The early bird deadline for 
Posts by Alena Rehberger
IRE 2014 schedules changes and updates
Welcome! Please see below changes to the schedule and other notes. For the most up-to-date schedule and description information, be sure to visit the conference website or app. SCHEDULE CHANGES New dates and times are listed below Rapid data publishing with Caspio Thursday, 1:30 p.m., Nob Hill D SPEAKER CHANGES THURSDAY Mapping sea…
Read MoreIRE Conference kicks off with record attendance
The 2014 IRE Conference is underway in San Francisco. We’ve got record turnout, with more than 1,500 journalists registered. Below are a few bits of information to help you prepare for this great conference! Check back regularly for the latest up-to-date information about panels, speakers and special events at the conference. Hotel Information The conference…
Read More2014 IRE Conference mobile app available for download
The 2014 IRE Conference app is now available through Guidebook! We encourage you to download our mobile guide to enhance your experience at the 2014 IRE Conference. You’ll be able to plan your day with a personalized schedule and browse exhibitors, maps and general show info. The app is compatible with iPhones, iPads, iPod Touches…
Read MoreFinalists announced for 2014 Golden Padlock award
Investigative Reporters and Editors is proud to announce the finalists for its 2014 Golden Padlock Award celebrating the most secretive government agency or individual in the United States. “The spirit of secrecy is alive and well across the United States at all levels of government,” said IRE president David Cay Johnston. “Efforts to hold power…
Read MoreIRE Radio Podcast | True Believers
Welcome to the third episode of the IRE Radio Podcast. We’re taking a cue from reporter Corey Johnson and calling this episode “True Believers.” This week we’ll be talking about how to find crucial sources and, more importantly, how to get them to talk. Here’s the lineup: Corey Johnson of The Center for Investigative Reporting…
Read MoreUnfit for flight: Lies and coverups mask roots of small-plane carnage
A USA TODAY investigation shows repeated instances in which small aircraft crashes, deaths and injuries were caused by defective parts and dangerous designs, casting doubt on the government’s official rulings and revealing the inner workings of an industry hit so hard by legal claims that it sought and won liability protection from Congress. Wide-ranging defects…
Read MoreThe road to health is paved with good data
This was originally published on the ProPublica Nerd Blog. By Ryann Grochowski Jones, ProPublica I think I’m a decent arbiter of people’s appreciation of data. I worked at IRE’s data library as a grad student and I’ve attended four consecutive NICAR conferences. At ProPublica, I work with complex data sets every day. I help run…
Read MoreExtra Extra Monday: Nebraska releases prisoners early; Koch brothers hold secret summit; Missile defense system proves unreliable
$40-billion missile defense system proves unreliable | Los Angeles Times The Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, or GMD, was supposed to protect Americans against a chilling new threat from “rogue states” such as North Korea and Iran. But a decade after it was declared operational, and after $40 billion in spending, the missile shield cannot be relied…
Read MoreSt. Clair County doles out more than $3.3 million in settlements behind closed doors
“More than $3.3 million in legal settlements have been approved behind closed doors in St. Clair County in the past 10 years — possibly in violation of the state’s Sunshine laws. The settlements range from $900,000 to a teenage boy allegedly sexually abused at the county’s Juvenile Detention Center to $1,000 to a person claiming…
Read More$40-billion missile defense system proves unreliable
The Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, or GMD, was supposed to protect Americans against a chilling new threat from “rogue states” such as North Korea and Iran. But a decade after it was declared operational, and after $40 billion in spending, the missile shield cannot be relied on, even in carefully scripted tests that are much…
Read More