Adam Rhodes named editor of The IRE Journal

(Sept. 2, 2025) — IRE Training Director Adam Rhodes will take over editing The IRE Journal, Investigative Reporter and Editors' online publication offering stories about investigative journalism, blueprints for award-winning work, useful tips for accessing public records and much more.

"I’m excited to take the helm of the publication for so many reasons, but two in particular," Rhodes said. "It’s IRE's 50th year, a momentous time for the organization and for journalism, and with the upcoming revamp of IRE’s website, it’s also a rare chance for a refresh that I’m honored to lead." 

Rhodes is an accomplished journalist whose reporting has focused on queer people and the criminal legal system, most recently winning NLGJA's Excellence in Legal Coverage Award for their work investigating anti-LGBTQ+ bias in death penalty cases. Before joining IRE in 2021, they were a staff writer and social justice reporter at the Chicago Reader. They have also been published in outlets including BuzzFeed News, The Nation and them.us.

Rhodes will also continue to lead IRE's Total Newsroom Training program, which trains small- and mid-sized newsrooms across the U.S.

"I’m honored to be the first Latine person, and first openly queer person to lead the publication, particularly in a time when both of those identities come under increased fire, not dissimilar to the attacks levied against the important journalism our members are producing," Rhodes said. "I'm thrilled to support and uplift the investigative journalists of today and tomorrow as a trainer/editor. I am a product of IRE bootcamps and Total Newsroom Training — and I'm so thankful that I can continue to give back in this new way."

The IRE Journal began in the organization's early days, first appearing in 1978. It was printed as a newspaper and magazine over the years, but shifted to an online-only format in 2025. IRE will launch a more updated version of the online publication in conjunction with a new (soon-to-be-launched) IRE website later this year.

For fans of tradition, the online Journal continues to include familiar sections, such as data dives, collected wisdom, and how-to guides on the craft of investigative journalism. Read the latest stories online — about the history of global investigative journalism, the rise and fall of FOIA audits — and stay tuned for more.

To pitch a story idea or suggestion, please reach out to adam@ire.org.