federal Trade Commission; FTC; Financial Industry Regulatory Authority; FINRA
-
CAR 2009: Geodata Tsunami
Henriksen explores geocoding data. "Any data with an address or a placename can be geocoded. In this example, Geocoding is done on five-digit ZIP Code. When you type an address into Google, Google geocodes it and puts a marker on the map. GIS software does built-in geocoding . Geocoding is very data dependent, and Results will vary dramatically with data quality." Henriksen shows how you can derive new information from GIS data.
Tags: geodata; tabular data; locators; geocoders; geotagging; GIS
-
From Data Analysis to Programming
This tipsheet is an outline of Perry and Willis' panel on data analysis to programming. They detail free Web resources; assorted data structures; tutorials on computer languages; version control; programming techniques; and how to read and share code.
Tags: programming; SQL; data; programming language; code; tutorial
-
Ways to Trace Every Business
Campbell details how to background businesses by following the paper trail they create - from business licenses to potential litigation involvement.
Tags: business; business backgrounding; articles of incorporation; Uniform Commercial Code filings; UCC; Internal Revenue Service; IRS; planing and zoning
-
Covering Private Companies
Roush offers very comprehensive, detailed advice about covering private companies. He discusses some places to find informaton, including the Secretary of State, the courts, and UCC codes. Roush also discusses covering non-profits and financial institutions. Finally, he includes a long list of web resources that are helpful for the business beat.
Tags: beat reporting; business; corporations; public records; banks; credit unions; small business administration; consumers
-
So you want to be a Pythonista?
Python is an open source, interpreted scripting language. Its uniquely simple, intuitive and expressive syntax make it an excellent first language to learn, and its emphasis on readable code and object-oriented programming forces coders into good habits. Davis offers an overview of the language and several tips to getting started.
Tags: programming; scripting; languages; CAR resources
-
Corporate Documents
Skertic discusses ways to familiarize yourself with corporate documents to improve your reporting on the business beat. He recommends using SEC filings, court records, and uniform commercial code filings in business investigations. He thoroughly explains each source, describes the various forms companies are required to file, and lists information available from each place.
Tags: business; beat reporting; SEC; government; corporate intelligence; EDGAR
-
Center for public integrity policy data accuracy
Perry shares the Center for Public Integrity's procedures and policies for computer assisted reporting. It addresses data importation, cleaning, coding, updates and fact checking. It is an extensive explanation of CAR methods. Also included is a summary of the methods used for a story about lobbyists providing legislators with free travel.
Tags: CAR; computer assisted reporting; data; campaign finance; research
-
Parsing House Vote Data using Python
This tipsheet is a step by step guide to using Python to analyze voting data. It begins with directions to download the program, then includes examples of scripts to write and finally explains how to interpret the program's results.
Tags: computers; internet; statistics; federal government; code; computer programming