From ICE Raids to Grifting Governors
Top Story: Get some Sunlight on that
Hello Intrepid Journalists. Happy fall!
This week, as summer comes to a sad close, we are featuring tips from the talented folks at the Sunlight Research Center.
Because we love their work; and you should, too!
Sunlight is a very cool investigative journalism support org that offers local newsrooms (with Sunlight memberships) the kind of deep dive, data-combing assistance that wins reporting awards.
Sunlight wanted you to know about a new newsroom package they are offering with MuckRock, another cool Knight-funded journalism resource.
A partnership was born.
We’re singing Sunlight’s praises. They’re sharing their expertise.
PS. Wisconsin Watch and The Nevada Independent use these guys!
In other words, we’re not the only folks who think more newsrooms could use some sunlight!
Now, for some tips from our sponsor!
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Tips from the Sunlight Research Center
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A Gift or A Grift?
WHAT: Want to know whether your state legislator is acting ethically when taking big gifts from those lobbyists he loves to love? Sunlight suggests you check out this database of state rules. (Or get a Sunlight membership and they’ll do it for you!)
Web Presents.
WHAT: Want to make sure you’ve got the full picture of a source’s online presence? Find under-the-radar websites and domaines using Viewdns and WHOXY.
State Your Business.
WHAT: Want to know what businesses gubernatorial candidates you are reporting on are connected to? In many states, it's the Secretary of State's office that is charged with keeping track of companies launched in the state —and lots of other info on said companies...like who's on the board of directors, etc..
Friends, Not Foes.
WHAT: Have an image (of a person, place or thing) and want to know who they/it are connected to? PimEyes and Google Images can be super helpful.
Dying to know.
WHAT: Want to know what happened before an inmate’s death in a local jail? Check out the jail’s often-public medical policies, talk to family member who've had/have family members in that jail; and partner with advocacy orgs and watchdog groups.
WHY IT HELPS: Local jails are where many of the ICE-detained are ending up, often without being charged with a crime.
The Golfing Give-Away.
WHAT: Most reporters now know (Poor Taylor!) that flight trackers make it possible to determine where and when private jet-takers travel. Lesser known is that you can find out where sources who golf have played, are playing, and what clubs they play at through The Golf Handicap and Information Network. You can also determine how well they golf!
WHY IT HELPS: Wouldn’t it be interesting to know if state legislators who insist they’ve never met the head of that ed tech company they just gave a huge contract to recently went golfing with the guy? We thought so, too!
Sunlight Story Ideas: Try this at home
They don’t live in the district; so why are they running for office?
They want to run Elon’s Space Town; and they're running unopposed. What could go wrong?
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See You Next Week!
Our Staff
Executive Editor Kyle Spencer
Our Board of Advisors
Alex Aronson, executive director of Court Accountability
David Armiak, research director for the Center for Media and Democracy
Connor Gibson, founder of Grassrootbeer Investigations
Maurice Cunningham, retired associate professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts at Boston and author of Dark Money and The Politics of School Privatization.
Isaac Kamola, associate professor of political science at Trinity College, founder of Faculty First Responders and co-author of Free Speech and Koch Money, Manufacturing a Campus Culture War
Nancy MacLean, William H. Chafe distinguished professor of history and public policy at Duke University and author of Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America
Ralph Wilson, founder of the Corporate Genome Project and co-author of Free Speech and Koch Money, Manufacturing a Campus Culture War
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