Sign up for an IRE Committee or Task Force today!

(July 7, 2025) — Investigative Reporters and Editors is seeking volunteers to serve on several Committees and Task Forces.

These groups offer ideas and help us improve member services, expand IRE's reach, plan training events, organize regional meetups, and much more.

"The IRE Board is making it a priority to bring in new voices and new perspectives," said IRE Board President Josh Hinkle. "One of the best ways to ensure your voice is heard is to serve on a committee or task force, where the decision-making process begins."

Members across all categories, of all experience levels, are welcome to sign up. You just need to be a member of IRE and have a passion for helping your colleagues! Appointees serve for one year.

If you're interested, please fill out this Google form by Friday, July 25.

Have questions about signing up? We're hosting an informal virtual Q&A on Wednesday, July 16 at 1 p.m. ET. It's free to attend; just register to join the webinar. You can also reach out to president@ire.org.

IRE Committees and Task Forces for 2025-26:

Academic Committee

This committee focuses on supporting student journalists and academic members, and enhancing investigative journalism education. It continues launching student chapters, sharing resources and developing initiatives to elevate student work within IRE.

• Time commitment: Typically meets every 2-3 months, as needed

Affordability Task Force

This group works to address the financial barriers that may prevent journalists, particularly those from underrepresented communities, from fully participating in IRE's offerings.

• Time commitment: Typically meets every 2-3 months, as needed

Audit Committee

This committee historically has had one job: It reviews the annual audit completed by an external certified public accounting firm. But the committee also has the power to otherwise oversee accountability of the organization however it sees fit.

• Time commitment: Typically meets once a year

Conference Committee

This committee tackles conference-related issues, including the keynote and showcase panels for IRE, NICAR and AccessFest, as well as advising other panels and specific tracks. It also makes recommendations regarding conference affordability and other issues.

• Time commitment: Typically meets every month

Contest Committee

This committee judges the IRE Awards, makes recommendations for the rules for the awards and handles issues that arise with other contests like the Golden Padlock, Don Bolles Medal and Philip Meyer Award.

• Time commitment: About a month of reviewing entries, culminating in an intense weekend of judging in the spring
• NOTE: Unlike the others, this committee is appointed by the Executive Director, other than two committee members, who are elected by the IRE membership. Committee members are not allowed to enter the IRE Awards or the other contests.

Diversity and Inclusion Committee

This committee works on initiatives to improve diversity and inclusion among IRE and its members.

• Time commitment: Typically meets every 2-3 months

Employment and Career Advancement Task Force

This group will work to tackle employment instability and limited career advancement opportunities, aiming to support professional development.

• Time commitment: Typically meets every 2-3 months, as needed

Finance Committee

This committee oversees the budget and the endowment accounts.

• Time commitment: Typically meets every 2-3 months
• NOTE: This is the only committee in which appointees serve for two years. Some members are appointed by the President, others by the Treasurer.

Fundraising Task Force

This group will work to strengthen fundraising strategies for IRE initiatives, with a focus on long-term sustainability and impact. The group will also help with coordinated giving campaigns to mobilize public financial support.

• Time commitment: Typically meets every 2-3 months, as needed

Governance Committee

This committee scrutinizes IRE's organizational structure and makes proposals regarding various rules, policies and procedures.

• Time commitment: Typically meets every 2-3 months

Member Services Committee

This committee spearheads initiatives to address IRE member recruitment and retention and improve benefits, resources and services for members. It also helps organize local meetups and oversees IRE’s mentorship programs.

• Time commitment: Typically meets every other month, as needed
• NEW: The Board’s training and international committees will become subcommittees of the member services committee this year.

Press Freedom Task Force

This group works to explore how to protect an independent press and access to public data – through a variety of training resources, events and partnerships.

• Time commitment: Typically meets every other month, as needed

Website Improvement Task Force

This task force works on improving a new (soon-to-be-launched) IRE website. To accomplish this, the task force will be split into a technical group for ongoing resources work and a user group about how to make the new site better for members.

• Time commitment: Typically meets every 2-3 months, as needed

Additional notes

• The IRE Board will soon discuss the Visibility Task Force, its future goals and potential changes. More to come.
• IRE’s 50^th Anniversary Task Force, which has been working on the commemoration this milestone year, will continue its work for the remainder of 2025 with its current makeup.