What are the IRE Awards?
The IRE Awards is the annual contest of Investigative Reporters and Editors Inc. recognizing the best in investigative reporting by print, broadcast and online media. After judging, all entries are placed in IRE's Resource Center story library so that IRE members may learn from others' triumphs and troubles. The contest helps identify techniques and resources used by the entrants.
Who is eligible for the contest?
It's important to note that the IRE Awards program is unique in its efforts to avoid conflicts of interest. Work that included any significant role by a member of the IRE Board of Directors or an IRE contest judge may not be entered in the contest. This often represents a significant sacrifice on the part of the individual -- and sometimes an entire newsroom. The IRE membership appreciates this devotion to the values of the organization.
This year's board:
James V. Grimaldi, The Washington Post
Cheryl Phillips, The Seattle Times
Dianna Hunt, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Stephen C. Miller, The New York Times
Lea Thompson, ThomThom Media, LLC
Wendell Cochran, American University
Renee Ferguson, WMAQ-Chicago
Manny Garcia, The Miami Herald
Mark Katches, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Lise Olsen, Houston Chronicle
Marilyn Thompson, Los Angeles Times
Duff Wilson, The New York Times
Alison Young, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This year's elected contest judges (who will join an appointed contest task force):
David Heath, The Seattle Times
Mark Rochester, Associated Press
What are the judging criteria?
Entries will be judged on the basis of the IRE definition of investigative reporting:
"The reporting, through one's own initiative and work product, of matters of importance to readers, viewers or listeners. In many cases, the subjects of the reporting wish the matters under scrutiny to remain undisclosed."
Thus, entries will be judged on the following criteria. They must:
be substantially the product of the reporter's own initiative and effort
uncover facts that someone or some agency may have tried to keep from public scrutiny
be about issues of public importance to the readers, viewers or listeners
How do I participate?
The postmark deadline for entry in the 2007 awards is Jan. 7, 2008.
Can you send me an example of a contest entry to help me prepare my entry?
To view an example of a successful contest entry, you can purchase a copy
of a winner or finalist from a previous contest. View past award winners
and finalists at www.ire.org/contest/past.html, make your
selection(s), write down the story number, and contact the IRE Resource
Center at 573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org. You can also search for the
phrase "contest entry" in the IRE Resource Center story database at
http://www.ire.org/resourcecenter/search.php.
How much does it cost to enter?
$50. (Nonmembers, or those with memberships expiring before the entry deadline, must also pay a membership fee of $60.)
Students who are current IRE members do not have to pay an entry fee. (Membership must be current through Feb. 1, 2008.)
Nonmember students pay $25 per entry. (This fee includes a one-year student membership in IRE.)
All fees are non-refundable.
What work is eligible for the contest?
All work must have been published or aired between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2007.
Where do I send my entries?
Return a completed entry form to:
2007 IRE Awards
138 Neff Annex
Missouri School of Journalism
Columbia, MO 65211
What is the deadline for entering the contest?
Jan. 7, 2008. This is a postmark deadline.
What actions would result in a disqualification?
Entries disregarding the rules included in the form will be subject to disqualification. Work that included a significant role by a current member of the IRE Board of Directors or an IRE contest judge may not be entered.
Is there a limit to the amount of entries I can submit?
There is no limit to the number of entries you may submit or the number of stories you may submit per entry, except for the
Tom Renner Award, which has a limit of 10 stories. However, if the same story is entered in two categories, that constitutes two (2) separate entries.
For each category you enter, you will need to submit a complete entry (3 complete packets, an electronic questionnaire on CD, and payment).
Do you accept entries in languages other than English?
We accept entries in languages other than English but require three (3) complete copies of printed translations for each entry.
What are the different types of awards?
Newspaper, TV, Online and Other Media: An IRE Medal for Outstanding Investigative Reporting OR an IRE Certificate of Recognition.
IRE FOI Award: An IRE Medal honoring an individual or organization whose actions further open records or open government.
Tom Renner Award: An IRE Medal for Outstanding Crime Reporting and $500.
Student Award: An IRE Certificate of Recognition and a $250 cash scholarship for Outstanding Investigative Reporting.
How many categories are there and what are they?
Newspapers:
Circulation less than 100,000
Circulation between 100,000 and 250,000
Circulation between 250,000 and 500,000
Circulation more than 500,000 (or wire service entry)
Local circulation weekly
Television:
Network or syndicated program
Top 20 market
Below Top 20 market
Other Media:
Magazine/Specialty Publication
Book
Radio
Online
Special Categories: (Any medium, any size circulation or market)
Tom Renner Award
IRE FOI Award
Student Work
International entries will be placed into appropriate categories by IRE staff. Contest judges can then
move entries into other categories. IRE can award a special citation for deserving international work.
What must my entry include?
All entries must have the entry fee payment and one CD containing the electronic copy of the questionnaire.
Payment must accompany your entry. Do NOT send under separate cover.
Print Entries:
You must submit three (3) collated entry packets.
Each packet must contain a completed entry form, a completed questionnaire and a copy of the entry.
The entry must be on 8.5" x 11" paper.
Cutting and pasting the entry onto 8.5" x 11" paper is acceptable but foldovers are not.
Please place the packets in an envelope or folder and write the title of the entry on the outside.
NEW: Electronically prepared entries will be accepted. They must be printed on 8.5" x 11" paper and the font may NOT be smaller than original newsprint. (No PDF reductions of full newspaper pages.)
TV Entries:
You must submit three (3) collated entry packets.
Each packet must contain a completed entry form, a completed questionnaire, a transcript on 8.5" x 11" paper and a copy of the entry on DVD.
Please label all three DVDs with the entry name and affiliation.
Radio Entries:
You must submit three (3) collated entry packets.
Each packet must contain a completed entry form, a completed questionnaire, a transcript on 8.5" x 11" paper and a labeled audio CD copy of the entry.
Please label all three (3) audio CDs with the entry name and affiliation.
Book Entries:
You must submit three (3) collated entry packets.
Each packet must contain a completed entry form, a completed questionnaire, and a copy of the book.
Please attach entry name and affiliation to all three (3) books.
Online Entries:
You must submit three (3) collated entry packets.
Each packet must contain a completed entry form, a completed questionnaire, and a printed copy of the online Web pages, which must include the site's URL.
You must also include a CD containing the Web pages if they can't easily be reached online by the judges.
Please label all three CDs with the entry name and affiliation.
The printed entry must be on 8.5" x 11" paper.
Cutting and pasting the entry onto 8.5" x 11" paper is acceptable.
When will the judging be complete?
Judging will be completed by April 2008.
Who should I call if I have any other questions?
Please call the IRE Resource Center at 573-882-6668 or e-mail rescntr@ire.org for assistance
in submitting contest entries.
