Analysis: Computer-assisted reporting

by Greta Kaul           

            Computer-assisted reporting gave legitimacy to claims made by a NICAR report conducted by USA Today that found the Army hiring retired generals and admirals with ties to defense contractors.

            Rather than making claims without concrete support, the investigation accessed Army records that found financial records of ties to defense contractors by 80 percent of 158 retired senior mentor generals and admirals.  Where computer skills are concerned, this reporting would require considerable knowledge of the organization of databases, as well as an understanding of how to find connections between things like senior mentors and their financial ties.  The ability to interpret these facts to come to the conclusion is what the credibility of this story depends on, at which the investigation excels.