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 "demographics" ...
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Databases: Investigating Locally and Around the World
Donald's presentation explores the importance of a "data state of mind" for reporters. Beyond knowing FOIA laws, he outlines the (at least) 25 databases every newsroom should have and use in their reporting. The databases cover several different beats, and Donald details the value of each.
Tags: databases; reporting; census data; budgets; audits; tax data; personnel files; campaign finance; financial disclosure reports; voter registration; election results; crime statistics; sexual predators; business demographics; SEC 10K: EDGAR; 990s; EPA Toxic Release Inventory; EPA Enforcements; water quality data;
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Census 2010: Nuts and Bolts
Doig gives an overview of the 2010 census and discusses the questions covered by the census form. He outlines the categories covered by "race" on the census form. He also addresses the American Community Survey which has replaced the census long form since 2000.
Tags: census; race; demographics; American Community Survey; summary levels; geography levels;
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No-cost Demographic Data Program from ESRI
This tipsheet covers the demographic data available through ESRI that includes information about the people, housing and businesses in a given location. Business Analyst Online (BAO) allows the user to investigate demographic patterns and compare areas using interactive maps
Tags: ESRI; demographics; data analysis; Business Analyst Online;
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Mining Census Data and Preparing for 2010
The tipsheet explains how to use the American Community Survey.
Tags: Census; American Community Survey; population; demographic
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Watchdog/ Internet 101: Getting the Most from the Internet
Reisner's tipsheet reviews some useful sites for internet research. He discusses government sites, WHOIS, demographic sites, public records sites, international sites, people finders, and Google.
Tags: backgrounding; internet research; web; people finders; sources
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Investigating Ethnic Communities
Kestin draws on a recent eleven-month investigation of the Seminole Tribe in Florida to offer advice to other reporters covering ethnic communities. Her tips include advice for cultivating sources and working around a lack a open records laws.
Tags: diversity; Native Americans; cross-cultural journalism
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Investigating Subprime Lending and Foreclosures: HMDA Data
Thompson describes how to use the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) database in order to investigate subprime lending in your community. She explains what fields in the database will reveal subprime lending, and how to use an "update function" to count the subprime loans and apply a demographic element. The tipsheet ends with a list of helpful sources, such as the Consumer Federation of America and the State Licensing Board.
Tags: foreclosure; subprime lending; data analysis; Microsoft Access; queries
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Data Before and After a Disaster
Heath lists and describes different federal programs that provide financial assistance after a natural disaster. He discusses where to get records of each program's spending, and how to best incorporate that information into a CAR story. Heath also describes the programs used by federal agencies to run simulations and assess potential damage; most of those programs are available for free and could be useful for reporters covering a recent disaster.
Tags: natural disaster; FEMA; forest service; demographics; geophysical data; SBA loans; flood insurance; housing assistance
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Not Your Father's Census
Campbell describes the American Community Survey. He discusses key differences between the ACS and the decennial census, such as frequency, sample size, reference period and use of local data. Campbell also explains how to access and analyze raw ACS data.
Tags: census; population; demographics; community survey; statistical analysis; federal government
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Making the most of the U.S. Census Bureau's Factfinder
The author discusses how to use the U.S. Census Bureau's Factfinder feature on the organization's website to find information about the American Community Survey. She discusses how to find example questions from various questionnaires, reviews some of the definitions, and compares the material covered in the American Community Survey to that in the Decennial Census. The tipsheet includes screen shots from the Census Bureau's website to illustrate how to use the Factfinder.
Tags: population; demographic; Census; survey; historical census; internet