IRE News

Learn how to make your investigative writing compelling and powerful. We cover everything from defining an investigative narrative to how to report, organize, write and self-edit your own! Topics include: Understanding the investigative narrative; How to pitch; Turning sources into characters; Writing a scene; Self-editing tips and techniques; and Organizing and writing a deeply reported investigative narrative.

Sarah Kate Thomas, from The New York Times, and Kristen Larson, from Yahoo, will overview the essentials that every journalist should have in their toolkit to protect the integrity of their work and sanity online.

Get your FOI templates ready to roll! New York Times investigative reporter and public records geek Mark Walker will cover his favorite, most unique, overlooked and under-appreciated records to request from all levels of government. They'll also give examples of how these records were used to produce stories in newsrooms around the country.

Being a news manager is already tough - but what if you supervise investigative journalists? They come with an extra layer of challenges, because their very job (and likely their personality) makes them hyper-alert to authority figures. This course is designed to give you some tools and tactics to lead individuals and entire teams of investigators in a more effective way. Learn from four investigative managers from different media at different stages of their leadership careers. How did they launch into their roles, and what experience have they gained along the way? This course is for current investigative managers and anyone aspiring to step into such a position in the future. Topics will include: managing compassionately, hiring challenges, transitioning to management, forging partnerships, building relationships, handling resource cuts, organization/structure, tough decisions/conversations, in-house training/growth, delivering feedback, creating inclusive opportunities, and juggling responsibilities/projects/work.

Managing a data project presents challenges for any editor. No matter your comfort level with data, this session will give you the foundation you need to help make sure your reporters aren't running with scissors or spinning their wheels on data projects. Two veteran editors, Jennifer LaFleur of The Center for Public Integrity and Maud Beelman of the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, will guide you through the ins and outs of data journalism from an editor's point of view.

Register for this free webinar on Tuesday, May 3 for IRE members. This workshop offers a foundation for developing respectful and accurate coverage of trans issues and people. Tuck Woodstock of Sylveon Consulting will share tools for nuanced reporting on the trans community and strategies for how to discuss gender in inclusive and intersectional ways.