Computer-Assisted Reporting

IRE Resource Center

Primary Documents

The Hershaw Diaries

The Value of Original Records

Public Records

• Voter Registration

Vital Records

• Death and Birth Certificates
• Marriage Certificates and Divorce Decrees

Liens and Tax Documents


Databases

Government
Religious

Depositories and Libraries
The Muster Rolls of the Revolution

Secondary Sources

Newspapers

• Obits
• Stories
• Announcements
• Public Reports
• Legal Notices
• The Classifieds

Non-Newspaper Secondaries

• Broadcast and Cable Sources
• Magazines
• Newsletters
• Reference Books
• Dissertations
• Books
• Libraries

Search Techniques

• Key Words
• Bibliographies
• Secondary Source Databases

The Investigative Process

The Paul Williams Way

• Conception
• Feasibility Study
• Go/No-Go Decision
• Base Building
• Planning
• Original Research
• Re-evaluation
• Filling the Gaps
• Final Evaluation
• Writing and Rewriting
• Publication/Airing of the Story

Assignment: Request and review minutes from Board of Trustees, Academic Council or Curriculum Committee and come up with three topics for further investigation.