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Submissions are now open for Lightning Talks to be featured at #NICAR23 in Nashville!
Lightning Talks, which take place on the Friday afternoon of the conference, are five-minute talks about a particular tool, skill or piece of advice learned from working on stories. The goal is to teach some practical tips in a fun and entertaining way.
The talks began in 2010 and quickly grew into one of the most popular sessions at IRE’s annual data journalism conference.
The pitch form is open until Feb. 5. After that, members will be able to vote for their favorite ideas, and the 10 talks with the most votes will earn slots at the conference in Nashville.
All conference attendees can pitch ideas, and we especially encourage women, journalists of color, those from historically marginalized communities, and folks from smaller organizations to submit talks. (If you’ve given a talk in recent years, we encourage you to take a year off to allow for new voices.)
Pitching and voting will be anonymous. In years past, a pitch would be displayed alongside the person who submitted it. In 2019, we saw that anonymity encouraged a more diverse group of people to submit pitches and bring more focus to the content of the talk in the voting process.
What makes a good Lightning Talks pitch? In the spirit of IRE’s conferences, try to focus on teaching your fellow journalists practical skills. Think of something you wish you had known when you started a project or a particular tool that helped you overcome a challenge.
The talks don’t have to be in-depth or super-advanced — remember you’ll only have five minutes, and yes, you will be timed!
If you have questions about Lightning Talks or the submission process, please email conference@ire.org.
The 2023 Lightning Talks are sponsored by Knight Foundation.
Signups are now open for the mentorship networking program at NICAR23 in Nashville.
If you’ll be joining us for the conference, you can sign up by filling out this form. If you can’t make it to Nashville this year but still want to find a mentor, please check out the IRE page at JournalismMentors.com, where you can set up a time to meet virtually with an IRE member mentor.
IRE will match mentors with mentees and arrange for them to meet at a breakfast during the conference. The NICAR23 mentorship breakfast — sponsored by the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute, University of Missouri — will be held from 7:30 - 8:45 a.m. on Friday, March 3, at the conference hotel.
Space is limited in this popular program, and the deadline to apply is midnight CT on Friday, Feb. 17. If the slots are filled before then, your application will be added to a waitlist.
Please also note that you must register for the conference by Feb. 20 in order to participate.
Help a friend, family member or colleague hone their reporting skills in 2023 with a 1-year IRE gift membership ($70).
Here’s how it works:
1. Fill out this form letting us know who you’re giving a membership to. If the recipient already has an IRE membership, your gift will renew their membership for one year.
2. Memberships will be processed within 1-2 business days of purchase. The recipient will receive an email letting them know they’ve received a gift membership and instructions on how to set-up and activate or renew their membership, along with the necessary coupon code.
Have a student journalist on your shopping list? For $25 you can give them a 1-year membership through our Student Sponsorship program. Fill out this form to get started.
If you have any questions about gift memberships or student sponsorships, please contact Amy Eaton, Director of Member Services, at amy@ire.org.
It’s time to gather your best stories of the year! The 2022 IRE Awards contest is now open for submissions, and we can’t wait to see what you’ve done. You may submit entries here.
Among the most prestigious in journalism, the IRE Awards recognize outstanding investigative reporting across all media, including print, TV, radio, and student work.
New for the 2022 contest — Two additional special categories for longform journalism in audio and video — no time or number of works limit!
Eligible entries must have been published or aired between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2021. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 13, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time.
For details on how to enter, go here. To view past winners, go here.
Investigative Reporters and Editors opens doors for investigative journalism.
While we serve more than 5,300 members of IRE, the nonprofit also works to advance investigative reporting standards in newsrooms around the world through numerous educational initiatives. Together, these efforts ultimately benefit society at large through a more informed public and greater accountability from forces of wealth and power.
The ways that IRE “opens doors” takes many forms. To close out 2022 with our end-of-year giving campaign, we will spotlight eight different IRE members who can speak to a different door that IRE helped open in their work as reporters and editors.
Your support will help IRE continue to open doors for investigative journalism. Please consider donating online at ire.org/donate or by texting “4IRE” to 41444.
Gunita Singh is a staff attorney for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press where she works on litigation, policy, and amicus work, primarily around state and federal freedom of information laws while also helping reporters and news organizations with records requests.
Opening Doors Video Testimonials - Gunita Singh by Gwen Ragno and Matt McCabe
“Working with IRE has been so meaningful, just knowing that we are getting those resources into the hands of investigative reporters who have such a pressing need to get information and records and documents from government agencies.”
- Gunita Singh
Tony Plohetski is an award-winning journalist whose work spans print, television and digital media. A veteran investigative reporter at the Austin American-Statesman and KVUE, he obtained surveillance footage from the Uvalde elementary school massacre that contradicted the official police narrative and proved failures in response to the gunman.
Opening Doors Video Testimonials - Tony Plohetski by Gwen Ragno and Matt McCabe
“Oftentimes, these are ongoing investigations or ongoing stories where you have to keep moving forward in the face of backlash (…) The most important things that I've gotten from IRE are just those resources and that level of support — people who can cheer you on during the course of your watchdog or investigative reporting.”
- Tony Plohetski
Alexandra Kanik is the data visualization editor for the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News. A longtime NICAR teacher, she is an exceptional educator and advocate for journalist training. Kanik brings numbers to life — and wants to help others do the same.
Opening Doors Video Testimonials - Alexandra Kanik by Gwen Ragno and Matt McCabe
"To really understand the nuance of code and how to work with data as it pertains to journalism, I had to go elsewhere; I had to go outside of my organization (…) I never would have been able to get there, to learn how to work with data had it not been for IRE.”
- Alexandra Kanik
Mc Nelly Torres is an editor at the Center for Public Integrity and the 2022 Gwen Ifill Award winner. She was the first Latina elected to IRE’s board of directors and frequently speaks at IRE conferences and training events. Catch up with her (if you can) for a selfie at one of IRE’s upcoming conferences!
Opening Doors Video Testimonials - Mc Nelly Torres by Gwen Ragno and Matt McCabe
“We all get together, we learn about each other and then we go home and we deploy that knowledge. And that creates really good investigative journalism.”
- Mc Nelly Torres
Matt Wynn was a student worker at IRE while attending the University of Missouri School of Journalism. He left the investigative team at USA Today to establish the Nebraska Journalism Trust and Flatwater Free Press in 2021. His first two reporting hires? Both IRE members and former student workers.
Opening Doors Video Testimonials - Matt Wynn by Gwen Ragno and Matt McCabe
"IRE is so vital to the highest calling of this industry. There is a lot of journalism that doesn’t matter and stuff that gets done in the name of journalism that doesn't matter. IRE almost uniquely trains people for the stuff that does."
- Matt Wynn
Zahira Torres is the editor for the ProPublica-Texas Tribune investigative unit, a first-of-its-kind collaboration to publish investigative reporting for and about Texas. Previously at the El Paso Times, she was the first Latina and second woman to serve as the newspaper’s editor in its more than 100-year history.
Opening Doors Video Testimonials - Zahira Torres by Gwen Ragno and Matt McCabe
"It's not just about checking a box, it's about making sure that our journalists are truly reflective of the communities they serve."
- Zahira Torres
Willoughby Mariano is an investigative reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she focuses on housing and criminal justice issues. She was president of the Asian American Journalists Association’s Atlanta chapter and chaired the national AAJA convention in 2019.
Opening Doors Video Testimonials - Willoughby Mariano by Gwen Ragno and Matt McCabe
"It is giving young investigative reporters, who look a little bit more like me – who are not white – the opportunity to not only learn the tools of the trade, but to not feel so lonely in the craft."
- Willoughby Mariano
Zaneta Lowe is an award-winning anchor and investigative journalist at News Channel 3 WREG-TV in Memphis. On top of her work mentoring colleagues in her own newsroom, she has mentored younger IRE members at conferences and currently serves on the regional planning committee for NICAR23.
Opening Doors Video Testimonials - Zaneta Lowe by Gwen Ragno and Matt McCabe
"Being a newsroom leader is second nature. It's something that I feel is part of my job, literally, to share information, share the knowledge that I gain, and to help younger reporters."
- Zaneta Lowe
Thanks to the IRE members featured in this end-of-year campaign. Thanks also to every single member of IRE for your important investigative work. Finally, thanks for your donation to open doors for investigative journalism. Your contribution will go toward supporting fellowships and educational programming that will ensure a brighter future for all.
Donations can be made at ire.org/donate or by texting “4IRE” to 41444.
IRE will be back in Orlando this coming summer and we can’t wait to see you! The 2023 IRE Conference will be held on June 22-25, 2023. Registration is now open and professional members can register at the early-bird rate of $325 until April 24, 2023. Student members can register at any time for $100. We’ll be at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld — sign up for the IRE23 updates newsletter to be notified when the discounted block becomes available to book.
IRE23 will not include virtual sessions. Our goal is to provide the best possible experience and we have found, based on attendee feedback, that a hybrid event does not meet the highest level of standards that IRE members have come to expect. We instead have significantly bolstered our affordable and accessible virtual training opportunities scheduled throughout the year.
Additionally, we're expanding and rebranding the DBEI Symposium, our all-virtual conference held in the fall, to IRE Access Fest. Access Fest will offer programming focused on diversity, belonging, equity and inclusion, and also provide trainings that you would see at a typical IRE or NICAR Conference. Check out DBEI21 and DBEI22 schedules for examples. Access Fest will be held on October 12-14, 2023 - more details coming soon!
We’d love to hear from you about what else you’d like to see. Fill this form out any time you have an idea for an event.
We'll be lining up a schedule for IRE23 packed with workshops, hands-on classes and panels that feature the best investigations of the year, and we want to hear from you! The form to share ideas is open and we can't wait to see all your great pitches. For questions, please email conference@ire.org.
If you need financial assistance to join us in Orlando, you can apply for one of our many fellowships. For questions, email Anna López at anna@ire.org.
Keep up to date with all things IRE23-related by signing up for the IRE23 newsletter.
IRE is keeping the health and safety of our members at the forefront as we plan the conference. IRE will continue to monitor CDC, local and state guidelines leading up to the conference. Vaccination will be required and we will update attendees on protocols as the conference gets closer.
IRE’s grant-funded, customized training program, Total Newsroom Training, is returning for its 10th year and applications are now open.
IRE’s experienced trainers will come to selected U.S.-based newsrooms either virtually or in person for two days of intense, in-house investigative training – at no cost. Spots in the program are limited and awarded on a competitive basis.
Preference will be given to newsrooms in rural areas and smaller cities, smaller newsrooms in large markets, and newsrooms founded and run by those coming from and serving historically marginalized communities. Training must be completed by September 2023.
Total Newsroom Training is meant to help small to medium-sized news organizations, and IRE customizes training based on the needs of the organization. These sessions can include web tools, background techniques, and hands-on data analysis training.
The program is designed to increase the ability of news organizations to provide watchdog and enterprise coverage for their communities and to produce work that can lead to change and improvements.
The newsroom must be committed to allowing a significant portion of its staff to attend the full two days of training and to tracking their progress after the training. The winning newsrooms will attend a webinar later in the year to showcase their work. The deadline to apply is December 9, 2022. Learn more about the program and how to apply.
Want to get more involved with IRE but aren't sure how? Consider volunteering your time as an IRE Awards screener.
As a screener, you’d be part of a team of journalists looking for the best investigative reporting in a single category, which means that you may have to read, listen to, or watch a couple dozen entries. It’s a bit of a time commitment, but most screeners find the process rewarding. A bonus: The majority of the work is done in January and early February when the weather is less-than-inviting in many parts of the world. Yes, that means we’re appealing to our international members as well.
Being a screener does not disqualify you from entering the awards. If you have questions, feel free to contact Barbara Rodriguez, the contest committee chair for the IRE Board of Directors (bcrodriguez@19thnews.org), or awards@ire.org.
If you're ready to toss your hat in the ring, please fill out this short form. We'll be in touch soon!
It's once again time to enter the Philip Meyer Journalism Award contest. Entries are now being accepted online, through Nov. 11.
Established in 2005, the award was created to honor Philip Meyer's pioneering efforts to utilize social science research methods to foster better journalism. The contest recognizes stories that incorporate survey research, probabilities, and other social science tools in creative ways. Three awards are given annually.
To learn more about the contest, go to the Philip Meyer Award FAQ page, or contact us at awards@ire.org.
The deadline for entries is November 11, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
The IRE Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship is a year-long program intended to prepare and support a journalist of color for a solid career in investigative reporting. The program also provides an opportunity for the fellow’s news outlets to benefit from the fellow’s investigative skill-building. An underlying goal of the program is to increase the range of backgrounds, experiences and interests within the field of investigative journalism, where diverse perspectives are critically important.
Sameea Kamal said her experience during the fellowship was "life-changing" and volunteered to answer questions that potential applicants may have.
Who are you and where are you based?
Sameea Kamal, California politics reporter at CalMatters.
When did you participate in IRE's Journalist of Color fellowship?
2020.
What project did you work on during the fellowship?
An investigation of Title IX under the Trump administration, published by The Center for Public Integrity in March 2021.
Why should journalists apply?
There are so many journalists of color who haven’t had access to trainings, mentors or simply the byline opportunities that this fellowship offers – or they haven’t been in a position where they could take advantage of those opportunities. The structure of the fellowship gives you the dedicated space, time and commitment from yourself, newsroom and mentor network to reach the next level in your career.
How was the fellowship helpful in your career as an investigative journalist?
This fellowship was transformative for me to transition back to reporting and writing that I hadn’t been able to do as much of since earlier in my career. It provided me the ability to take journalism trainings I may not have been able to prioritize financially on my own – as well as that commitment to using it for a specific story. My mentor network helped me with the many questions I had throughout the reporting process – from ideas for sources to more philosophical discussions about journalism ethics. As a reporter now focused on state government accountability, I use so much of what I learned nearly every day in ways big and small: being able to scrape a state government’s website, or the beat reporting skills developed through working on one project for a year.
If you have additional questions for Sameea about her experience, you can reach her on Twitter (@SameeaKamal).
Applicants are also welcome to contact IRE Director of Partnerships Anna López at anna@ire.org for more information about this fellowship and other fellowship opportunities available from IRE.
The application deadline is Oct. 6, 2022. To apply click here.
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