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When first campaigning for the IRE board, I said this organization should be welcoming and inclusive – a place where anyone can have a seat at the table. Two terms later, that’s even more important, as journalists face unprecedented threats to their work and lives. IRE must continue supporting its members in crucial ways – something only possible with thoughtful leadership.
Our mission to provide training, resources and a sense of community for investigative journalists is something I think about a lot as a manager at a local TV station, KXAN – where I lead a 12-person investigative team and collaborate daily with the newsroom and other departments – and educator at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. It’s been an honor for me to serve on IRE’s board the past four years, and I’d love to continue that commitment.
In the past two years, I’ve been board vice president, organizing IRE’s biannual member drive and chairing its member services committee. I led and helped pass affordability initiatives like a lower-cost early career membership discount and a retired member discount for IRE’s 50th anniversary.
As an out gay man, I launched the organization’s first-ever LGBTQ+ subcommittee, hosting listening sessions to better understand concerns and programming ideas from members in that community. I followed that with a listening session on disability, accessibility and inclusion – an important conversation, as we face obstacles in that space for the industry and as IRE soon modernizes its website and member management system.
I’ve overseen a renewed partnership for IRE’s online mentor platform and worked with a dedicated team to revamp the conference mentorship program. Hosting six member meetups in Texas since joining the board, I’ve worked with others to expand these events across the globe and online. I’ve served on the governance, diversity and training committees, the latter of which I was the first chair. I pushed for more free virtual training options – along with related video archives – and opportunities for local journalism, diversity, college students and press freedom.
I’ve heard member feedback about the need for more investigative training for newsroom leaders. That’s why, nearly three years ago, with a driven group of instructors, I launched and continue leading our “Managing Investigators” initiative, training and offering resources for nearly 300 editors and managers, so far, through a master class series, webinars and online community.
I’ve worked to improve diversity, equity and inclusion when recruiting members to the committees I lead. I’ve encouraged the board to include those points in its decisions, too. I’ve hosted LGBTQ+ networking sessions at our conferences, written for the IRE Journal about the board’s obligations to this community and others, and led the executive committee’s efforts to draft a public statement reaffirming IRE’s commitment to serving and supporting all members and “maintaining a safe, discrimination-free organization where everyone can learn and be supported professionally.” I truly believe that, and – whether it’s our financial future, member concerns or world-class training – I want to continue building on my service to solidify that for years to come.
Mc Nelly Torres, independent journalist, editor and mentor: I have worked with Josh Hinkle since he was first elected to the IRE board in 2021. Josh has helped create an inclusive and welcoming IRE. He led the way to build IRE’s first “Managing Investigators” initiative to train managers and aspiring managers, which has trained close to 300 journalists. At a time when the media and journalists are under attack, we need thoughtful leaders like Josh. He understands that IRE is nothing without active members and longtime members who dedicate their own time to ensure that IRE continues to be relevant and serves members during these challenging times. For this and more, I proudly nominate Josh as a candidate for the IRE Board.
Nicole Vap, Former IRE Board Member: I would like to nominate Josh Hinkle to serve another term on the IRE Board of Directors. In his time on the board, Josh has helped members find inclusion at IRE. He's shown his commitment to IRE's LGBTQ+ members by creating a subcommittee, listening sessions and in recruiting members to join committees or run for office. He's since broadened IRE's inclusion efforts to include better understand members with disabilities or those who face accessibility challenges. As a newsroom manager, Josh saw there was little programming targeting the unique issues facing television and digital leaders. He's helped wrangle very busy leaders in this space to commit themselves to training and mentoring members who are struggling to meet editorial demands while leading people in this volatile business. Under his leadership, this training now extends beyond the conferences with added training available online. On a personal note, I met Josh at IRE in the mentorship program. I am so proud of all he is accomplishing both in his career and at IRE. Be sure to sign up to mentor or find one. These are lifelong relationships that will help you long after you leave the conference.
Current Position
KXAN (NBC) – Austin, TX (2009-current)
St. Edward’s University – Austin, TX (2012-current)
Prior Experience
Work Experience
Education Experience
Other Journalism Experience (non-IRE)
IRE Experience
IRE Member (2013-current)
IRE Board of Directors (2021-current)
Committee Experience
Conference Experience
Other Workshops
IRE Awards
Other IRE Experience
Expertise
Investigative reporting/producing
Management/leadership
Broadcast journalism (television)
Local journalism
Podcasting
Multi-platform/digital reporting
Open records/public information
Collaborations/partnerships
Innovative storytelling
Teaching/mentoring/coaching
Solutions journalism
Related Links
Social Media
KXAN Investigates (manager/investigative reporter)
“Catalyst” Podcast (host/executive producer)
“State of Texas” Program (host/executive producer)
Recent Projects
Issues I would like to address as a board member:
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