Jim Heaney

Jim Heaney is editor and executive director of Investigative Post. He was an investigative reporter with The Buffalo News from 1986 to 2011 and a reporter and editor with The Orlando Sentinel from 1980-86. His coverage over the years has focused on economic development, local and state government, politics, education, housing and transportation, and he was an early practitioner of computer-assisted reporting. Heaney has won more than 20 journalism awards and was a finalist for the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting.

Aug 25

2016

Lead in water story on WBFO

Dan Telvock of Investigative Post reports on shortcomings in the city program to test drinking water for lead. Telvock found the program is beset with slipshod methods and puts more effort into testing predominantly white enclaves with few lead poisoning than in the inner-city neighborhoods where the problem is concentrated. Nevertheless, Mayor Byron Brown said he’s “not concerned.” Web version of story featuring interactive graphics and three reports produced for WGRZ is here. Capitol Pressroom interview with Investigative Post Editor Jim Heaney is here.

Posted 8 years ago

Aug 23

2016

Charlotte Keith discusses Buffalo Billion program on WBFO

On WBFO’s Press Pass, Investigative Post’s Charlotte Keith talks with Jay Moran about her recent story on a Buffalo Billion program at Daemen College that is not living up to the hype. The state committed $4.5 million to create a training program in film production at the college, which is partnering with a new visual effects company. The plan was that graduates would go straight into jobs with the company but so far, very few have found full-time work.

Posted 8 years ago

Aug 22

2016

iPost adds reporter via NY Times

Investigative Post has added a third full-time reporter to its award-winning staff. Daniela Porat joins the staff after a seven-month stint at The New York Times, where she worked with the newspaper’s investigative and computer assisted reporting teams. Her reporting there included a front page story on gun violence in America. Prior to The Times, she worked as a researcher with Vice HBO. Her reporting has also been published by ProPublica and The Miami Herald. Porat, 27, is a bilingual native of Venezuela who grew up in Toronto. She graduated in 2015 from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.[...]

Posted 8 years ago

Aug 10

2016

Record losses at SolarCity

SolarCity posted a record net loss of $250 million for the second quarter of this year, according to financial statements filed Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Losses for the first half of this year stand at a staggering $533 million, putting the company on pace to lose more than $1 billion for 2016. Losses last year totaled $710 million. SolarCity’s financial woes are one of the reasons it’s in line to be taken over by Tesla, the electric car manufacturer. Noted entrepreneur Elon Musk is chairman of both companies and their largest shareholder. Tesla has its share of financial problems,[...]

Posted 8 years ago

Aug 1

2016

Heaney talks subsidies on ‘Pressroom

Jim Heaney, in a wide-wide ranging interview with Susan Arbetter of The Capitol Pressroom, discusses the lack of transparency around state economic development programs and a dubious $125,000 grant made to an ice cream parlor under the Buffalo Billion. The interview, which broadcast July 28, runs from 22:20 to 36:43. Heaney will turn the tables on Arbetter when he interviews her Sept, 13 in front of a live audience at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. Tickets are just $10 and can be purchased here.

Posted 8 years ago

Jul 15

2016

More honors for iPost’s Charlotte Keith

The New York Association of Black Journalists has selected Charlotte Keith’s story on employment practices at the construction of the $750 million SolarCity plant in Buffalo as the best online spot news story in its annual journalism competition. Keith has written a series of stories about the relative lack of minority workers in the Buffalo construction trades. Her reporting triggered a move to boost minority employment on the SolarCity project and other construction work around the region. In addition, Investigative Post sponsored an event in May featuring Keith that educated the community on how to promote diversity in the building[...]

Posted 8 years ago

Jul 14

2016

Heaney discusses radioactive hotspots on ‘Pressroom

Jim Heaney and Susan Arbetter of The Capitol Pressroom discuss Dan Telvock’s coverage of radioactive hotspots in Niagara County. The interview, which was taped and broadcast Thursday, runs from 13:15 to 22:43.

Posted 8 years ago

Jul 5

2016

Heaney talks Tesla-SolarCity on ‘Pressroom

Jim Heaney and Susan Arbetter discuss Tesla’s proposed takeover of SolarCity on the June 30 edition of The Capitol Pressroom. Heaney and Arbetter also talk about Investigative Post’s upcoming event season, which kicks off Sept. 13 with an appearance by Arbetter in Buffalo. The interview runs from 22:18 to 37:02.

Posted 8 years ago