Reporting Tools
Below are links to useful resources and records for New England-based reporters. We’ll update these frequently with the newest databases, search engines, blogs and other resources to help you cover New England better.
Check out Commonwealth Magazine’s new “Full Disclosure” databases to help you learn more about the financial background and spending of public officials in Massachusetts, plus comprehensive special education detail in the state.
- SFI filings
Financial disclosure forms for more than 250 elected and appointed officials in Massachusetts. - Per diem payments
These daily stipends paid to senators and representatives for travel, meals, and lodging whether the Legislature is in session or not. You can get view them by downloading an Excel spreadsheet ; note that each PDF is for multiple lawmakers. - Special education
April 28, 2009
This database contains enrollment, graduation, and budget information related to special education in all of the state’s school districts.
Two FREE! good people finders journalists are using:
New England journalists – if you don’t already know about Searchsystems, here is the link – it will direct you to free public records in your state: http://www.searchsystems.net/
How to find (mostly) free journalism training in your community: www.journalismtraining.org
To find out who is banned from participating in federal health care programs in your community check out the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General “excluded parties” list at: http://exclusions.oig.hhs.gov/
To obtain an impoundment order in Massachusetts
http://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/source/mass/rules/tc/impoundment.html
To find the latest information about your state legislature’s work:
www.ncsl.org
To find a state prison inmate:
www.vinelink.com
To find regional economic data for your stories:
www.bls.gov/data
To find blogs and other information on a topic you are covering:
www.icerocket.com
An overall news search engine:
www.silobreaker.com
