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The art of access: Strategies for acquiring public records in an increasingly anti-media world

By Ashley Sutherland, Arizona State University Delays. Excessive redactions. Fees. These are just some of the issues journalists and other citizens face when requesting public records from the government. David Cuillier, director of the University of Arizona School of Journalism, and Miranda Spivack, a professor of journalism at DePauw University, offered tips and strategies on how…

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Tips for digging into special education

Mining data and digging for documents can be powerful tools for finding families who may not be getting the best special education services. David DesRoches of WNPR in Connecticut, Brian Rosenthal of The New York Times and Heather Vogell of ProPublica shared this tip and more during their IRE Conference panel, “Investigating special education.” “Remember…

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Inspiration to make your storytelling hum

“But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die.” To Ken Armstrong, a writer at The Marshall Project, these 12 words from Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” demonstrate the epitome of good storytelling. “A great lyric can tell you a story in just a few words,” Armstrong told conference IRE Conference attendees.…

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What to do when mental health and criminal justice collide

By Ashley Sutherland, Arizona State University Although mental health-related police shootings and violence against law enforcement occur nationwide, there’s limited data on these kinds of cases. During the “When mental health and criminal justice collide” session at the 2017 IRE Conference, Eric Wieffering of the Star Tribune, Kimbriell Kelly of The Washington Post and Josh Hinkle…

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Sourcing people of color: Going beyond the community leader

Friday’s “Sourcing people of color: Going beyond the community leader” panel, moderated by Manny Garcia of the USA TODAY Network, Diego Santiago of Telemundo, Maria Polletta of The Arizona Republic, and Warren Trent of KTVK/KPHO-TV offered a variety of helpful tips for journalists wanting to improve how they cover historically marginalized communities. Below are some…

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Scott Pruitt wins 2017 Golden Padlock

Investigative Reporters and Editors has named Scott Pruitt, the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the winner of its annual Golden Padlock Award recognizing the most secretive U.S. agency or individual.  Pruitt was selected for this honor for steadfastly refusing to provide emails in the public interest and removing information…

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IRE17 | Day 1 Update

Wireless network and password Wireless internet is available throughout the meeting space thanks to Raycom Media. Join the network IRE17 and follow the steps to enter the access code: Raycom.   Look for IRE Conference buttons At the registration desk: All attendees can pick up an #IRE17 button when checking in. At the Tipsheets &…

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Welcome to the 2017 IRE Conference!

The 2017 IRE Conference begins on Thursday. Below you’ll find a few bits of information to help you prepare for this great conference! For the latest up-to-date information about panels, speakers and special events at the conference, please visit our conference website at https://www.ire.org/conferences/ire2017/.   Hotel Information The conference is taking place at the JW Marriott…

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IRE announces 2017 Golden Padlock Award finalists

COLUMBIA, MISSOURI: Investigative Reporters and Editors is proud to announce the finalists for its 2017 Golden Padlock Award celebrating the most secretive government agency or individual in the United States. “Undermining the public’s right to know requires dedication, creativity and chutzpa,” said Robert Cribb, chair of the IRE’s Golden Padlock committee. “The sophisticated methods of this…

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