2012 IRE Conference Blog
Writing the investigative story
By Châu Mai@maingocchau After spending weeks, months or even years to do an investigation, you want to write an interesting story that makes readers really want to read it. “Your goal is to pull people in and your second goal is to keep them there,” Seattle Times investisgative reporter Ken Armstrong said. He and Steve…
Read MoreTips for investigative reporters in China
By Shuyi Wang Weibo, China’s version of Twitter, has become an essential tool for investigative reporters in China, said Ying Chan, journalism professor from the University of Hong Kong on the Saturday’s panel “Investigative Reporting in China.” Chan cited the most discussed news in China recently to explain the power of Weibo. China’s government suspended…
Read MoreNY Times executive editor stresses importance of investigative reporting
By Pamela Cyran @CyranStar See video of Abramson’s entire speech From The Boston Globe: New York Times editor chides White House New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson’s keynote address during the IRE Awards Luncheon stressed the importance of investigative reporting and warned of a crack down against sources who leak information. Abramson reminded us that…
Read MoreWatch video from the conference
Couldn’t make it to the conference or missed a panel you wanted to see? Watch online. Some panels from the conference were recorded and posted online by Latakoo. Special thanks to the company for providing this service.
Read MoreHow to build the digital newsroom
By Châu Mai@maingocchau To survive and succeed in the Internet era, the newsroom has to transform itself and instantly keep up with the latest technological developments. Matt Wells, The Guardian US blogs and networks editor based in New York, and Emily Ramshaw, editor of The Texas Tribune, talked about ways to remake the newsroom during…
Read MoreHow to talk your way to the truth
By Châu Mai@maingocchau How do you get people to open up? How do you get the key information you’re are looking for? The first thing before we’re heading to the interview, according to Raquel Rutledge, an award-winning reporter of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is to fully prepare and know the subject well, by googling or using…
Read MoreTracking influence through campaign contributions, other data
By Chelsea Sheasley@csheasley What’s the best way to follow the money, especially in an election year? Joe Stephens, The Washington Post, Duff Wilson, Reuters, and Angie Moreschi, a former investigative reporter and now director of communications at James Hoyer Law Firm, shared the databases and documents that helped them in their latest investigations during their panel, Paying…
Read MoreTalking your way to the truth, mastering the interview
By Chelsea Sheasley@csheasley The interview is at the heart of all reporting, but mastering it can take a lifetime. In IRE 2012’s panel Talking your way to the truth: The art of the interview, three veteran reporters shared their tips on what it takes to get sources to talk and how to get key information…
Read MoreTips on investigating the ignored and abused – elderly, mentally disabled, and children
By Pamela Cyran @CyranStar Investigating vulnerable populations such as the elderly, mentally disabled, and even children, is extremely taxing. Many times it’s finding the story in the first place that’s troubling. Proving the story is another task. In many cases these victims can’t speak for themselves. Maybe they have no family or family are hesitant…
Read MoreSeen at the conference
More than 1000 journalists are gathering in Boston for IRE’s annual conference. They’re sharing tips and resources on how to better cover a range of topics from local government to immigration, racial disparities, housing scandals and police abuses. Computer-assisted reporting, criminal justice and sessions on managing non-profit news centers were the focus of Thursday’s sessions. IRE…
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