AccessFest 2026

Investigative Reporters & Editors is committed to providing a friendly, safe and welcoming environment for all, regardless of race, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical ability, age, appearance or religion.

IRE supports vigorous debate and welcomes disagreement, while maintaining a civil and respectful community. Discriminatory or harassing behavior is not permitted.

IRE may take any action it deems appropriate to deal with those who violate our principles, including exclusion from our events, forums, listservs and the organization itself.

The IRE Principles apply to all events and meetings that IRE holds, including entirely virtual ones. Members agree to follow these principles throughout all communications related to the conference and meetings.

This Code of Conduct covers all participants in IRE events and meetings and is in effect the entire time from the beginning until the end of our events and meetings.

If you feel threatened or in immediate jeopardy during an IRE event, call 911 or contact building security.

How to report a complaint

During in-person conferences, we will publicize a contact email that you can use to make a report. In addition, we will make staff and IRE board members easily identifiable, with badges that identify themselves as such, so you know whom to contact if you want to report an issue in person.

During any IRE event or meeting, concerns can be brought to the attention of IRE staff, board members or the meeting organizer in person or a concern can be reported in writing as explained below.

At any time during the year, including conferences and meetings, if you see or experience any violation of this Code — and if your complaint does not involve the IRE Executive Director or IRE Board President — you may click here to file a complaint using our secure online form. Your submission will be forwarded automatically to the Board President and Executive Director. You can expect to hear from the Executive Director, who has discretion to handle all Code of Conduct complaints.

If your complaint involves the Board President, do not fill out this form. Instead, please email your complaint directly to the Executive Director: executivedirector@ire.org.

If your complaint involves the Executive Director, do not fill out this form. Instead, please email your complaint directly to the Board President: president@ire.org.

If your complaint involves both the Board President and the Executive Director, do not fill out this form. Instead, please email your complaint directly to the Board Vice President: vicepresident@ire.org.