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Back to IRE Conferences: Denver 2005

Mile High City readies for 2005 IRE Conference

Expected speakers
Scheduled speakers include Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Seymour Hersh, David Cay Johnston of The New York Times, Eric Nalder of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, and James Steele of Time Inc. See a more extensive list of expected speakers.


CAR training
The conference will begin with an optional computer-assisted reporting day on Thursday, June 2. The day will focus on using CAR techniques to add depth and context to investigative stories. IRE instructors will tailor their presentations to both beginning and advanced CAR users.

Hands-on CAR training will be available throughout the conference, with experts in a CAR demo room offering one-on-one instruction and small workshops. In addition, the IRE staff will be available to answer questions and review databases included in the expanding database library of IRE and the National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting.

Special Panels
Judicial track
• Crime victims: The stats and stories
• Wrongful convictions and crime lab troubles
• Using freedom of information laws in criminal justice issues		 CAR from start to finish
• Choosing stories
• Fighting for data
• The data is in; now what?
• Putting it all together
First day on the beat
• Investigating the cop shop
• Basic training on the military beat		 Writing the investigative story
• Planning and organizing
• Using narrative techniques
• The editing process
Authenticity
• Investigating tipsters, bloggers, and Web sites
• Investigating documents and forgeries
• When things go wrong — Lessons learned from the journalistic disasters 		Covering war
• Using CAR to cover the war: From casualties to contracts
• Reporting the war: Investigating contracts
• Exposing the secrets of the military and the war on terrorism

The Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma will once again collaborate with IRE to present a panel about "Keeping sane: Dealing with stress and trauma on the investigative story."

International Panel
A special panel will be offered for international journalists on Friday afternoon. "Roundtable on international networking: Contacts and resources to take investigations overseas" will feature journalists from the United States, the Netherlands, Mexico, Denmark, the Philippines and Tanzania. During the past several years, 10 percent or more of those attending IRE conferences have come from outside the United States.

Awards luncheon
Dan Rather of CBS News will offer the keynote address at the annual luncheon, which features the presentation of the latest IRE Awards. The lively luncheon allows members to salute the best investigative work of the year.

The luncheon is scheduled for 1-3 p.m. on Saturday in the Imperial Ballroom at the Grand Hyatt Denver. Admission to the event is included with conference registration. Anyone who is not attending the conference but would like to attend the luncheon may purchase tickets at the Sales counter for $40.

There will be increased security at this event. You MUST have either your conference name tag or a luncheon ticket to attend. There will be no exceptions. Seating is limited so please arrive on time.


Mentoring
The conference also will offer an opportunity for in-depth, one-on-one coaching on investigative reporting. These private sessions will allow attendees to seek advice on challenging stories or follow-up ideas.

Al Tompkins of the Poynter Institute will offer mentoring sessions for broadcast journalists. Attendees will be able to sign up on site for these sessions. Print journalists had the opportunity to sign up for mentors before the conference. All spots are now filled.


International attendees
International journalists will have a chance to meet and get to know one another during a Friday luncheon. During the past several years, 10 percent or more of those attending IRE conferences have come from outside the United States. The luncheon will be followed by a special panel for international journalists. "International networking: Contacts and resources to take investigations overseas" will feature journalists from the United States, the Netherlands, Mexico, Denmark, the Philippines and Tanzania. During the past several years, 10 percent or more of those attending IRE conferences have come from outside the United States.


Blues Bash
Another popular event, the annual Blues Bash, will kick off at 7:30 Thursday night. Blues legend Guitar Shorty, who taught tricks to his brother-inlaw, Jimi Hendrix, and toured with Ray Charles, will be the featured performer. The bash will be thrown at Herman's Hideaway, a venue located just a short cab ride or healthy walk from the hotel.

The evening will begin with a half-hour of networking. Food will be available to early birds, and a cash bar will be set up as well. Guitar Shorty will perform live at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. to an IRE-only crowd.

The last two Blues Bashes have sold out in advance, so tickets should be secured early. They can be purchased during pre-registration. Any remaining tickets will be sold for $20 the day of the event and $25 at the door. All net proceeds will be donated to IRE's Resource Center.


Receptions
Sorry, but there are no longer tickets available for the Friday night reception at the Denver Press Club.

Sorry, but there are no longer tickets available for the Saturday night reception hosted by The Denver Post and Faegre & Benson LLP at the Blue Sky Grill at the Pepsi Center..


IRE elections
The IRE Board of Directors election will be held Saturday, June 4, during the membership meeting at the conference. Read the candidates' statements.

Members unable to attend the conference's annual membership meeting will be allowed to vote by absentee ballot. However, absentee balloting is not meant to replace IRE's traditional election process, which encourages discussion and relies upon meeting attendance as a sign of commitment to the group. Members who do travel to Denver will be expected to vote during the membership meeting. Absentee ballots were available only to those who are not able to make the trip. The deadline for requesting absentee ballots was May 16 and the ballots must have reached the IRE office by May 27 to be counted. For more information, e-mail elections@ire.org.

Those interested in running for a seat on the board of directors must have declared by May 27 to be posted on the Web site. June 3 is the last day to get on election-day ballots. Candidates who wait until the conference to announce must deliver a one-page statement/bio to the IRE executive director or deputy director by noon Denver time on Friday, June 3. These will be posted on a bulletin board in the main conference area with all other candidates' statements.




Show & Tell
The broadcast Show & Tell, always a favorite with television journalists, will return. Looking for some feedback on your latest piece? Play your tape for fellow broadcasters here. New tapes are shown every 15 minutes. VHS and Beta tapes acceptable. The Show & Tell room (in Mount Columbia on the third floor) will be available 9 a.m. to 1 p.m and from 2:30 to 5:05 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.