AccessFest25 FAQ - Investigative Reporters & Editors

Still need help after consulting these FAQs? Email logistics@ire.org for assistance.

How is AccessFest different from the other IRE conferences

AccessFest is virtual by design, created with the goal of making IRE training more accessible and affordable to journalists around the world. It features IRE's top investigative and data classes, and offers more programming on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion — both in the newsroom and in news coverage.

The conference is 100% online. It was created in 2021 and previously branded as the DBEI Symposium.

What are the dates and times for the conference?

AccessFest will be October 9-11 (Thursday-Saturday) online.

Sessions will begin around 10:00 a.m. ET and end around 6:00 p.m. ET on Thursday and Friday. On Saturday, sessions will begin around 10:00 a.m. ET and end around 2:30 p.m. ET.

How do I register for AccessFest?

First, make sure you have a current IRE membership through Nov. 1, 2025. You can do that by logging into your account on the website and going to Manage Memberships in your Member Dashboard.

If you have a current membership, you will see a green ‘Yes’ in the Active column.
If your membership has expired, click the ‘Subscribe’ button to go through the renewal process. (Note: If your membership expired before Dec. 1, 2020, you will not be able to log in to the website. Please create a new account on our website by joining online.)
If you have never been an IRE member, please join online.

Next, go to the conference ticket page. The correct price for your membership level will show up in the ‘Get Tickets’ block. Click ‘Add to cart’ and follow the steps to check out.

If the ticket block is blank, please check that you are logged into your account with a current membership. If you still need help, email logistics@ire.org.

What is the cost?

We are offering a special discount for IRE's 50th anniversary! Register now through Sept. 8 for just $50.

Professional (general and early-career), Academic, Associate, Retiree

Early bird: $50 through Monday, September 8, 2025, midnight ET
Regular: $199 begins Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Students

Flat rate: $50

Can I find a mentor at the conference?

There are no mentor-mentee matches made at this conference, but IRE has a partnership with Journalism Mentors.

to help you connect with a mentor year-round!

For students and early-career journalists, this is an opportunity to connect with IRE members, and get advice on investigative journalism or navigating the media industry. For mentors, this is a way to give back and share the wisdom you've gained over the years.

Will sessions be recorded?

Sessions will be recorded. Unless otherwise asked by the panel, we'll record all sessions and make them available to IRE members following the conference. Give us a few weeks post-event to make sure everything is cleaned up and ready for viewing.

Is there a Slack Workspace for AccessFest?

You bet! We'll use Slack to stay connected throughout the conference. Details coming soon!

I’m not from an underrepresented or marginalized community. Should I attend AccessFest?

Yes! AccessFest is for everyone. There are many dimensions to diversity and accessibility, and even if you don’t directly relate to a topic, it may impact people you work with or people in the communities you cover.

AccessFest offers an opportunity to learn about equity, inclusion and belonging issues so you can empathize with your colleagues and fellow humans and become part of the solution. You are not only welcome to join the conversation – you are necessary!

When are IRE's next in-person conferences?

After AccessFest, our next conferences are NICAR and IRE in 2026. Mark your calendars:

NICAR26 | March 5-8, 2026 | Indianapolis, IN
IRE26 | June 18-21, 2026 | Washington, D.C. (National Harbor)