IRE's Resource Center

Updated Investigative Reporter's Handbook now available

The fifth edition of "The Investigative Reporter’s Handbook" by Brant Houston and Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc. is now available to order from the IRE Bookstore. Order the book online or call the IRE Resource Center (573-882-3364). $48 for IRE members; $58 for non-members

"The Investigative Reporter’s Handbook" is the best-selling classroom and newsroom classic. Useful as a textbook in advanced journalism courses and as a reference for professional journalists, this book shows students how to use fundamental news reporting and writing skills like gathering sources, tracking information, and interviewing to pursue investigative stories in a variety of beats — from the government and education to healthcare, the environment and real estate. In addition to discussing the latest techniques and challenges in the profession, the fifth edition is now thoroughly streamlined, making it easier to locate the resources that investigative reporters need to get the story.

New to the 5th edition :

• An improved reference. To help students locate essential information faster, lists of databases, documents, and other sources are now located in comprehensive end of- chapter bibliographies ("Resources for Reporters") and critical reporting tips and procedures are bulleted in the text.
• A better introduction that helps students put techniques into practice. A new Introduction discusses the professional and public role of investigative reporting and defines terms used throughout the book. Skills chapters are now grouped together up front, helping students to further develop their news reporting and writing skills before moving onto specific types of investigations, and a new "Check It Out" feature guides students in identifying and researching promising stories.
• Updated with the latest trends and covering even more beats. There’s more on online and broadcast news, prying information from gatekeepers, and using electronic databases. The fifth edition also offers new coverage on investigating the military, religious organizations, sports, entertainment, and the environment.
• View book information from publisher Bedford/St. Martin's Web site

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Submit your investigative stories to be archived in the IRE Resource Center. Download and fill out this form and mail it to us with your submission.