Watchdog Workshop
Wichita, KS — September 27-28, 2008
(Saturday and Sunday)

Hosted by the The Wichita Eagle and the
Wichita State University Elliott School of Communication

Two workshops in one!

IRE is combining its highly rated Better Watchdogs Workshop for reporters, editors, and producers with a special program for midlevel editors, called Unleashing the Watchdogs. Unleashing the Watchdogs is presented in conjunction with the American Society of Newspaper Editors.

Several sessions will be presented to journalists in attendance - including editors, producers, and reporters - and will be relevant for journalists in every medium. Other sessions will be specifically for reporters or for editors. But anyone can attend any session they wish to.

The Better Watchdogs track will offer practical nuts and bolts instruction for reporters, especially those at small- to medium-sized newsrooms and in bureaus of larger news organizations. The instructors will be experienced journalists and trainers from IRE.

The Unleashing the Watchdogs track will feature editors who have years of experience in producing investigative and enterprise work. They share tips and techniques on how to get watchdog journalism done, especially from reporters covering beats and daily stories.

The workshops also cover the guiding of reporters in the effective use of the Internet, open-records laws, computer-assisted reporting and anonymous sources.

Workshop Fee (includes a six-month IRE membership): $40 professional, $20 student

Optional Computer-Assisted Reporting Training will be offered on September 28, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for a registration fee of $30.

  • Introductory: Attend this hands-on workshop and learn how to use Excel, a powerful electronic spreadsheet, 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. Class size is limited; register early to reserve a seat on a first-come, first-served basis.

Workshop Location

  • Wichita State University
  • CAC Theater - Saturday training
  • Elliott Hall - Sunday CAR training

Parking is available near the CAC Theater and Elliott Hall. See campus map

Registration information

Online registration closes at 5pm, September 19. After this date, pending space availability, registrants may print out a copy of the pdf registration form and bring it to on-site registration.

PDF Registration

Cancellations need to be sent via e-mail to jgreen@ire.org. There is a $20 processing fee for cancellations until the day before the event. Refunds will not be given for cancellations on the day of, or after, the event.

Recommended hotels

Holiday Inn Express - Wichita
7824 E. 32nd Street, North
Wichita, KS 67226
Phone: 316-634-3900

Courtyard by Marriott Wichita at Old Town
820 E. 2nd Street N.
Wichita, KS 67202
Phone: 316-264-5300

Townplace Suites by Marriott Wichita East
9444 E. 29th Street N.
Wichita, KS 67226
Phone: 316-631-3773

To request a Watchdog Journalism Workshop in your area, send an e-mail to watchdog@ire.org

 

Upcoming Watchdog Workshops

Sept. 19 - 21, 2008: Los Angeles, Calif.
September 27-28, 2008: Wichita, Kan.

See all IRE and NICAR training

Sponsors

IRE thanks the following sponsors for supporting our Watchdog program: