Announcing IRE's 2026 Chauncey Bailey Investigative Reporting Fellows

(Oct. 15, 2025) — Daniel Thomas Mollenkamp of EdSurge in Richmond, Virginia and Lea Zora Scruggs of KRIS 6/Scripps News in Corpus Christi, Texas have been selected for IRE’s Chauncey Bailey Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship.

The prestigious yearlong fellowship is designed to increase the range of backgrounds, experiences and interests within the field of investigative journalism, where diverse perspectives are critically important. It offers IRE training, mentorship and support to help fellows produce an investigative reporting project benefiting their newsrooms and communities. 

Daniel Thomas Mollenkamp is an award-winning enterprise reporter and feature writer for EdSurge, a national nonprofit newsroom focused on the human impact of the education system. Based in Richmond, Virginia, his reporting has shown how tech companies are trying to profit from the rise in school choice, explored regulatory regimes and proposals for making these systems accountable, and examined why families are hungry for education alternatives. Previously, he covered economic inequality.

His work has appeared in outlets including USA Today, The Christian Science Monitor, Investopedia, Tennessee Lookout, The Daily Yonder and The 19th. With experience across three continents, he has also contributed to investigative research on the vaping, cannabis, gene editing and gambling industries. He holds a BA in government from the College of William and Mary.

Mollenkamp’s project will explore the realities and consequences of how well school choice really serves children and families, and the attempt to bring accountability to these options that stand to gain from increased taxpayer support. Nationwide, the past couple of decades have shown rapid growth of these publicly-funded efforts.

Lea Zora Scruggs is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker from Miami, Florida and based in Corpus Christi, Texas as an investigative reporter at KRIS 6/Scripps News. Before joining KRIS 6 News as an investigative reporter, Lea served as a correspondent for the LA Sentinel on CBS Los Angeles. She has reported, produced and directed for Vice News Tonight; shot, edited, hosted and produced videos at BuzzFeed; and served as an international field producer at National Geographic Studios.

She has also contributed to outlets including The Village Voice, Quartz, The New York Times’ T-Brand Studio, Tina Brown’s Women in the World Summit and Radical Media. Scruggs is a graduate of Spelman College and holds a master’s degree in journalism with a concentration in documentary film from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

Scruggs’ project will focus on how in South Texas, particularly in and around Corpus Christi, babies are being born with severe birth defects at alarmingly high rates — some so grave they do not survive infancy. State registry analyses and federal reviews have documented elevated birth-defect rates in the Corpus Christi area, but many fall short of identifying an official clear cause. Nevertheless, the communities most impacted lie in the shadow of oil refineries, chemical plants and military installations. She will investigate the correlation between industrial pollution and birth defects in this long-overlooked health crisis on the Texas Gulf Coast.

Mollenkamp and Scruggs will pursue these projects while receiving a suite of IRE resources and support throughout the course of the fellowship. These include training at an IRE Data Journalism Bootcamp and both annual conferences. Most importantly, they will each receive a mentor network of IRE members who will guide them through their yearlong projects. 

Established in 2019, IRE’s Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship began with generous donations from IRE members Meghan Hoyer, Megan Luther, Mike Tahani and Mike Gruss. Over the years, the program has grown thanks to continued contributions from members and news organizations including ABC News, CNN, ESPN, Gray Television and Hearst Foundations. In 2023, the fellowship was renamed in honor of late journalist Chauncey Bailey.

Applications for the 2027 IRE Chauncey Bailey Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship will be available in September 2026.  

Make a contribution to the Chauncey Bailey Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship here. If you are interested in participating in IRE training events and need financial assistance to attend, check out our fellowships and scholarships.

(October 1, 2025) —  Journalism has the power to shine a light on the truth no matter how dark it gets. 

That’s what our membership at Investigative Reporters and Editors, nearly 5,000 journalists strong, prove day after day around the world. From local newspapers and TV stations, to global nonprofit newsrooms, they tirelessly follow leads, question politicians, examine corporations and dig into documents to get to the facts.

They do so in increasingly tough conditions. Press freedom and free speech are under attack. Reporters Without Borders classified the global state of press freedom as a “difficult situation” for the first time in their World Press Freedom Index. Another report found that global press freedom has suffered its sharpest fall in 50 years.

The darkness is spreading, but we aren’t giving up. We need your help. Today, we start a campaign to fund our unified fight to shine the light.

Because it’s not just journalists facing these challenges — it’s all of us. Democracy is at stake. 

60 Minutes Correspondent Scott Pelley said it best at IRE’s 50th Anniversary Gala last month: “There is no democracy without journalism.”

“IRE was formed at a time when modern investigative journalism was exposing serious problems in our government,” said IRE Executive Director Diana R. Fuentes. “Our founders saw a need to support each other in those efforts, and to promote that kind of high-quality journalism in local communities across the country. That need has never been greater than today. Help us continue the fight.”

For 50 years, IRE has been training journalists on how to be effective watchdogs in their communities — and we’ve evolved over the years to keep up with the changing media landscape and the needs of our members.

This year, we launched a new committee to help us put out more training and resources on press freedom and journalist safety. We’ve joined forces with organizations also dedicated to protecting a free press, including Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, Freedom of the Press Foundation and others to speak out against attacks on journalists. The IRE Board of Directors released this statement recently, condemning the Pentagon's new restrictions on journalists.

Despite the increasing challenges, IRE members continue to show up for their communities. If you attend one of our conferences or read our weekly “Local Matters” newsletter, you’ll find passionate, hard-working journalists who continue to go to the darkest corners to expose injustice and hold power to account.

They need your support.

As we approach the end of 2025, we invite you to stand with us in our mission to protect the truth-tellers and ensure their independent work of verified reporting continues to keep the people informed. Make a donation today. 

Your generous contributions will directly support IRE training programs, so we can continue equipping journalists with the skills and resources they need. Every dollar counts. Join us in this fight for truth.

Learn more about IRE and make a contribution online, via mail or text.

(September 23, 2025) — Investigative Reporters and Editors has a new fellowship in honor of the late Susan Carroll Alvarez, a fearless watchdog journalist beloved for her mentorship and leadership skills. 

Family members, friends and journalists around the country have raised more than $25,000 to create the new Susan Carroll Fellowship to support journalists covering the border and immigration. 

Lise Olsen, Investigations Editor at The Texas Observer, wanted to start the fund to help journalists covering a beat near and dear to Carroll — and inspire deeper conversations around mental health and self-care for journalists.

Carroll died by suicide in May 2024.

“I hope that by sharing that this fellowship is named for a great investigative journalist — and a beloved IRE member we lost to mental illness — that we, her IRE family members, might deepen our own discussions about mental health and self-care,” Lise Olsen said in an article for The IRE Journal.

“Susan should still be with us. She should still be hitting me up for coffee and leading IRE panels. She should still be raising her beloved boys and doing incredible work. Instead, through this fellowship, others will be able to attend IRE conferences in her name — and hopefully aim for new heights in their own work.” 

Over a storied career at the Tucson Citizen, Arizona Republic, Houston Chronicle, ProPublica and NBC News, Carroll covered the toughest of topics, from heartbreaking toddler deaths and toxic chemical stockpiles to deadly gang leaders in the heart of Central America.

Her work prompted change in laws and earned her numerous awards, including IRE, the National Press Foundation and the National Headliner Award.

Carroll became an IRE member in 2002 and regularly attended and taught at IRE conferences over the years. She met her husband, a fellow journalist at the time, at the 2006 IRE Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.

The inaugural fellowship will be awarded for the 2026 IRE Conference in Washington, D.C.

Generous donations from NBCUniversal and the Houston Chronicle helped get the fund started. A team of NBC reporters who won a George Polk Award for a project Susan initiated contributed their $2,000 prize, and individual donations from friends, family and colleagues pushed the total past the $25,000 needed to establish a named endowment fund.

Make a contribution to the fund here. 

(September 23, 2025) — Investigative Reporters and Editors joins dozens of organizations in demanding the release of detained journalist Mario Guevara.

Guevara was arrested June 14 in metro Atlanta while covering a protest, then transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, where he remains. He has been detained for more than 100 days — one of the longest periods a journalist has ever been detained in the United States. 

IRE has signed on to a statement with the Committee to Protect Journalists, Free Press, and several other journalism organizations calling for his immediate release.

“Guevara is the only known journalist currently behind bars in the U.S. for his reporting,” the letter states. “The government’s prolonged detention of Guevara sends a chilling message to all journalists, citizens, and residents who record law enforcement, report on government activities, and seek to report the truth. This concerns all of us as a blatant attack on the First Amendment and press freedom. Livestreaming and filming police is not a crime.”

Read the full statement here.

(September 23, 2025) — Investigative Reporters & Editors and its Board of Directors join with numerous newsrooms and journalism organizations in condemning the Pentagon's new requirement for reporters to sign a pledge limiting their ability to report without government approval in exchange for a press credential.

“This unprecedented move undermines the fundamental principles of journalistic independence and transparency, while seeking to grant substantial control over media narratives to a government agency,” said IRE Board President Josh Hinkle. “Such restrictions threaten the ability of the press to hold powerful institutions accountable and to inform the public without censorship. IRE and its leadership stand firmly against this action and call for its immediate reversal.”

For decades, investigative journalists have delivered essential news about the government’s actions without asking permission. If such reporting on the military requires government clearance, the work of the press becomes indistinguishable from propaganda. This is an unacceptable escalation in a worrying trend as the Trump administration cracks down on protected speech, and it threatens to undermine the very foundation of our democracy.

"The government — including the military — serves the people. Prohibiting independent access to information does not serve the people in any way," said IRE Executive Director Diana Fuentes. "This 'Pentagon pledge’ is a gross violation of the First Amendment, which ensures freedom of the press in the clearest language possible. You can't be free if you're not independent. Simple as that."

This year, the IRE Board launched its Press Freedom Committee and associated working group to ensure we understand the threats our members face, offer world-class and current training to help them do their work in changing times, and advocate for the protection of their First Amendment rights.

“IRE joins with all journalists fighting against this egregious action, and it stands ready to defend the independence of investigative journalism, which is essential to a free society,” said Kate Howard, Committee Chair and Board Vice President. 

In concert with the committee and its working group, IRE is issuing statements, coordinating journalist safety events and signing onto recent coalition letters of support:

• Dozens of organizations demand release of journalist Mario Guevara
• Drop charges against Cincinnati journalists before upcoming trial

IRE began its timely and urgent “Protecting the Facts” webinar series this year, which is free for members and has included trainings on covering immigration, civil unrest and handling leaks. Registration is open now for our Oct. 20 training on digital security for journalists.

(September 18, 2025) — Investigative Reporters and Editors hosted a star-studded 50th Anniversary Gala in New York City this week, bringing together the industry’s biggest trailblazers and raising more than $1.5 million for the grassroots nonprofit.

With donations from $50 to $150,000, and the support of major funders including the ProPublica Board of Directors and the Knight Foundation, it is the largest amount raised through a single event in IRE history.

“We are grateful for the generosity of everyone who donated,” said IRE Executive Director Diana Fuentes. “With the help of all involved, we are looking forward to the next 50 years of training and supporting journalists at all levels to ensure a free press, the foundation of democracy.”

The gala, held at Gotham Hall, celebrated the founding of IRE and the evolution of investigative journalism — from the explosion of watchdog reporting during Watergate to modern-day collaborations that have sparked cultural reckonings and inspired major movements. Esteemed industry leaders Paul Sagan, A.G. Sulzberger and Judy Woodruff chaired the event.

“Reporting, which is really about the best obtainable version of the truth, is what we need more of,” said Carl Bernstein, one of the evening’s honorees. “IRE is an organization that was founded on that principle. We need more – and better reporting — now more than ever.”

Along with several titans of journalism, IRE recognized acclaimed actor and director Michael Keaton with the organization’s first Champion of Investigative Journalism Award. 

Keaton, a staunch press freedom advocate, has shown the value of investigative journalism through his portrayal of editors in films like “The Paper" and “Spotlight." Sacha Pfeiffer, who was a reporter on the Boston Globe’s Spotlight team, presented Keaton with the award. 

“When Hollywood takes on journalism topics, that supercharges our reach,” Pfeiffer said. “Spotlight and Michael’s acting showed the world the kind of determination and digging and backbone and sometimes tedium that is required to confront power. And Michael used his reach and power to champion our work in a very public way, and we’re very grateful for that.”

"I've had the opportunity to inhabit a lot of roles from the safety of a film set. That's easy," Keaton said. "You've committed your lives to the pursuit of the truth in the face of personal sacrifice and often danger.

While the night was celebratory, there were solemn reminders of the precarious state of democracy in the United States and around the world. Host Scott Pelley, 60 Minutes Correspondent, got the evening started with a jolting declaration:

“There is no democracy without journalism, and we gather in a dark moment in which freedom of speech and of the press are under assault — chilled by extortion, bound with handcuffs and silenced with bullets,” Pelley said, adding, at one point, there is “blood on the First Amendment.”

Sulzberger, publisher of The New York Times, spoke about countries with “anti-press playbooks” and the similar tactics being used in the United States. He encouraged journalists in the room to continue reporting “without fear or favor,” a popular Times motto.

“Following the facts and reporting the truth are not partisan acts,” Sulzberger said. “They do not make journalists the opposition. In that spirit journalists should not let themselves be baited into acting as such, whether through jeers or cheers. Instead let’s continue to ask the tough questions and bring the public the information it needs — fully, fairly, and independently.”

Woodruff, senior correspondent of the PBS News Hour, spoke about mass cuts to public media and the dire need to preserve local news.

“We know that in some communities, there are no other news organizations. We know that when that happens, lawbreaking and corruption flourish,” Woodruff said. “Solid, local news is essential for our democracy.”

While there are major donors and organizations investing in local newsrooms across the country, Paul Sagan, chair of ProPublica, noted the need for more.  

"It's my hope someday that everyone will agree that in a healthy, vibrant community, supporting news organizations with generous philanthropy is vital; that it is as important and normal as donating to the local community hospital, the symphony, the art museum, or your favorite educational institution,” Sagan said. “But while that support is necessary it is not sufficient. Journalists in these not-for-profit newsrooms need training and mentorship. That's where IRE comes in.”

IRE’s many training programs and resources ensure all journalists can get the skills needed to become stronger watchdogs in their communities. Since the organization’s humble beginnings in 1975, it has flourished to become the largest journalist organization based in the United States.

The funds raised at the 50th Anniversary Gala, the first such event in the organization’s history, will help carry the torch for the next generation of watchdog journalists.

"We want to extend our deepest gratitude to our remarkable 50th Anniversary Task Force — especially its co-chairs, David Boardman and Tisha Thompson, along with IRE Board Chair Brian Rosenthal — for their unwavering dedication and leadership in making this gala a resounding success,” said IRE Board President Josh Hinkle. 

“Their vision and commitment helped raise significant funds that will empower our members with the training and resources they need to navigate these challenging times,” Hinkle added. “Together, we are ensuring a stronger future for investigative journalism and the vital role it plays in our society."

IRE, a nonprofit grassroots organization dedicated to providing training, resources and a safe forum for journalists, is the largest journalism organization based in the United States with nearly 5,000 members. To support our work, make a donation online.

The Investigative Reporters and Editors 50th Anniversary Gala took place at Gotham Hall in New York City on September 15, 2025. Browse select photos below or view the complete album using this link. Photo credit: Nathalie Schueller.

(September 4, 2025) — One of Hollywood’s most celebrated stars will join a parade of journalism legends in New York this month for the Investigative Reporters and Editors 50th Anniversary Gala, honoring five decades of grit, guts and glory.

Michael Keaton, acclaimed actor, director and press freedom advocate, will receive IRE’s first Champion of Investigative Journalism Award, recognizing his spot-on portrayal of journalists and steadfast support for a free press.

“It’s humbling and ironic to receive an award from this assembly of exceptional journalists and editors. I have the great privilege of portraying the work they do from the relative comfort of a film set, while they risk their lives bringing the truth to light," said Keaton. 

“When I step into these roles, I receive attention and praise, while heroic journalists continue their challenging and critically important life’s work, often without recognition. Bringing the stories of their courage and achievement to a wide audience is deeply meaningful to me.”

The fundraising event will take place Sept. 15 at Gotham Hall in the heart of Manhattan. For more information, go to the 50th Gala website.

Keaton and more than a dozen real-life truth tellers will be recognized for their achievements, including Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of Watergate fame; Julie K. Brown, the Miami Herald reporter who broke the Jeffrey Epstein scandal; and Renee Ferguson, the first Black woman to work as an investigative reporter on television in Chicago.

IRE President Josh Hinkle said Keaton was chosen for the award because of his unwavering dedication to freedom of the press, even as attacks on journalists have increased. 

“Michael Keaton has shared with audiences characters who uncover truth and challenge power – but beyond the screen, he’s used his voice to champion the vital role of investigative journalism in a healthy democracy,” Hinkle said. “This award — the first for IRE — honors his commitment to reminding us all why facts, integrity and fearless reporting matter now more than ever. We are thrilled he will join us to accept it at our 50th anniversary celebration.”

Starring in “The Paper” and “Spotlight,” Keaton’s roles as an editor have shown the value of investigative journalism and its ability to shine a light on corruption, wrongdoing and betrayal of trust.

In “Live from Baghdad,” Keaton starred as a CNN producer covering the Gulf War with his team, bringing to vivid life the dangers and necessity of warfront coverage.

“This role was about telling the story of why investigative reporting matters — how it can change lives, protect democracy and hold those in positions of power accountable,” Keaton said. “Journalists don’t always get the credit they deserve, so if a movie can shine a light on what they do, that’s important.” 

Keaton’s work helps protect the future of journalism.

“When an actor of Keaton’s caliber plays a journalist, with his passion and sensitivity that so accurately reflects us, it increases the public interest in what we do,” said IRE Executive Director Diana R. Fuentes. “It encourages the next generation to join our ranks and motivates veteran journalists to keep pursuing stories that matter.” 

Keaton, who was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, studied journalism at Kent State University in Ohio. While he eventually turned to acting, he has stayed an informed member of his community and a global citizen. He said he reads two newspapers a day, sometimes three — including his hometown’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

“I’ve always believed that if you want to know what’s really going on, you read the paper. Local papers especially are the backbone of informed citizens, and they deserve our support now more than ever,” Keaton shared.

Scott Pelley, longtime correspondent for CBS’ 60 Minutes, will host the night’s festivities. Attendees will enjoy an evening of elegant dining and camaraderie as IRE pays tribute to exceptional journalists, representing key moments in investigative journalism since the organization started in 1975.

The event is sold out, but those interested can contact planner Jill Vanzino about possible sponsorships or other questions at jvanzino@inezevents.com. Contributions are still welcome and appreciated at bit.ly/IRE50. All proceeds will support IRE’s vital training programs and resources for journalists.

IRE, a nonprofit grassroots organization dedicated to providing training, resources and a safe forum for journalists, is the largest journalism organization based in the United States with nearly 5,000 members. 

(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.

(July 31, 2025) — Investigative Reporters and Editors is pleased to announce Academy Award-nominee Michael Keaton, star of “Spotlight” and “The Paper,” will receive the Champion of Investigative Journalism Award at IRE’s 50th Anniversary Gala in September.

The gala, IRE’s first fundraiser of its kind, will be an entertaining evening of good food and fun times, recognizing exceptional journalists across the decades since the organization started in 1975.

It’s set for Sept. 15 at Gotham Hall in the heart of New York City. Scott Pelley of 60 Minutes will be the host.

Seats are $1,500. Table sponsorships start at $10,000. To buy tickets and for more information, go to the 50th Gala website or send an email to Jill Vanzino at jvanzino@inezevents.com.

Proceeds will support IRE´s vital training programs and resources for journalists worldwide.