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 "focus" ...
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Developing reusable visualization components using D3 and Backbone
This session will step through a process for creating components for standards-based Web content, focusing in particular on the creation of common building blocks for data visualization in JavaScript. D3 is an increasingly popular choice for developing visual content and we will look at how items ranging from simple bar charts to custom graphics can be packaged up for easy reuse. Backbone is a widely used toolkit for creating browser-based applications and we will examine how its models and views can play a role in the creation of components. Consideration will be given to combination, customization and the power of reuse versus the perils of over-generalization. https://github.com/rflow/nicar-13-examples/blob/master/slides.key
Tags: data visualization; Java Script; D3; backbone
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HealthCare Money --- finding stories in elections that can have local and national focus
This extensive tipsheet will provide you with everything you need to follow the money going to healthcare reform this campaign season. Included are dozens and dozens of websites and tips on how to cover PACs.
Tags: campaign finance; politics; money; PACs; healthcare
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Changing the Conversation
It's time to focus on how transportation investment pays back America.
Tags: Transportation
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Using Testing in Your Stories
The authors of this tipsheet bring to light the potentially strong impact that testing can bring to an investigative story. Some of the information found in this tipsheet includes ways to determine what to test and how to test it, how to choose a testing device, how to keep costs low and suggestions on sample size.
Tags: California Watch; Consumer Reports; consumer-focused; science; samples; lead; lab; testing; tests
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Close to Home: Great stories begin with local reporting
Gabrielson shows how to elevate local reporting from the \"numbing procession of planning and zoning meetings, \'not in my backyard\' protests and feel good articles about people.\" He suggests focusing on reporting that isn\'t linked to a daily deadline and investigating the data available from different entities within the city. He includes four examples of great local reporting.
Tags: data; local government; city government; local reporting; city hall;
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Bulletproofing the Story
Beelman's tipsheet helps editors in bulletproofing investigative stories. She starts at the beginning with tips on organization. She talks about other key components of the report-editor relationship that aid in directing and focusing the project, and providing the requisite support and insights.
Tags: project planning; data; records; interviewing; crowd-sourcing;
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Tracking the stimulus
Cochran points out some of the excellent coverage of the stimulus - such as ProPublica's continuing project that includes data and guides to coverage; the Investigative Reporting Workshop's focus on renewable energy grants; and some local coverage. He points to resources available on the TARP/bank bailout, and government sources such as GAO reports and Recovery.org
Tags: stimulus; TARP; Troubled Asset Relief Program; Recovery.org; Government Accountability Office; GAO reports; bank bailout
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Writing the Investigative Story
Frank gives tips on staying focused on telling the investigative story. She outlines a plan to stay on task with a long-form investigation, especially when you're working on this while meeting daily deadlines.
Tags: investigative reporting; writing; organization;
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Quick hit watchdog stories: No-nonsense nonprofit reporting
Sforza discusses what to look for when doing quick hit stories on nonprofit organizations. Focusing on the 990, she points out where the story might be. For instance, how does total revenue compare to total expenses?
Tags: nonprofits; Guidestar; investigation; quick hits; 990 form; charities