By Doug Haddix

IRE Training Director

Journalists can dig deeper and produce high-impact stories by developing a "document state of mind." Get practical advice in this short video featuring Brant Houston, the Knight Chair in Investigative Reporting at the University of Illinois. Houston is the former executive director of Investigative Reporters and Editors. Houston spoke at an IRE Ethnic Media Watchdog Workshop at Tulane University, New Orleans, in January 2010.

By Doug Haddix

IRE Training Director

Manny Garcia of The Miami Herald explains how his newsroom is using Twitter and Facebook to cover the earthquake in Haiti and its aftermath. The social media tools have helped with logistics as well as story tips from people in Haiti. Garcia's advice applies to using social media tools for any big breaking news story. The influx of useful tips and information through social media led The Herald to designate a staffer to manage them for ongoing Haiti coverage and coordination. Garcia spoke at an IRE Ethnic Media Watchdog Workshop at Tulane University ...

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By Doug Haddix

IRE training director

Each year, education reporter Chastity Pratt Dawsey of the Detroit Free Press files public records requests for five documents on her beat. She requests other records and data as story ideas emerge but makes sure that her sources know they need to produce key information regularly for her. Her advice came during an Ethnic Media Watchdog Workshop in Detroit.

Here are Dawsey’s five key education documents:

• Expenditure reports, which show how the Detroit school district is spending its money.
• Personnel database, which lists names ...

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By Doug Haddix

IRE training director

There’s nothing wrong – and everything right – with rehearsing interviews, especially those that must be done by phone, according to Manny Garcia, executive editor of El Nuevo Herald in Miami, Fla.

Sometimes, a reporter has only a minute or two to make a pitch by phone, given obstacles such as call-waiting and voice mail.

Garcia’s advice came during an IRE Ethnic Media Watchdog Workshop at Boston University on Sept. 12.

At the end of every interview, he said, ask the source if you forgot to ...

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A $100,000 grant from the McCormick Foundation will allow us to continue and expand our Ethnic Media Watchdog program. The funding will support a series of regional workshops that will bring low-cost, high-quality training on local, regional and national topics to journalists working in small- to medium-sized ethnic media organizations in areas throughout the U.S. Participants learn techniques and tips that help them add depth to their stories and to do work that has greater impact in their communities. To date, IRE has conducted Ethnic Media Watchdog seminars in Chicago, New York, Minneapolis and Atlanta for more than ... Read more ...