On the Road
Invest in yourself: Skills offer competitive edge
Editor’s note: Keegan Kyle attended an IRE Regional Boot Camp at the University of Minnesota Oct. 6-10, 2008. Here’s his story of how the training bolstered his job prospects. (IRE and CUNY will be hosting a Regional Boot Camp in New York June 22-26. For more information and to register go here.) The first time…
Read MoreStats camp bolsters baseball story
Editor’s note: Rich Exner of The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer attended IRE’s Advanced Statistics Boot Camp at Arizona State University Feb. 6-8. Here’s his take on the practical application of the training: I learned after attending IRE’s Mapping Boot Camp a couple of years ago that the best way to retain the new techniques crammed into…
Read MoreResources for covering floods
The Red River in Fargo, N.D., has reached record heights and is still rising. IRE has compiled a list of resources to help you cover this flood, localize the story for your area and assess whether your community is prepared for a similar disaster. Flooding is nothing new to the Midwest. Last year Cedar Rapids,…
Read MoreCovering the economic crisis
Several Web sites and documents can help journalists track federal stimulus spending and the ongoing economic turmoil, according to Ron Nixon, a reporter for The New York Times. Taxpayers for Common Sense aims to provide more transparency in government spending. USA Spending is the federal government’s site for tracking all federal contracts, grants and awards.…
Read MoreBilingual workshop successful in El Paso
More than 70 people gathered in the desert – presenters, students, border journalists of all ages and experiences — at the University of Texas El Paso for IRE’s first bilingual version of our Watchdog Workshop. The event included hands-on CAR training and lectures on topics including immigration, storytelling and organized crime by mostly bilingual presenters…
Read MoreCustom training provides inroads to good journalism
When asked why, during a slowing economy and troubled time for newspapers, Rob Dean decided to provide customized IRE training for his staff and other journalists from across New Mexico and Colorado, the managing editor of The Santa Fe New Mexican said he wanted to inspire young journalists to embrace and pursue their craft. See…
Read MoreSanta Fe paper focuses on watchdog work
Only a local news organization can hold institutions and individuals in a community accountable, so journalists need to be equipped for the job, says Rob Dean, managing editor of the Santa Fe New Mexican. That’s why the newspaper sponsored custom IRE training for its staff in early February. “In the last three days, I think…
Read MoreNew to CAR? Share your data, get feedback
If you’re new to plumbing spreadsheets and databases, it’s likely that you might exhibit some anxiety about your new found skills. But take it from a seasoned professional, Maurice Tamman of The Wall Street Journal, don’t hesitate to share your data and check your work. Even if it means phoning up a competitor to see…
Read MoreBe fair to sources, don’t rough them up
When conducting an interview — or attempting to extract information from public officials who are less than forthright — it’s essential to be fair and upfront about your needs. While Tisha Thompson, a reporter for WTTG in Washington D.C., doesn’t hesitate to sit herself on public officials’ door steps at 6 a.m. to get the…
Read MoreMaurice Tamman: CAR really bulletproofs a story
At the New Haven, Conn., Better Watchdog Workshop, Maurice Tamman of The Wall Street Journal shared his thoughts on why skills in computer-assisted reporting can help strengthen and legitimize a story. At the IRE workshop, which provides journalists with instruction on the tools needed to be better watchdog journalists, Tamman provided participants with an introduction…
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