Watchdog Workshop

Oklahoma City — March 27-28, 2010

Hosted by The Oklahoman

IRE is bringing its highly rated Better Watchdog Workshop to Oklahoma City

Join IRE’s experienced trainers and a group of veteran reporters for our Better Watchdog Workshop March 27 and 28, with an extra half-day of hands-on computer-assisted reporting training on March 28 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, March 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Limited seating is available so registration is required.  Seating is limited to 12.

Registration

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

  • Early registration has closed. Complete this registration form and bring it to the workshop to register on site. 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 March 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost: $30 (in addition to workshop registration). Seating is limited to 12 people. Advance registration is required.

Workshop Location

  • The Oklahoman
  • 9000 N. Broadway
  • Oklahoma City, OK 73114-3311

  • Training will take place on the ground floor of The Oklahoman.
  • Saturday and Sunday training: Held in the Auditorium
  • Sunday CAR training: Held in the computer lab.
  • Parking: Free on-site parking is available.

  • To enter The Oklahoman on Saturday, please follow the following directions:
    • Participants will need to enter The Oklahoman from the Britton Road gate and not the main entrance off the Broadway Extension (U.S. 77). They will need to exit at Britton Road off Interstate 35 going west or the Britton Road going east off the Broadway Extension. You can see a map of it by going to this Google Map. Move your cursor down a little to see Britton Road and where The Oklahoman is located. The Oklahoman is just more than three miles west of Interstate 35 and just east of the Broadway Extension (Interstate 235 downtown going north into Edmond turns into the Broadway Extension).

    • Once you have arrived, park behind the 12-story black tower and then go through a covered parking area to enter The Oklahoman. Directional signs will be provided.

Recommended hotel

Upcoming Watchdog Workshops

Sept. 24-25, 2010  Miami, Fla.
Sept. 25-26, 2010  San Francisco, Calif.
Oct. 9-10, 2010  Eugene, Ore.
Nov. 6-7, 2010  Charleston, W.V.


See all IRE and NICAR training

Sponsors

IRE thanks the following sponsors for supporting our Watchdog program: