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 "grants" ...
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The one-query story: Quick hits for your newsroom
Amaze your editors and wow your readers with these quick-hit data story ideas. Learn techniques on how to look for the short-form watchdog and how to juggle it all. Afflict the comfortable by fact-checking their statements, find expert sources and use spreadsheets to inform your next project.
Tags: spreadsheets; query; data; car
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Investigating Higher Education
Use this tipsheet from award winning reporter, Perez, when you need to cover the higher education beat. She gives great resources for where to look and story ideas for the data you receive.
Tags: higher education; property records; IRS; grants; student federal loans
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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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What's next in housing? CAR for real estate
Grotto explores the potential for CAR stories in the midst of the current housing crisis. Suggests looking at the redevelopment of public and low income housing. He talks about the new strategy of mixed-income developments in Chicago. Grotto details where to go for housing data. Grotto lists key documents when doing housing stories: master ground lease; restrictive covenants; leasehold mortgages; quick claim deeds; regulatory and operating agreements.
Tags: public housing; low-income housting tax credit; LIHTC; HOME block grants; recorder of deeds;
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Seeking Support for Investigative Projects
This information box from the Spring 2008 Niemen Reports lists foundations and centers that offer financial support for journalists.
Tags: investigative reporting; professional organizations; grants; fellowships
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Shifting Gears: Investigative Life After Newspapers
The author offers advice for freelance investigative journalists trying to succeed outside of the newspaper business. The tipsheet includes suggestions to pursue grants and attend professional conferences.
Tags: writing; story ideas; funding
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Following the Money: Federal Spending
Moulton explains the process of examining federal spending, beginning with the Federal Procurement Data System and continuing to federal assistance such as loans, grants, direct payments, insurance, etc. The tipsheet also includes questions that should be asked when examining federal money, including queries regarding amounts being spent and what the money is being spent on. The tipsheet also features pages from the Web site fedspending.org.
Tags: federal spending; loans; grants; direct payments; insurance; fedspending.org
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Local Contracting
Keeping governments accountable about their contracts is important. Keating outlines what to look for when checking up on government contract grants and how to use CAR to support your story.
Tags: contrats; government; state government; city government; federal government; no bid; database; city officials; grants
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Following the Money after a Disaster
Buettner walks us through how story about the federal money given to New York after 9/11. He discusses the agencies he investigated and the sorts of data he analyzed to find out where the money was going. The data he discusses includes contract data, grant data, SBA Disaster Loans, and FEMA grants. Buettner discusses how he found and used each type of data. At the end of the tipsheet, he shares the results of his investigation.
Tags: September 11; federal government; state government; relief efforts; emergency services; public health; public safety; housing and urban development; HUD
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Farming Subsidies in Key to Investigate Fraud in EU
EU farming subsidies account for nearly half of all EU grants. So, finding fraud in the farming subsidies can lead to some great investigative reporting. This tipsheet discusses the various aspects of these subsidies, and where one is most likely to find fraud.
Tags: farming; agriculture; fraud; European government