IRE News
IRE Board Appoints Interim Leadership, Announces Plans to Honor Diana Fuentes
Following the unexpected passing of Executive Director Diana R. Fuentes last week, Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) is mourning the loss of a deeply respected leader whose impact on the organization and the field of investigative journalism will be felt for years to come. The IRE Board of Directors convened on Sunday to solidify next…
Read MoreIRE Recognizes Legacy of Late Executive Director Diana Fuentes with Ring of Honor Nomination
IRE Recognizes Legacy of Late Executive Director Diana Fuentes with Ring of Honor Nomination March 22, 2026 — Investigative Reporters and Editors’ Board of Directors voted Sunday to nominate the organization’s late Executive Director Diana R. Fuentes for induction into its Ring of Honor. Fuentes was completing her fifth year as the leader of IRE…
Read MoreIRE urges the release of Nashville reporter by federal immigration authorities
Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) urges the release of Estefany Rodríguez, a reporter with Nashville Noticias and Univision 42 Nashville, whose coverage has included immigration enforcement. She was taken into custody while in a marked news vehicle, according to Nashville Noticias. Rodríguez, who faced death threats in her home country of Colombia, applied for political…
Read MoreAnnouncing the 2026 Lightning Talks lineup!
by Adam Rhodes In about a week, hundreds of my favorite nerds are going to descend on Indianapolis to dive deep into panels and roundtables, spreadsheets classes and all the other things that make NICAR so unique. Disguised as a delightfully dorky meetup of data journalists, NICAR is an unmatched chance to expand your reporting…
Read MoreDon’t know what to attend at NICAR26? The IRE staff is here to help!
So you’ve landed in Indianapolis. You’re at the JW Marriott. You’re checking the schedule and….. whoa. It’s pretty overwhelming, right? With more than 200 hours of programming spanning nearly a week, it’s hard to plan what to see, who to talk to and when to go where. But the IRE staff is here to help…
Read More2026 NICAR Fellows Announcement
The 2026 NICAR Fellows IRE is proud to sponsor 19 fellowships for journalists attending NICAR26 in Indianapolis, March 5-8. NICAR26 fellowships were available for any journalist; journalists, students and educators of color; Illinois journalism students and early-career journalists; and educators who teach data journalism/investigative reporting. IRE membership for one year and support to offset conference…
Read MoreThe Alabama Solution: Journalists Hope to Inspire More Ethical Prison Reporting
By Victoria Valenzuela, independent journalist When Charlotte Kaufman and Andrew Jarecki visited Easterling prison in Alabama as media seven years ago, they didn’t know what to expect — but they knew that it is rare to get an opportunity to report from a prison, so they took the chance. What started as a filmed visit…
Read MoreIRE announces winners of the 2025 Philip Meyer Journalism Award
The annual Philip Meyer Journalism Award from Investigative Reporters and Editors recognizes the best use of social science research methods in journalism. This year, IRE honors five investigative projects from a pool of extraordinarily strong applicants. Winning projects will be recognized on March 6 at the 2026 NICAR Conference in Indianapolis, during the Friday evening…
Read MorePromotions and new staff strengthen IRE
Staffing changes at IRE are strengthening the nation’s largest journalism association at a critical time for the industry. “IRE’s superpower has always been its people,” said Executive Director Diana Fuentes. “At a time when journalism is facing major challenges, investing in a diverse and experienced staff is essential. Our team is committed to IRE’s mission…
Read MoreBuilding The SLAPP Back Initiative – Tracking and Mapping Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation
By Pete Madden & Susanna Granieri Illustration by Derek Abella In August 2021, Wausau Pilot & Review, a small newspaper in central Wisconsin, acted on a tip from a reader and reported that a local businessman uttered a homophobic slur during a recent county board meeting. He denied it and demanded a retraction. When he…
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