www.public-i.org   

The Center for Public Integrity is beefing up its Web site, The Public i.

THE CENTER FOR Public Integrity is beefing up its Web site, The Public i, and acting as a reporter's tip sheet. The nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog group, based in Washington, D.C., conducts investigations and publishes reports on political, governmental and public service subjects. Recent postings include a report on Russian mob influence in America and excerpts from "The Buying of the President 2000," the center's latest book. But the site doesn't always take itself seriously. A multiple- choice quiz lets readers guess to which political campaigns celebrities like Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and recently fired NFL coach Mike Ditka have contributed.
Editor Richard Prince, a former reporter for the Washington Post, says the site is primarily aimed at the news media. Those who register at the site are automatically notified by e-mail when stories are posted--generally once or twice a week. The site also includes investigative reports from abroad, and regular commentary will be added this spring.