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 "datasets" ...
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Drug data: Key data sources on prescription drug sales and marketing
Adams lists sources of pharmaceutical data that include the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey as well as data from the FDA. The background, data description and pitfalls are described for each dataset.
Tags: CAR; pharmaceuticals; health care; data; database; hospitals; National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey; prescriptions; drugs; FDA; FDA adverse event data
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CAR from start to finish: The data is in - now what?
Tamman details what a savvy journalist needs to do to become intimately acquainted with the data they are using for a story. He offers ways journalists should look at data beyond the obvious. Also included are tips about packaging, writing and being fair with data.
Tags: CAR; data; database; dataset; interviewing; analysis; outliers; medians; average; rates; statistics; mapping; editing; lottery; education; writing
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State Data: Making it Work for You
Kevin Corcoran provides a great list of useful websites where you can find information and databases on state and local government (taxes, finances, salaries, etc.). This tipsheet also has examples on how to analyze databases (campaign finance, property taxes, etc.) by making spreadsheets. It also provides tips on how to get started on making spreadsheets as well as obtaining data.
Tags: state government; local government; budget; tax; legislatures; lawmakers; spreadsheets; datasets; attorney general; campaign contribution; octane-testing; litigation; property tax; unclaimed property; state board and commission; state employees; harassment; overtime; CAR
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Bureau of Labor Statistics
Maureen Greene offers tips for using local data to assess the economic health of a community. He points out where the government's data is incomplete as well as some under utilized -- but interesting -- datasets. The handout includes detailed information on the Bureau's major programs, which is also available on the agency's webiste.
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Public Use Microdata Sample
Richard O'Reilly, director of computer analysis for the Los Angeles Times, writes about a little known dataset the Census Bureau produces -- the Public Use Microdata Sample or PUMS. "PUMS is the next best thing to raw census data itself. It is the answers to each of the long form questions for each member of a housing unit." O'Reilly explains the benefits -- and pitfalls -- associated with using PUMS data.
Tags: census; Public Use Microdata Sample; PUMS
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Beyond Google
Most of us know that the information we seek is online somewhere. Williams gets you out of the gates fast not only in finding data, but understanding its parameters, too. PLUS how to keep up with the new datasets as they're posted
Tags: INFOMINE; the Big Hub; online seaches; databases; IRS: 8871 Political Organization Search Sec. 527; USDOJ; Municipal codes
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CAR on the Politics Beat
Guide of listserves, WWW sites, gophers, databases, and forums for reporters covering politics. Includes information on how to search online for sources, story ideas, background articles, statistics, datasets, source documents, and public records. Audio tape is available for purchase from the IRE Resource Center. Contact us at (573) 882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org
Tags: CAR; computer-assisted reporting; Congress; Campaign finance; Electronic data; Internet; online research
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CAR on the Court Beat
Guide of listserves, gophers, databases, newsgroups, forums, and WWW sites for reporters covering the courts. Includes information on how to search online for sources, story ideas, statistics, datasets, background articles, and public records. Audio tape is available for purchase from the IRE Resource Center. Contact us at (573) 882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org
Tags: Legal Law Sentencing Prisons Criminal Justice Electronic Data Internet
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City Hall Beat Online
Extensive tip sheet on covering the city hall beat on line, including mailing lists/listserves, newsgroups, news filters, WWW sites, gophers, databases, mailing lists. Also info on looking for datasets, background articles, source documents and public records. Audio tape is available for purchase from the IRE Resource Center. Contact us at (573) 882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org
Tags: CAR