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Sunlight Research Desk and MuckRock are joining forces to expand the tools, training and research support that help local newsrooms deliver high-impact reporting. Read more here.



Resources


How-to: Exploring Gravesites, Obituaries and Cemetery Records for Family Research
This video lays out the steps for using Google Maps to identify the date range of when a construction project broke ground. We show you how to use Google Earth Pro to find additional images that are unavailable on Google Maps.
Aug 23, 2025


Behind the Ballot: A Hands-On Guide to Candidate Research
Join research experts from Sunlight Research Center for a focused workshop that will show you how to thoroughly background state and local candidates without relying on expensive proprietary databases. After this session, you’ll be ready to conduct deep candidate research that helps voters understand who's asking for their vote.
Aug 21, 2025


Behind the Ballot: A Hands-On Guide to Candidate Research
Tip Sheet This tip sheet is connected to workshop 1 of our fall candidate backgrounding series. It is best used in conjunction with the...
Aug 17, 2025


Principles for Effective Research
With knowledge of the questions we want to answer, we can turn our attention to a set of principles for effective research.
Aug 17, 2025


Crafting Narrative Investigations with Power and Precision
Join investigative journalist Andrea Ball for a hands-on workshop exploring the art and craft of narrative investigations — a storytelling approach that uses real people as the engine of deep, fact-based journalism.
Aug 15, 2025


U.S. State Financial Disclosures
Use this sheet to identify financial disclosures at the state level.
Aug 15, 2025


Exposing the Silence: Reporting on Deaths in Custody
This tip sheet from Exposing the Silence: Reporting on Deaths in Custody is best used alongside the workshop recording. Using both, you'll find valuable information on reporting on deaths in custody and will be well equipped with the tools and knowledge to expose systemic failures that can have tragic consequences.
Jul 24, 2025


Exposing the Silence: Reporting on Deaths in Custody
Join The Marshall Project, Arizona Luminaria, Ocala Gazette, and Sunlight Research Center for a hands-on workshop on investigating deaths in custody — a largely underreported and deeply consequential issue.
Jul 18, 2025


Digital Lifeline: Saving At-Risk Data
This tip sheet from Digital Lifeline: Saving At-Risk Data is best used alongside the workshop recording. You'll find valuable information on identifying, preserving and reporting on government data. Using the tip sheet and recording, you will be well equipped with the tools and knowledge to safeguard critical information.
Jun 19, 2025


Digital Lifeline: Saving At-Risk Data
Join Sunlight Research Center, Data Rescue Project (DRP), MuckRock, and the Data Curation Network (DCN) for a workshop on identifying, preserving and reporting on government data. In an era where federal data is at risk of disappearing or being altered, this training will equip you with the tools and knowledge to safeguard critical information.
Jun 17, 2025


Trust Busters: Building Newsroom Credibility with Trusting News
Join Sunlight Research Center and Trusting News Network for a hands-on workshop on building stronger relationships between newsrooms and communities. In an era of mistrust, this session will equip journalists with actionable strategies to demonstrate credibility and actively earn audience trust.
May 29, 2025


Sunlight Research Center expands support for local news investigations with catalytic investment
New York, NY , May 2, 2025 The Sunlight Research Center is pleased to announce that it is expanding its capacity to support high-impact...
May 2, 2025


Following the Money: Investigating Nonprofits and Getting to Know 990s
This tip sheet from Following the Money:Investigating Nonprofits and Getting to Know 990s provides valuable information on documents available for tax-exempt organizations, tools for finding information on nonprofits, and Nonprofit Explorer tips.
May 1, 2025


Following the Money: Investigating Nonprofits and Getting to Know 990s
Join Sunlight Research Center and Andrea Suozzo, lead maintainer of ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer, for a deep dive into nonprofits and the financial records they file. After this session, you’ll be able to confidently navigate IRS Form 990s, spot red flags and uncover important details about nonprofit finances and operations.
Apr 30, 2025


How-to: Using Google Maps and Google Earth Pro to verify claims about construction history
This video lays out the steps for using Google Maps to identify the date range of when a construction project broke ground. We show you how to use Google Earth Pro to find additional images that are unavailable on Google Maps.
Apr 15, 2025
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