Investigative / Backgrounding
Investigator's Guide to Info. Sources
GAO site explains types of records kept by local/state governments, links to federal agencies, businesses, directories, investigation databases. Social Security Death Records Public Records Online
Search state-by-state criminal records, real estate information and more. BRB Public Records online.
A huge sites with links to free and pay public records sites. Social Security Death Index
Get the SSN of the deceased. Searchsystems.net
Links to almost 5,000 public records databases. Claims to be the largest free collection of public records databases on the Web. Formerly the PAC-Info. site, just click on a state and you'll get a list of all free public record collections for that state. Most include incorporation filings. Public-Information.com
This site charges a fee. Search state/local criminal, DMV, prison records and more. Center for Investigative Reporting Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) Resource Center
Story samples, tip sheets and more. Investigative Desktop
Investigative Reporters and Editors links page for investigative journalists.
FEC: Detailed Files About Candidates, Parties and Other Committees
Information on contributors, including city, state and ZIP.
FTC Charity Checklist Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting
From the World Security Institute, this site provides in-depth resources on global affairs. ProPublica
An independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest. Covers topics such as justice, business, environment/energy and health.
IRE: Resources for Investigating Highway and Water Transportation Deaths Reporter.org: Who is John Doe? Investigative Tools
From the Reporter's Desktop, this is a simple list of resources you can access to get personal information about almost anyone in the United States. Coalition of Journalists for Open Government
A resource for journalists who want to stay current on open government developments or to learn more about access issues at the federal level. Student Press Law Center: FOIA Letter Generator
Just fill in the blanks. The Innocence Project
A searchable database of states offering projects to free wrongfully accused prisoners through DNA and other evidence. Run by the Cardozo School of Law in NYC. Terrorism Research Center
Resources and research including comprehensive listing of links to terrorism-related Web pages including profiles of individual terrorist groups compiled by the U.S. Navy's Dudley Knox Library. University of Miami: Online News and Computer-Assisted Reporting Research Project
Syracuse University: Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) The Associated Press and Freedom of Information Child Abduction Site
Several helpful research tools if you're covering this topic and a wealth of media contact information. Criminal-Records.com
Search federal court, divorce court, marriage licenses, military records and more. The IRE Resource Center: Tipsheets from CAR Conference Speakers
This is an actual database of tipsheets that IRE members can download as PDF files directly from the Web site. You have to be an IRE member to access the database. World Corruption Site
Site says it is run by "global non-governmental organization devoted to combating corruption. Its mission is to create change toward a world free of corruption." Center for Public Integrity
Tips and resources on using public documents, including campaign finance research. Knowx.com
Comprehensive searches for public records. You must register to use the site. Publicdata.com Dataquick.com
Real property info. center. Suite101.com
The Smoking Gun
This is a good FOIA site that claims to find documents that can't be found elsewhere on the Web. Its material is gleaned from government documents, court files, etc. Opensecrets.org
A fantastic site for researching campaign finance statistics. CampaignFinance.org CampaignFinance.org FOI
Includes campaign finance research and a clearinghouse of key FOIA sites. IRE Archive of Hot Stories
Good to check every few days for ideas, news, etc. U.S. Search Background Information IBB Voice of America: Pronunciation Guide
An invaluable tool to broadcasters on deadline. National Criminal Justice Reference Service: Uniform Crime Report and Supplementary Homicide Report
Data by state is available since 1960 and data by local reporting agency since 1985. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
FBI now gets authority to wiretap individuals, or under the secret FISA procedures, which is also a secret court proceeding. IRE: Dam Resources
Resources for covering dam inspections and dam deterioration. Docusearch.com
This site claims to be "the place to find, locate & track down anybody! We offer locate searches, DMV driver & vehicle searches, telephone record searches, financial and bank searches, criminal and property records. Some searches are free, others you must pay for. ActivistCash.com
A great site. Roots out the funding sources of the most notorious anti-consumer groups. It continually adds profiles on the first of every month. Medicare Nursing Home Finder
Can be helpful in investigating nursing homes in your area as it includes information on recent inspections, number of beds, etc. GAO's Congressional Investigations
Track investigations through the General Accounting Office. Lobbyist Database
Opensecrets.org, part of the Center for Reponsive Politics, has a database of registered lobbyists. Also tracks spending in particular sectors of lobbyists. Special Interest Groups List
Opensecrets.org, part of the Center for Reponsive Politics, has downloadable lists of special-interest groups. Government Audits
State inspector general's offices that audit federal programs that the agency oversees. TRAY.com
A good site for FEC and PAC data.
Social Security Death Records Securities & Exchange Commission SNAP: Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests SNAP: Investigating Abuse by Priests
Tips for the media. Investigative Resources on the Web (WebGater)
Links to motor vehicle departments, missing persons bureaus, vital records, medical examiner records. International Consortium of Investigative Journalists FOI Advocate
The University of Missouri's newsletter on using the Freedom of Information Act. Cemetery Records Online
Maintains records from 4,307 cemeteries both nationwide and abroad. The site regularly updates users on which cemeteries have been added to their database. Docusearch Vital Records Online
An extensive list of adoption resources. Justice Department FOIA Guide
Good for anticipating the other side's arguments and interpretation of case history, especially when you are appealing a denial. Litigation Under the Federal Open Government Laws 2002
A guide for working through the FOIA/open government process. It is published by the Electronic Privacy Information Center. IRE: FOIA Resources IRE's Campaign Finance Information Center
This site features a database of campaign finance story ideas and tips from reporters across the country. Tips for Uncovering Sealed Cases
SecretNoMore: Publicly Accessible FBI Files World's 300 Largest Pension Funds
Wall Street Journal: Markets Data Center
A great quick-reference tool. Access to this does not require a subscription to the WSJ. ProPublica.org
An independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest. Submit questions to a librarian. Includes a chat feature and links to various collections. Sunlight Foundation
Political watchdog group that tracks lobbyists and fundraising. Sunlight Foundation: PoliticalPartyTime.org
This political watchdog group's blog tracks parties thrown at the 2008 Democratic and Republican National Conventions as well as fundraising activities by all lawmakers running. How to Use the Federal FOI Act
From the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. IRE FOI Center
National FOI Coalition APME: The People's Right to Know
A good FOIA guide. Society of Professional Journalists: Freedom of Information Resources University of Missouri Freedom of Information Center ACLU Free Speech Resources Reporter's Committee for Freedom of the Press: FOIA Letter Generator
Just fill in the blanks. The Brechner Center for Freedom of Information
Coalition of Journalists for Open Government
National Security Archive: Freedom of Information Act Resources
From George Washington University.
American Library Association: Key Principles on Government Information
U.S. Department of Justice Freedom of Information Act Information
FBI's FOIA Website
Society of Environmental Journalists FOI Resources
Federal Citizens' Information Center: Privacy Resources University of Texas: Woodward and Bernstein Watergate Papers Depth Reporting The Scoop Blog
CAR and investigative reporting. Spot.Us
Warning: There may ethical concerns with content produced on this site! This community funded journalism site is a nonprofit project of the Center for Media Change. The public can commission journalists to do investigations on important and perhaps overlooked stories. All donations are tax deductible and if a news organization buys exclusive rights to the content, your donation will be reimbursed.
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