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 "state employees" ...
-
Mining for Gold in County and State Government
Shipp provides useful tips for mining through your county and state government agencies, including how to deal with employees who aren't familiar dealing with reporters and what to know before you even talk to them.
Tags: mining; local; county; state; government agency
-
Latest Developments in State Public Records Laws
This tipsheet outlines progress being made in public record laws in the U.S. Included are resources for information on public records and FOIA.
Tags: public records; public employees; autopsy records; 911 tapes; public safety;
-
Open Records - Legal Road Blocks and Resources
This tipsheet provides links to information illuminating the legal landscape of access to information under state and federal statutes.
Tags: private individuals; decendents; privacy rights; corporations; government employees
-
Tools for the investigative education reporter
Hobbs suggests what types of information to seek out when investigating school districts. Recommended information ranges from state- and district-generated databases to contact information of school employees.
Tags: education; schools; databases; teachers; school administration; public employees; contracts; educators
-
Making effective use of the internet for investigation
Berens lists the different online resources for investigative reporting in terms of campaign finance, non-profit organizations, and other businesses. He includes websites that list audits of state agencies, information through the Better Business Bureau, how to research election data, payroll data for state employees, a sex offender database, and a state legislative search.
Tags: state agency audit; Better Business Bureau; charity; campaign finance; business reporting
-
Tips For Getting Public Records in Texas
This tipsheet covers the basics for requesting public records in Texas. It also provides tips for getting certain records based on information from the state Attorney General's annual public records training for government employees. The tipsheet addresses recent changes to the law, such as changes made because of homeland security issues. It also covers negotiating for records, submitting a PIA request and disputing the cost of filling requests. It states what data is allowed to be withheld and what must be released.
Tags: Public Information Act; data negotiation; databases; CAR; FOIA; HIPPA; electronic records
-
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
-
Federal Staffing
David Burnham of Syracuse University provides printouts of TRAC database search results of federal employee records at the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The first search results set contains three columns: Year, # of Federal Employee Records and Employees per Million Pop. The second set of search results, specific to the occupation of Border Patrol Agent and year 2000, contains these columns: State, # of Federal Employees and Employees per Million Pop. The third set of search results contains the same information for the Immigration Inspection occupation and the fourth set of search results is for the Criminal Investigating Occupation. The final page of this tipsheet is a list of those holding the Criminal Investigating occupation in the year 2000 for the state of Arkansas, including names, pay plan and salary. TRAC is a subscription-based service.
Tags: security; immigrants; INS; federal agencies
-
News Bytes
Carroll provides tips on running a newsroom database. The Globe has several databases available to its reporters, including payrolls for city and state employees.
Tags: CAR Internet