Watchdog Workshop

Austin, Texas — Feb. 20-21, 2010

Hosted by The University of Texas at Austin

IRE is bringing its highly rated Better Watchdog Workshop to Austin, Texas

Join IRE’s experienced trainers and a group of veteran reporters for our Better Watchdog Workshop February 20, with an extra half-day of hands-on computer-assisted reporting training on February 21 for those who are interested.

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 and give you tips on the best approaches when conducting interviews or developing sources.

In addition, this workshop will give you tips on how to bulletproof stories, how to deal with freedom of information laws and public records, and useful Web sites and strategies for using Internet tools such as wikis, blogs, robots and RSS feeds.

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.

Get the tools and the tricks of the trade that you need to be a better, faster, watchdog journalist.

Optional Computer-Assisted Reporting Training will be held on Sunday, February 21, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Limited seating is available so registration is required. Seating is limited to 19.

Registration

Professional journalists: $50; Students $25. Fees include a one year IRE membership.

  • Online registration has closed. Please print out a copy of the PDF registration form and register at the workshop.
    • Download a form (PDF)

Cancellation policy: Cancellations must be sent via e-mail to Amy Johnston, amy@ire.org. There is a $20 processing fee for professionals and $10 for students for cancellations until the day before the event. Refunds will not be given for cancellations on the day of, or after, the event.

Optional Computer-Assisted Reporting Training

Attend this hands-on workshop and learn how to use Excel spreadsheets 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.

This optional session is Sunday, Feb. 21, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost: $30 (in addition to workshop registration). Seating is limited to 19 people. Advance registration is required.

Workshop Location

  • The University of Texas at Austin
  • Jesse Jones Communication Building
  • Austin, Texas

  • Saturday training: Jesse Jones Communication Building — University Auditorium
  • Sunday CAR training: Jesse Jones Communication Building — Room 4.310
  • Parking: Visitors can park in any one of the parking garages indicated on this Web site. The closest garage to the Jesse Jones Communication Building (CMA) is on 1616 Guadalupe Street Garage.

Recommended hotels

Upcoming Watchdog Workshops

March 27-28, 2010  Oklahoma City, Okla.
April 16, 2010  Providence, R.I.
April 17-18, 2010  Philadelphia, Pa.
May 1-2, 2010  San Francisco, Calif.


See all IRE and NICAR training

Sponsors

IRE thanks the following sponsors for supporting our Watchdog program: