IRE will be offering a computer-assisted reporting boot camp at Temple University in Philadelphia, Penn., August 19-22. During these four days attendees will be introduced to analyzing data for stories with spreadsheets and database managers. In addition, they'll learn ways to find data, craft open records requests and negotiate for electronic information.

Because of the generosity from the Temple School of Media and Communication we're able to offer a reduced flat rate of $200 to attend this hands-on training. Register today as seats are limited.

Experienced IRE trainers will teach you how to summarize data using Microsoft Excel ...

For the past several months, we at inewsource have been reporting on San Diego's North County Transit District, a public transportation agency that is going through a bit of turmoil -- to put it politely.

The district has been aggressive in its response to our stories. It’s sent out dozens of tweets calling us "just plain wrong," published "fact" sheets and sent us retraction demands. We take these seriously, and as we all know, they take substantial time and money (read: lawyers) to address.

The taxing experience got me thinking.

When we were set to publish a new story ...

The 2013 IRE Conference begins in just a few days.  Below are 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
http://ire.org/conferences/ire-2013/

Hotel Information
The conference is taking place at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter, 101 Bowie Street, San Antonio, TX, 78205.

Registration
Conference registration opens Wednesday at 3 p.m. and will re-open Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. Registration remains open Friday and Saturday on the 3rd floor of ...

The Investigative News Network (INN) and Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) have teamed up to offer dedicated data-analysis services to INN's membership of more than 80 nonprofit investigative news organizations.

Denise Malan, formerly investigative/data editor at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, will join INN/IRE next week in the new director of data services position at the IRE Data Library. She will be formally introduced to INN and IRE members at IRE’s annual conference in San Antonio on June 20.

Malan will focus primarily on obtaining and analyzing data sets that can be used by INN members; the ...

Eight news organizations have been chosen for IRE’s Total Newsroom Training.

TNT is a new program that provides intense, in-house training for newsrooms dedicated to watchdog journalism.

More than 50 applications were submitted. Training is customized and includes sessions ranging from public records battles to hands-on data analysis.

"We are thrilled with the large number of strong applications we received for this first-time program," IRE Executive Director Mark Horvit said. "The selection process was very difficult, which is a testament to the quality of work being done in newsrooms across the country."

Congratulations to the following newsrooms:

• Belleville News-Democrat ...

Since its launch four years ago, the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism has distinguished itself as a vital public-interest voice, producing original, hard-hitting reporting that has been published in more than 230 news outlets reaching more than 25 million people.

 It is an extraordinary accomplishment for a small, non-profit newsroom created to revitalize in-depth reporting in the state, enrich public debate and better inform citizens at a time when investigative reporting faces ever increasing economic challenges.

 A surprise move this week by the Wisconsin legislature to remove the Center from its offices at the University of Wisconsin and ban any ...

The 2013 IRE Conference in San Antonio offers you several opppotunties to improve your investigative writing techniques and tips for getting published. Here's a few of the writing-focused sessions at the conference:

• Writing the investigative story
• Producing killer profiles in the instant news cycle

And some opportunities to connect with agents and publishers:

• Pitch your work: Meetings with agents
• From your notebook to Barnes & Noble: Turning your reporting into a book

For the full list of session, click here.

You have probably encountered the problem of the PDF; the data and information are there, but locked in the PDF leaving you unable to filter, sort and work with the data in other ways. This file format can frustrate the savviest of journalists, but there are services available to help. IRE has partnered with Cometdocs.com, an online file conversion and storage tool to better help journalists with PDF files.

IRE and Esri have partnered to offer 10 fellowships to attend mapping training at the 2013 Esri International Users Conference from July 6-10 in San Diego and 3 fellowships to the IRE Mapping Boot Camp from August 9-11 at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Mo.

The users conference fellowships cover airfare and four nights lodging, and the boot camp fellowships cover airfare and three nights lodging. The users conference schedule includes attendance at the following events: Esri Business Summit (July 7) to learn about how international businesses are using advance mapping technology, Conference Plenary Session (July 8); and Media Workshops and ...

Investigative Reporters & Editors has launched a new award -- dubbed the Golden Padlock -- recognizing the most secretive publicly-funded agency or person in the United States. It is calling on journalists and the public for worthy nominees, and sumbissions are due by the end of the week.

"This honor acknowledges the dedication of government officials working tirelessly to keep vital information hidden from the public," said David Cay Johnston, president of IRE . "Their abiding commitment to secrecy and impressive skill in information suppression routinely keeps knowledge about everything from public health risks to government waste beyond the reach of citizens who pay ...