Gilbert discussed several of his favorite resources for watchdogging stories in rural areas, including: * www.Footnotecl.com, for leads on juicy items buried in corporate filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. * Government Accountability Office reports, which can offer a blueprint for an investigation. * Accident and safety data maintained by the Mine Safety Health Administration. * Wastewater discharges and other data in the Envirofacts Data Warehouse. Berkes also shared links to sites whose coverage of rural affairs can spark story ideas: * The Institute for Rural Journalism at the University of Kentucky sends out The Rural Blog, an e-mail compilation of rural news. * The Center for Rural Strategies produces The Daily Yonder for rural news and opinion. * The Council of State Governments publishes a weekly collection of stories on rural communities and agriculture called AgClips. * From "Don't be a stenographer and other tips from a Pulitzer Prize winner," www.ire.org/training By Mark Horvit, IRE executive director Nigel Jaquiss has a strong but simple message for those who cover local government: "Do not be a stenographer."...

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