UNDER PRESSURE

TIPSHEET
FOR BREAKING NEWS AND DAILY TURNS

• There IS news in the newsroom

(this doesn’t mean someone doesn’t have to go to
the scene but you can help from newsroom)

• SPEED KILLS!!!
• Slow Down! (Don’t be RoadRunner)
• Stop
• Spend a Few Minutes Thinking AND
Working
• Keep a level head
• Take a deep breath
• Put event into CONTEXT
• Find ways to be extraordinary
• Meet and make a plan
• Talk it out with people whom you respect
• Try to Find Something OF VALUE –
Don’t just Grandstand
• Think creatively
• Be OPEN to possibilities
ASK:
What don’t we know after the obvious
“nuts and bolts”?
What do we WANT our viewers to
know? What should they know?
What would help viewers/readers
understand this event more (put into
context)?
 What will help our organization’s
coverage provide that context and help
us stand out?
• Think outside the box to answer above
questions.
• What data might be available?
• How easily is it accessed?
• Is it in a form I can understand and
analyze?
• How fast can I understand and analyze it?
• What value could it provide to our
coverage?
• Where do I go to get data?
DO
• Find relationships; put event into context
• Be ready BEFORE breaking news hits
• Keep a special database folder to turn to
when breaking news hits
• Keep adding to that folder
• Use databases often
• Push yourself to do something different
once a month or once a quarter
• Try using data and responding BEFORE
event happens
• Practice, practice, practice
DON’T
• Rush to judgment
• In the effort to get on the air\publish forget
to ask basic who, what, where, why AND
how did I get this information? questions
• Lack context
• Forget to ask – does this ring true? If it
doesn’t triple check again
• NOT question your sources and their
motivations just like you do on “normal
day reporting
USE
• Social media for a sense of what’s going
on
• Google Street View (in Google Maps)
KNOW
• Know building & construction databases
• Know who’s responsible for what
• Know resources you can access quickly
and efficiently
• Know where to look
• Know what to look for
• How to turn data into interesting copy
PRACTICE
• Breaking data from non-breaking stories
• Digging into these types of stories from
time to time even if you don’t actually use
it on the air or in a story
• Using databases in your spare time
• Exercises and deadlines
BUILD
• Database library on your own
• Knowledge of where and how to get data
• Favorites folders with quick sites to use in
a hurry
• Lists of contacts and resources
• Team approach where all ‘get it’
• Make the story pitch once you have the
story, not before
• Create CONTEXT
• Find ways to be extraordinary
• SPEED KILLS!!!
 Useful Web Sites
Aviation Accidents
• NTSB Database http://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/index.aspx
• FAA http://www.faa.gov/
• Track tail numbers http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Inquiry.aspx
• FAA Accident & Incident Data
http://www.faa.gov/data_research/accident_incident/
• Airport-Data.com http://www.airport-data.com/ (ONE STOP search everything from
tail numbers, to airports, to serial numbers, etc)
• PlaneCrashinfo.com http://www.planecrashinfo.com/
• AirDisaster.com http://www.airdisaster.com/
• AirSafe.com http://www.airsafe.com/events/usrecord.htm (plane crashes by airline,
most fatalities, by model, crash rates)
• NASA ASRS (Aviation Safety Reporting System) http://asrs.arc.nasa.gov/
• FlightExplorer.com http://www.flightexplorer.com/ (real time flight tracker)
• FlightAware http://flightaware.com/ (real time flight tracker)
• Air Traffic Controllers Radio Traffic http://www.liveatc.net/
• Airliners.net http://www.airliners.net/aircraft-data/ (any aircraft type & specs in
world)
• Plane Finder http://planefinder.net/
• Airplane photos
http://www.photovault.com/Link/Technology/Aviation/FlightCommercial/AircraftTy
pes.html
• National Wildlife Strike database http://wildlife.faa.gov/
• New FAA Wildlife Strike site https://www.faa.gov/airports/airport_safety/wildlife/
 • Last Words http://www.planecrashinfo.com/lastwords.htm
• FAA Preliminary Accident and Incident Notices
https://www.faa.gov/data_research/accident_incident/preliminary_data/
• NTSB Docket Management System
https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/SitePages/dms.aspx
• CSRTG Aircraft Accident Database https://www.fire.tc.faa.gov/adb/adb/ADBlist.asp
• NTSB Major Investigations (includes ground vehicles)
https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/pages/default.aspx
• NTSB Current Investigations (includes ground) but pretty up to date
https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/current/Pages/default.aspx
• Aviation Safety Network https://aviation-safety.net/index.php

Automobile/Trucks
• FARS-Fatality Analysis Reporting System http://www.nhtsa.gov/FARS
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration http://www.nhtsa.gov/
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Office of Defects Investigation
http://www.safercar.gov/ (main page)
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Office of Defects Investigation
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/defect/defectsearch.cfm (searchable
page)
• Office of Defects Databases http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/index.cfm

• Safety and Fitness Electronic Records System (SAFER) http://www.safersys.org/

(truck accident statistics)
• Truck Company Snapshot http://www.safersys.org/CompanySnapshot.aspx
• Federal Highway Administration database: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/index.cfm

• Gas Price Watch: http://www.gaspricewatch.com/new/default_V3.asp

• National Transportation Safety Board: (trains, planes and automobiles):
http://www.ntsb.gov/Pages/default.aspx
• Car Accident Statistics: http://www.car-accidents.com/pages/stats.html

• Ward’s Automotive Data: http://wardsauto.com/

• Consumer Complaints: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/
• Texas Dept of Motor Vehicles https://www.txdmv.gov/
 • Texas Dept of Public Safety https://www.dps.texas.gov/

Mass Shootings & Police Shootings

• US Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Explosives & Firearms https://www.atf.gov/

• FBI Active Shooter Study Quick Reference Guide https://www.fbi.gov/file-

repository/as-study-quick-reference-guide-updated1.pdf/view
• FBI UCR (Uniform Crime Report) https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/ucr-
program-data-collectionstudy
• FBI Study on Active Shooters https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/office-of-partner-
engagement/active-shooter-incidents/a-study-of-active-shooter-incidents-in-the-
u.s.-2000-2013
• FBI Active Shoot Incidents https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2014/september/fbi-
releases-study-on-active-shooter-incidents
• US Bureau of Justice Statistics (Homicide)
https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=tp&tid=311
• US Bureau of Justice Statistics (Arrest Related Deaths)
https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=tp&tid=82

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) https://www.cdc.gov/

• How “mass shooting” is defined?
http://www.politifact.com/california/article/2017/oct/04/mass-shooting-what-does-
it-mean/
• US Justice Department
https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw2018/info_flyers/fact_sheets/2018NCVRW_MassCasualt
y_508_QC.pdf
• Shooting Tracker http://www.shootingtracker.com/
• Gun Violence Archive https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/
• Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence http://smartgunlaws.org/
• DART Center for Journalism and Violence http://dartcenter.org/
• Everytown USA http://everytown.org/
• The TRACE https://www.thetrace.org/

• Mother Jones http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/12/mass-shootings-

mother-jones-full-data
• Dr. Garen Wintemute (UC Davis) http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/vprp/
 • Dr. Philip Cook (Duke University) https://sanford.duke.edu/people/faculty/cook-
philip-j
• Stanford Open Policing Project https://openpolicing.stanford.edu/

Some Other Sites (consumer, theme parks, education)

• Consumer Product Safety Commission http://www.cpsc.gov/
• CPSC –Consumer Complaint Database http://www.saferproducts.gov/
• Roller Coaster database http://www.rcdb.com/
• SaferParks http://www.saferparks.org/

• TEA –Themed Entertainment Association http://www.teaconnect.org/index.cfm

• TEA Annual reports http://www.teaconnect.org/Press/Press-
Releases/index.cfm?id=7479
• Emergency Response Guidebook (placards no’s=chemicals)
http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/hazmat/erg/
• US Dept of Education Campus Safety and Security
https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/
• CA Department of Insurance http://www.insurance.ca.gov/

Political Campaign Data

• ProPublica http://www.propublica.org/data/
• Center for Responsive Politics\OPENSECRETS https://www.opensecrets.org/open-
data
• Congressional Quarterly Political Money Line www.politicalmoneyline.com

• Maplight.org (tracking money in politics & issues) http://maplight.org/

• Texas Secretary of State Division of Elections https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/
• TX Secretary of State Candidate Information
https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/index.shtml
• TX Ethics Commission Campaign Finance Reports
https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/dfs/search_CF.htm
• TX Ethics Commission Home Page https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/
• California Secretary of State Division of Elections https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/
• California Candidate Finance Database http://powersearch.sos.ca.gov/
• California Statewide Database http://statewidedatabase.org/
 • Orange County Registrar of Voters https://www.ocvote.com/
• Orange Co Registrar of Voters Campaign Finance
https://www.ocvote.com/voting/campaign-finance-info/

Federal Spending
• USA Spending.gov http://www.usaspending.gov/
• Federal Spending.org http://www.fedspending.org/
• Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Watch http://www.ombwatch.org/
• Project on Government Oversight (POGO) http://www.pogo.org/

• Federal Procurement Data (gold mine) https://www.fpds.gov/fpdsng_cms/in

• Federal Audit Clearinghouse https://harvester.census.gov/facweb/default.aspx/

More Federal Sites

• FedStats http://fedstats.sites.usa.gov/
• US Census Bureau http://www.census.gov/

• Data.gov http://www.data.gov/
• US Government Accountability Office http://www.gao.gov/
• Federal Inspectors General https://www.ignet.gov/content/inspectors-general-
directory

• Federal Railroad Administration http://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0037

• FRA Office of Safety Analysis
http://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/officeofsafety/default.aspx
• Bureau of Ocean Energy Management BOEM (offshore drilling info)
https://www.boem.gov/

Federal Environmental & Workplace Safety

• CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/
• CDC/NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/
• EPA (TRI) Toxic Release Inventory Program http://www2.epa.gov/toxics-release-
inventory-tri-program
• EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO)
http://echo.epa.gov/?redirect=echo
• US Department of Labor http://www.dol.gov/
 • Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) https://www.osha.gov/
• OSHA (data & statistics) http://www.osha.gov/oshstats/index.html
• OSHA Establishment Search https://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/establishment.html

• OSHA Workplace Violence https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/workplaceviolence

California Government
• CA Secretary of State https://www.sos.ca.gov/
• CA Department of Conservation https://www.conservation.ca.gov/
• CA Dept of Conservation\ Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR)
https://www.conservation.ca.gov/dog
• CA DOGGR - Office of Enforcement
https://www.conservation.ca.gov/dog/Pages/Enforcement.aspx
• CA DOGGR Online Data
https://www.conservation.ca.gov/dog/Online_Data/Pages/Index.aspx
• CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE)
https://www.ca.gov/agency/?item=california-department-of-forestry-and-fire-
protection

• CA Department of Transportation (Caltrans) http://www.dot.ca.gov/

• CA Department of Water Resources https://water.ca.gov/
• CA Water Resources Control Board https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/
• Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board
https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/centralvalley/

Texas Government
• TX Public Records Instant Access Search https://texas.staterecords.org/
• TX Legislature https://capitol.texas.gov/
• TX Secretary of State https://www.sos.state.tx.us/
• TX Comptroller of Public Records Business Search https://mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/coa/

• TX Parks and Wildlife (NOT conservation) https://tpwd.texas.gov/

• TX Railroad Commission https://www.rrc.state.tx.us/ (GOVERNS OIL & GAS)
• TX Department of Transportation https://www.txdot.gov/
• TX Education Agency https://tea.texas.gov/
 • TX Education Agency School District Locator
https://tea.texas.gov/Texas_Schools/General_Information/School_District_Locator/
School_District_Locator/

• TX Commission on Environmental Quality https://www.tceq.texas.gov/

• TX Water Rights https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/water_rights
• TX Department of Insurance https://www.tdi.texas.gov/
• TX Dept of Agriculture http://www.texasagriculture.gov/

• Texas Open Records

https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/files/og/publicinfo_hb.pdf
• Texas Government On-line https://texas.gov/
• Texas Open Data Portal https://data.texas.gov/

• Texas Public Safety Data

https://data.texas.gov/browse?category=Public+Safety&utf8=%E2%9C%93
• Texas Corporations Search http://www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/
• TX Comptroller of Public Records Business Search https://mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/coa/
• Texas Taxable Entity Search https://mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/coa/

• Texas Driver’s License Records

https://txapps.texas.gov/tolapp/txldrcdr/TXDPSLicenseeManager?XXtask=100
• Texas Criminal History Name Search
https://records.txdps.state.tx.us/dpswebsite/criminalhistory/

Crime and Punishment

• FBI Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) https://ucr.fbi.gov/
• FBI Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) Data Tool https://www.ucrdatatool.gov/
• US Bureau of Prisons http://www.bop.gov/
• US Bureau of Justice Statistics http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/

• TX State Police http://tsp.aceplace.net/

• TX State Attorney General https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/
• TX Dept of Criminal Justice https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/
• TX Dept of Criminal Justice OFFENDER SEARCH
https://offender.tdcj.texas.gov/OffenderSearch/
• TX Dept of Public Safety https://www.dps.texas.gov/
 • TX Rangers (NOT baseball team) https://www.dps.texas.gov/texasrangers/
• CA Dept of Justice\Attorney General https://oag.ca.gov/
• CA Department of Justice Data Portal https://openjustice.doj.ca.gov/data

• CA Dept of Justice Bureau of Firearms https://oag.ca.gov/firearms

• California Dept. of Corrections https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/
• California Law Enforcement https://post.ca.gov/le-agencies
• California Criminal History Search https://oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/pra

• California Highway Patrol https://www.chp.ca.gov/home

• CA Internet Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS)
https://www.chp.ca.gov/programs-services/services-information/switrs-internet-
statewide-integrated-traffic-records-system

US and State Court System

• PACER https://pacer.gov
• PACER login page: https://pacer.login.uscourts.gov/csologin/login.jsf
• US Courts http://www.uscourts.gov/Home.aspx
• FindLaw (Constitutional and US Supreme Court Issues)
http://supreme.lp.findlaw.com/supreme_court/resources.html
• Offices of The US Attorneys http://www.justice.gov/usao/
• Cornell US Supreme Court Decisions http://www.law.cornell.edu/
• Texas Courts http://www.txcourts.gov/
• Texas Attorney General https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/

• TX Attorney General Crime Statistics

https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/divisions/criminal-justice/reports-and-
publications
• California Courts https://www.courts.ca.gov/

• CA Department of Justice Data Portal https://openjustice.doj.ca.gov/data

• CA Department of Justice Crime Statistics https://openjustice.doj.ca.gov/crime-
statistics/
• CA Attorney General Crime Justice Statistics Center (CJSC) Databases
https://oag.ca.gov/cjsc/databases

Business Records and Non-Profits

 • US Securities and Exchange Commission
http://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/webusers.htm (business lookup)
• SEC Company Search http://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch.html

• CorportationWiki http://www.corporationwiki.com/
• Yahoo Finance http://finance.yahoo.com/
• Bloomberg https://www.bloomberg.com/ (for quick public company profiles)
• LexisNexis (subscription must pay) http://www.lexisnexis.com/en-us/gateway.page

• GuideStar https://www.guidestar.org/Home.aspx (non-profits, look up 990’s)

• Charity Navigator http://www.charitynavigator.org/
• National Better Business Bureau http://give.org/
• TX Comptroller of Public Records Business Search https://mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/coa/

• CA Secretary of State Business Search https://www.sos.ca.gov/business-

programs/bizfile/search-online/

Natural Disasters
Hurricanes:
• National Hurricane Center http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
• Weather Underground http://www.wunderground.com/
• Storm Pulse http://www.stormpulse.com/

Earthquakes:
• US Geological Survey http://earthquake.usgs.gov/
• Online Earthquake Catalog Stats http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/search/

Wildfire:
• Texas Wildfire Map https://texashelp.tamu.edu/browse/by-type/naturally-
occurring/fires-wildfires/

• CALFIRE Wildfire Statistics http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_statsevents

• US Forest Service Fire & Aviation Management http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/
• US Forest Service Active Fire Map http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/
• Weather Underground (wind direction, etc) http://www.wunderground.com/

Flooding:
 • NOAA California River Forecast Center:
https://www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/rfc_guidance.php
• NOAA Precipitation Forecast https://www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/qpf.php

NOAA Rainfall Actual Data https://www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/rainfall_data.php

 From A to Z
TIPSHEET
How DID you get THAT on the air?
Charlotte Huffman – Investigative Reporter
WFAA8 Dallas, TX chuffman@wfaa.com

A.J. Lagoe – Investigative Reporter

KARE11 Minneapolis, MN ajlagoe@kare11.com

Stephen Stock – Senior Investigative Reporter

NBC Bay Area\KNTV San Jose, CA
stephen.stock@nbcuni.com

“Find ways to make your story become

extraordinary.”
Robert Campos
Start by taking some time and think:
1. Is this story worth an investigation? Not all
potential stories are.
a. Is there a victim? – It’s normally not worth an
investigation unless someone is getting hurt
(physically, financially, emotionally).
b. Could it happen to me? – In short, how many of our
viewers can relate to the problem? It could be
because they’ve had a similar experience -- or
because it’s a rare, but serious, event that could
strike any of us. In short, will viewers empathize
with the situation?
c. Is someone allegedly at fault? – For example, a
fatal auto accident is a tragedy; it’s an investigation
if an automaker may be to blame for covering up a
defective part that caused it.
d. Is there evidence? – People complain about stuff all
the time, but we can’t do much unless there’s a way
to verify their claims. Are there witnesses, pictures,
paperwork – or, better yet, can we see it happen for
ourselves?
e. Is what’s happening fundamentally
unfair/wrong? – In short, would most viewers be
angered/outraged when they hear the story – or
would they just shrug?

2. GET IN A DATA STATE OF MIND

3. Request the full data set
a. Owner’s name & address
b. Property type
c. Dollar amount
d. Holder’s name & address
e. *Most recent claim date
4. Interview your data
a. Who has the most money sitting in unclaimed
property?(Then, go find them!)
b. What cities have a lot of money in unclaimed
property? Remember, this is local taxpayer
money that is tied up at the state level.
c. What about non-profits? Are they aware they
have thousands of dollars sitting in a state-
owned bank account waiting to be claimed?

5. Remember, there’s more than one way to skin a cat

(or get data)!
a. If Victim’s names redacted:
i. Check trial witness lists (match initials
from criminal complaint)
ii. Check civil court filings for suspect
iii. Look for OFP - Orders for Protection
(who being protected?)
iv. Damages and restitution claims (who is the
plaintiff??)
 b. If records not considered public:
i. Who else has them or can get them?
(private attorneys, victims themselves)
ii. We asked Jodel & her mom to file an open
records request for all her own case files
including video & audio.

6. Google person’s name with word “obituary” or

“memorial”
7. Use Nexis, Accurint, Spokeo to find phone numbers
8. Search social media and USE social media to
connect
9. Be prepared to work with a very large data set.
a. Don’t have the necessary data skills? Consider
taking an IRE hands-on class to learn Excel
and/or SQL.
b. Find someone at your station who knows how
to work with an Excel spreadsheet. (Your sales
department might be a good place to start!)
10. If your goal is to find people who are unaware they
have unclaimed property:
a. Narrow your focus by eliminating properties
that have a “most recent claim date”. This will
help you weed out people who already know
they have unclaimed property.
 b. Narrow your focus by dollar amounts. The
sweet spot is $5,000 and less. There are
exceptions, but generally most people with
more than $5,000 in unclaimed property
probably already know about it.
11. Don’t make any promises – Don’t tell
someone they are going to get the money because
you can’t guarantee that. Why? They might run into
trouble with the state trying to claim it. (i.e.
sometimes people don’t have the necessary
documentation to prove heirship, etc.)
12. Lay the Foundation
a. What do I want to know about this topic/
issue that hasn’t been told/revealed before?
b. What don’t I know after the ‘obvious’?
c. What is knowable? Is unknown achievable?
d. Challenge assumptions
e. Challenge conventional wisdom
f. Who is accountable?
g. Have they been held to account?
13. Start Building
a. Sum up your story’s thesis/thrust in three
words?
b. Noun (complication)
c. Active verb (development or action)
d. Noun (resolution)
 e. 3-Word active statement leads complication
to resolution
14. Begin Reporting…Gather and Think
a. Create a DATA state of mind
b. What data do I need? Where can I find it? Get
it?
c. What paperwork do I need? Reports, research,
scientific work, government watchdog material,
government reports
d. What FOIA’s or CPRA’s should I file?
e. Who are the stakeholders? Who hasn’t talked?
Who MUST I talk to?
f. Who are my characters? My MAIN characters?
g. What must I do to put this into CONTEXT?
15. Increase Reporting and begin Framing
a. Talk to people
b. Do pre-interviews
c. Look through data
d. Look at data again – try other answers
e. Hold yourself accountable
f. If you get stuck, report your way out
g. Start a FRAMEWORK for your story
16. Begin Writing
a. Refer to your FRAMEWORK
b. Start thinking about your characters
 c. How do characters relate to your
FRAMEWORK?
d. How does data, paperwork, FOIA’s relate?
e. What visuals do you need?
f. Who must be held to account?
g. Set up interviews
17. Writing, Editing, Finish
a. Start shooting
b. Do interviews with characters and stakeholders
c. Shoot video and pictures with natural sound
and emotion
d. Write outline, beginning, middle, end
e. Edit, edit, edit

18. Don’t rush to move on from a story.

19. What questions still need to be answered, is there
more to be explored?
20. Follow the money! Find characters and tell story
through them!