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.

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 9 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 9 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 9 years ago

Jun 22

2016

More stonewalling, then vote for transparency

Fort Schuyler Management Corp., the state-controlled development agency that is overseeing a number of major state-funded construction projects, including SolarCity, barred reporters from covering its board meeting Tuesday. Jim Heaney of Investigative Post tells Scott Levin about his experiences trying to obtain public records from Fort Schuyler. The nonprofit development corporation subsequently voted to adhere to the state Open Meetings Law and its board chairman suggested it will adhere to the Freedom of Information Laws, as well, although no vote was apparently taken. The New York Committee on Open Government had previously said it was obliged to honor the FOI[...]

Posted 9 years ago

Jun 21

2016

Heaney discusses Cuomo’s flawed approach on ‘Pressroom

Jim Heaney, following up on his reports broadcast June 7 and June 8 on WBFO and a number of other NPR stations across the state, discusses what he considers Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s flawed approach to economic development with Susan Arbetter of The Capitol Pressroom. The interview, broadcast June 15, runs from 13:15 to 22:32.

Posted 9 years ago

Jun 8

2016

Cuomo’s flawed model, Part 2

Jim Heaney, in a second story prepared for WBFO and other upstate NPR stations, details how the model being used to develop major economic development projects upstate thwarts transparency and involves other questionable practices. Part 1 aired Tuesday.

Posted 9 years ago

Jun 7

2016

Cuomo model no game changer

Jim Heaney, in first of two stories broadcast on WBFO and other major NPR stations across upstate, reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s model for revitalizing Buffalo and other major cities has several serious shortcomings. Is his model a game changer? Hardly. Heaney’s second story broadcasts Wednesday.

Posted 9 years ago

Jun 3

2016

Heaney talks about “dishonesty” on ‘Pressroom

In an interview with Susan Arbetter of The Capitol Pressroom, Investigative Post Editor Jim Heaney took on what he termed the “fundamental dishonesty” of politicians who continue to claim the Buffalo area economy is surging. Heaney was responding to a letter to the editor published earlier this week in The New York Times from four prominent public officials who took the newspaper to task for its coverage of the federal investigation into the Buffalo Billion program. Heaney also discussed Charlotte Keith’s recent story about continuing problems at Erie County’s Child Protective Services, Mayor Byron Brown’s pending selection as chairman of the state Democratic[...]

Posted 9 years ago