Events and Training » Events » Washington D.C. Election Watchdog Workshop

Events and Training

Washington D.C. Election Watchdog Workshop

Host: The Washington Post

IRE is bringing its highly rated Better Watchdog Workshop to Washington D.C. with an election theme.

We’ll offer several of our core sessions that will improve your ability to find information on the Web quickly, point you to key documents that will help you produce quick-hit enterprise stories. In addition, we'll prepare you for the upcoming elections with tips on the best approaches for backgrounding candidates, dealing with campaign finance data and more.

These sessions are designed for reporters, editors and producers from small, midsize and large publications and TV stations and Web-only news sites and news blogs. Join IRE’s experienced trainers and a group of veteran reporters for our Better Watchdog Workshop February 10.

Expected speakers include James Grimaldi of the Washington Post, Matt Stiles of NPR and Derek Willis of The New York Times. We'll add more speakers as they are confirmed. Get the tools and the tricks of the trade that you need to be a better, faster, watchdog journalist.

Optional Computer-Assisted Reporting Training

Sat., February 11, 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Attend this hands-on workshop and learn how to use Excel, a powerful electronic spreadsheet for deadline and beat reporting on budgets, salaries, and election data.

Also learn how to dig deeper using the Internet and find valuable datasets for your stories.  Class size is limited; register early to reserve a seat on a first-come, first-served basis.

Parking Information:

There are three parking garages on 15th Street across from the Post and one on M Street around the corner of 15th and M.  Prices for parking ranges from $12-$15 for the day.

Recommended Hotels:

Westin Washingon, 1400 M Street NW, Washington, DC  20005 

(one block walk to the Post)

The Madison, 1177 15th St. NW, Washington, DC  20005

(across the street from the Post)

Residence Inn Washington, 1199 Vermont Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005 (one block walk to the Post)

 

PDF Registration

Print out this PDF registration form to register at the workshop. On-site registrations are accepted if space is available: bring completed registration form and payment.


Time and place

Friday, Feb. 10, 2012

The Washington Post
1150 15th Street NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20071


Registration information

Registration for this event is open! Click here to begin.

Hurry! Registration closes on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 5 p.m..


Schedule details

  • Panel

    Welcome and overview of the workshop

    Speaker: Jaimi Dowdell (IRE and NICAR )

    See printed schedule for room information

    9 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.

  • Panel

    Digging deeper with data and documents

    Speaker: Megan Luther (IRE and NICAR )

    Move beyond anecdotes and he-said, she-said journalism with data and documents. Advice on developing a documents state of mind, navigating public records, understanding records retention schedules, exploring key records on a variety of beats, and becoming familiar with key national data sets to produce high-impact local stories.

    See printed schedule for room information

    9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

  • Panel

    Effective use of the Internet

    Speaker: Jaimi Dowdell (IRE and NICAR )

    What reporters and editors need to know. From better search techniques to the invisible Web, how to find documents and databases on deadline and where to find reliable Web sites for enterprise stories. The craft of better searching and not wasting time. Handling issues of credibility and ethics online.

    See printed schedule for room information

    10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

  • Panel

    Backgrounding candidates

    Speaker: James Grimaldi (The Washington Post )

    Learn the skills to thoroughly background politicians. Beyond the basics, this session will help you understand how to dig deeper with property records and more.

    See printed schedule for room information

    11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

  • Panel

    What you can find out about elections

    Speakers: Tim Farnam (The Washington Post ), Derek Willis (The New York Times )

    From data to documents, learn what information you need to cover modern elections.

    See printed schedule for room information

    1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

  • Panel

    Campaign finance: Tools you can use

    Speakers: Bill Allison (Sunlight Foundation ), Viveca Novak (Center for Responsive Politics )

    Plenty of tools are readily available to help you obtain and make sense of campaign finance data. This session will help you understand how to put those tools to use.

    See printed schedule for room information

    3 p.m. - 4 p.m.

  • Panel

    Creative uses of campaign data

    Speakers: Matt Stiles (NPR ), Karen Yourish (The Washington Post )

    Once you have the data, what do you do with it? We’ll look at creative ways news organizations have analyzed and displayed campaign data. 

    See printed schedule for room information

    4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

  • Panel

    Wrapup/What IRE can do for you

    Speakers: Jaimi Dowdell (IRE and NICAR ), Megan Luther (IRE and NICAR )

    See printed schedule for room information

    5 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

  • Hands-on

    Optional Computer-Assisted Reporting

     

    Optional Computer-Assisted Reporting Training

    Sat., February 11, 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

    Attend this hands-on workshop and learn how to use Excel, a powerful electronic spreadsheet for deadline and beat reporting on budgets, salaries, and Census data.  Also learn how to dig deeper using the Internet and find valuable datasets for your stories.  Class size is limited; register early to reserve a seat on a first-come, first-served basis.

     

    NOTE: Registration is required for this session. Click here to sign up.

    See printed schedule for room information

    9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.