Welcome to IRE
Investigative Reporters and Editors Inc. is a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of investigative reporting. IRE was formed to create a forum in which journalists throughout the world could help each other by sharing story ideas, newsgathering techniques and news sources.
IRE provides members access to thousands of reporting tipsheets and other materials through its Resource Center and hosts conferences and specialized training across the country. Programs of IRE include the National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting (NICAR), a collaboration between IRE and the Missouri School of Journalism.
IRE News
NICAR26 right around the corner!
The 2026 NICAR Conference will be here before you know it - have you taken advantage of the early-bird registration rate and snagged the discounted hotel rate before the block sells out? Hurry! These deals only last a few more weeks!
2025 IRE Awards now open!
It's that time of year again! The 2025 IRE Awards are now open! We're excited to announce a few new categories this year as well as a brand new contest platform.
IRE heads to New York City
Join us for a special Watchdog Workshop in New York City at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, January 23-24, 2026.
You'll hear from award-winning speakers and some of the top investigative and data reporters in the country. Sessions will cover breaking news investigations, getting grants for your next big story and beat reporting how-to panels for business, health care and environmental journalism.
A current IRE membership is required. Seating is limited -- don't miss your chance to snag a seat before it's too late! Need help attending? Apply for a fellowship!
Investigative Reporters and Editors has named a competitive field of finalists for its 2021 Golden Padlock Award honoring the most secretive public agency or official in the U.S. Drawn from nominations from journalists across the country, four finalists were chosen for their extraordinary commitment to secrecy, ranging from suing a reporter over a request for public information, denying public access to a report detailing institutional failures that allowed ongoing abuse of children, filing subpoenas to access reporters’ research and deleting communications sought by reporters.
The 2021 IRE virtual conference will feature IRE’s partnership with JournalismMentors.com, where IRE members can sign up to mentor other professional journalists at various stages in their careers as well as student journalists. Any journalist seeking mentorship can visit the site to find a mentor who suits their needs and sign up for an appointment to meet the mentor virtually.
Ron Nixon, global investigations editor for The Associated Press and a longtime IRE member, will be the keynote speaker at the IRE21 virtual conference in June.
There’s more pressure than ever to rise above the competition.
IRE can help you enhance your daily reporting with resources and member benefits you won’t find anywhere else.


