The page shows a number of databases, software tools and other resources for computer assisted reporting (CAR).

Web sites

• Investigative Reporters and Editors on the Road:  Tipsheets
• A Guide to Computer Assisted Reporting, PoynterOnline, June 2005.
• Soceity of Professional Journalists
• Power Reporting:  Resources for Journalists from Columbia Journalism Review

Books

• Computer Assisted Reporting:  A Practical Guide, 3rd edition, Brant Houston, 2004.
• Journalistm 2.0:  How to Survive and Thrive, reported by Mark Briggs, edited by Jan Schaffer

Databases:  Federal Government

• BEA (Bureau of Economic Analysis):  Regional Economic Accounts
• Census Bureau:  Population Estimates in CSV files
• DOL (Department of Labor):  UnionReports.gov and Union Search
• FAA (Federal Aviation Administration):  Aircraft Registration Inquiry (online).  Related:  FlightAware.
• FEC (Federal Election Commission):
  • FEC FTP Site
  • Summary Data Files by Election Cycle
  • Detailed Files about Candidates, Parties and Other Committees by Election Cycle
  • Working with Downloadable FEC Data Files using MS Access
• Federal Courts:  PACER Search
• HUD (Housing and Urban Development):
  • HUD USER Data Sets
  • Audit Reports
• IRS Charity Search (online)
• IRS 527 info:  Download entire database of electronic data from IRS 8871 and 8872 forms, which is updated every Sunday
• IRS 990s:  this IRS page shows the contents of the index files for the “raw format” when IRS 990s are purchased from the IRS.  Many IRS 990s can be viewed online at GuideStar.org.
• SEC:  EDGAR Company Search

Databases:  Other

• National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting (NICAR) Database Library

Software Tools

• 40 Excellent Web Based Tools to Help You Design from Anywhere
• Sunshine Review Tutorial (How to edit a wiki page on Sunshine Review)
• Excel:   How to Use Excel Filtering to Find Data Fast
• SQL Resources: Database Searches
• Statistical Analysis:  Free “R” analysis tool

Training Classes

• Investigative Reporters and Editors’  Calendar of
  • CAR Boot Camps
  • Watchdog Workshops
  • IRE and CAR Conferences
• Heritage Computer-Assisted Research & Reporting (CARR) at the National Press Club

Other Useful Resources

• Reporter Tools from the Center for Investigative Reporting
• YouTube Reporters’ Center:  Helping You Report the News
• 2009 AP Stylebook
• Quick Reference Associated Press Style
• Make Internet TV