Apply now for agribusiness reporting workshop

IRE and the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting are seeking applicants for an all-expenses paid workshop on how to cover agribusiness in the Midwest.

The workshop, held from May 30 to June 2 in Champaign, Ill., informs on how to cover the growing impact of corporate agribusiness, along with topics of droughts, corporate-funded research, government subsidies and insurance and commodities trading. It is funded by the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

Educators, reporters and editors from the Midwest will share insights on how they cover these issues and how to understand the true impact of agribusiness, both locally and globally.

Topics covered include crop insurance, farm bureaus and the political reach of agribusiness. Techniques covered include finding untold stories, evaluating sources and using data in your reporting.

To be considered for this workshop, please apply online  by 11 p.m. CST March 25, 2013 to the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting.

Application requirements include a 300-word essay on why you want to attend this workshop and what you intend to do with what you learn as well as:

• Resume
• Copies of three stories you have done
• Letter of support from a supervisor or editor
• Letter of commitment from newsroom to publish an acceptable collaborative project that will be produced after the workshop by participants.

Applicants will be selected and notified by mid-April with further details on travel, lodging and preparation for the work to follow.

If you have questions, please contact Pam Dempsey, executive director, Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting at (312) 970-0395 or pamelagdempsey@investigatemidwest.org

Click here to apply.