If you fill out the "Forgot Password" form but don't get an email to reset your password within 5-10 minutes, please email logistics@ire.org for assistance.
Although the IRE national conference has been postponed until late August, IRE will follow the same calendar as it has in recent years for board elections and the annual membership meeting.
Starting April 6, IRE will begin accepting applications for candidates for the IRE board of directors. This year seven of the board’s 13 seats are up for election. The initial filing period for candidates is April 6 – May 8. All candidates filing by this time will appear on the initial ballot when voting begins May 19. Information about each candidate will be posted online.
As is customary, a candidates forum will be held at 6 p.m. EDT on Friday, June 19 -- this year online via Zoom. Electronic online voting will be open until 5 p.m. EDT on Saturday, June 20. Results will be announced after the IRE annual membership meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. EDT on June 20, also via Zoom. Full details may be found on the IRE 2020 Board Election page.
As in the past, candidates may join the campaign after the initial filing period. However, voting will have already begun, which could diminish a late-filing candidate’s chances of being elected. Candidates filing after the initial deadline will have their materials posted online two business days after submitting all of the required information.
In addition to candidates for the board of directors, the ballot also will include candidates for two slots on IRE’s Contest Committee, which judges the IRE Awards. Those interested in judging will apply using the same procedure as IRE Board candidates and will be selected on the same ballot. Contest Committee candidates’ information will also be available on the IRE website, but they do not participate in the board candidates forum.
The IRE board of directors will hold its regularly scheduled meeting from 2-5 p.m. EDT on Thursday, June 18, via an online Zoom webinar. Members are welcome to attend virtually and may ask questions at the end of the meeting, as is customary.
In addition, newly elected board members will join the rest of the board for a brief reorganization meeting on Saturday evening, June 20, following the announcement of board election results. The only item of business for that meeting, which also is open to IRE members via Zoom, will be the election of officers.
The Hearst Foundations are contributing $50,000 to support IRE’s Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship.
The yearlong fellowship, which launched in 2019, is intended to prepare and support journalists 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. The fellow continues to work in the newsroom and carry the regular workload while also working on this investigative reporting project with a high level of support from IRE.
Hearst’s contribution will support funding for future fellowships, and applications will be available starting in October 2020. The fellowship is open to U.S journalists of color with at least three years of post-college work experience.
“Quality investigative reporting plays a critical role across the country,” said Hearst Foundations Executive Director Paul Dinovitz. “Helping journalists develop investigative skills has been IRE's mission from day one. Part of IRE’s work is diversifying newsrooms’ staffs to accurately portray the communities they cover. To that end, IRE recently launched the Journalists of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship. The Hearst Foundations are pleased to support IRE in this endeavor.”
CNN, Gray Television, ABC News and ESPN have committed financial support of the program within the last year. More news organizations are encouraged to support the fellowship and interested news organizations may contact Chris Vachon, IRE director of partnerships, at chris@ire.org.
More than $25,000 has been raised for the program from individuals in the last two years. To donate securely online, go here (type “JOC fellowship” in the “specify a fund” field).
“At IRE, we’re determined to do all that we can to help more journalists of color succeed as investigative journalists,” IRE Executive Director Doug Haddix said. “Readers and viewers across America benefit when more watchdog reporters reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of their communities.”
The 2020 fellows are Sameea Kamal of the Los Angeles Times, Josh McGhee of The Chicago Reporter and Monica Velez of The Fresno Bee. The 2019 fellow is Bracey Harris of the Hechinger Report. Harris’s investigation published in The Hechinger Report and The Clarion-Ledger in February 2020.
Learn more about IRE fellowships and scholarships here.
During the coronavirus crisis, IRE is offering a series of webinars and recorded trainings to help our members and all journalists in these unprecedented times.
The webinars are free and open to IRE members and non-member journalists, students and educators. IRE is committed to bringing all journalists the training they need to help cover the crisis and take care of themselves as they inform their communities. The webinars are provided through a generous sponsorship of the Inasmuch Foundation (formerly Excellence and Ethics in Journalism).
We will list the trainings here, along with details on how to join them live or view recordings after the events. This page will be continually updated as we confirm new events and add recordings of previous events.
You can also tell us what other types of training you’d like to see during these times by filling out our quick survey.
You are as important as the work
Speakers: Mar Cabra of OdiseIA and Acumen; Kim Brice of Grace & Grit; and Benét J. Wilson of The Points Guy and Aviation Queen LLC. Sisi Wei and Ryan Pitts of OpenNews and Denise Malan of IRE will moderate.
Watch: The recording can be viewed here. Closed captioning is available by clicking the CC button in the bottom right of the player and selecting “English CC.” Recorded June 26, 2020.
Description: Taking care of yourself is not a self-indulgence, it’s a necessity for doing your best work and sustaining the work that you are passionate about. During this time of enormous disruption and uncertainty, journalists are battling on multiple fronts: Keeping up with the two major stories COVID-19 and racial justice protests, while also fighting for change in their newsrooms and dealing with high levels of stress or even trauma from all of the above. Come to this session to press pause and reflect on how you’re coping with these situations. You’ll learn some practical tips to take better care of yourself, and to support your colleagues in doing so as well.
Resources: Tipsheet here.
Summer Means Sunlight: Investigative angles on education stories in the COVID-19 era
Speakers: Tawnell Hobbs of The Wall Street Journal; Jon Marcus of The Hechinger Report; and Krista Torralva of San Antonio Express-News. Emily Richmond of the Education Writers Association and Francisco Vara-Orta of IRE will moderate.
Watch: The recording can be viewed here. Closed captioning is available by clicking the CC button in the bottom right of the player and selecting “English CC.” Recorded June 25, 2020.
Description: The pandemic is causing an unprecedented disruption to the education of millions of students nationwide, with more questions than answers. Whether you are an education beat reporter or are interested in investigating schools, colleges or universities, what are the stories this summer amid COVID-19 you can be working on?
Come learn about some of the most pressing education issues to cover and what's ahead. And learn about key areas investigative journalists and beat reporters should be digging into before the new academic year begins: K-12 school district governance, education budgets, and oversight of colleges and universities. What records should you be requesting? What roadblocks may arise? Come with your questions!
This webinar is co-hosted by Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) and Education Writers Association (EWA).
Resources: Tipsheet here
How to create a more inclusive newsroom
Speakers: Maria Carrillo of the Tampa Bay Times; Julia B. Chan of KQED News, San Francisco; and Matt Thompson of Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting. Martin Reynolds of the Maynard Institute and Francisco Vara-Orta of IRE will moderate.
Watch: The recording can be viewed here. Closed captioning is available by clicking the CC button in the bottom right of the player and selecting “English CC.” Recorded June 4, 2020.
Description: Are you serious about making sure newsrooms and their work reflects the communities we cover? Especially as COVID-19 disproportionately affects historically marginalized people - and on the cusp of an election impacted by racism?
Earlier this year, the IRE Journal devoted an entire issue to diversity and inclusion in the investigative and data journalism space. It was spurred in part by a panel discussion at our 2019 national conference in Houston focused on helping retain journalists of color and others underrepresented in the field and which went viral on social media for its low attendance.
The IRE Journal issue's centerpiece resurfaced some of what was missed in that Houston conference panel, and now we're offering this webinar for journalists to come listen and ask questions of experts on what it's really like for people working to keep journalism relevant in a changing nation by pushing for more inclusive newsrooms to meet the needs of their audiences and responsibilities as watchdogs.
Resources: Tipsheet here.
Investigating the stimulus
Speakers: Philip Mattera, Good Jobs First; Ben Popken, NBC News; Cheryl W. Thompson, NPR
Watch: The recording can be viewed here. Closed captioning is available by clicking the CC button in the bottom right of the player and selecting “English CC.” Recorded May 21, 2020.
Description: The CARES Act is a $2 trillion stimulus bill with aid for workers and businesses, but the government hasn't released many details about which businesses are receiving loans. Learn how reporters and watchdog organizations are tracking the dollars, and how their work can help you cover stimulus spending in your own community
Resources: Tipsheet here.
Sourcing during the time of COVID
Speakers: Bethany Barnes, Tampa Bay Times; Nicole Carr, WSB-Atlanta; Laura Morel, Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting; Beena Raghavendran, ProPublica
Watch: The recording can be viewed here. Closed captioning is available by clicking the CC button in the bottom right of the player and selecting “English CC.” Recorded May 19, 2020.
Description: When you can't take the best sourcing advice (get out of the office, meet with people in person, etc), how do you find and cultivate sources? Join this webinar to learn unique and innovative ways to get ahold of sources and convince them to talk.
Resources: Tipsheet here
IRE chat: Kat McGrory on how politics can influence COVID-19 data
Speakers: Kat McGrory, deputy investigations editor at the Tampa Bay Times; interview conducted by IRE training director Cody Winchester
Watch: The recording can be viewed here. Closed captioning is available by clicking the CC button in the bottom right of the player and selecting “English CC.” Recorded May 13, 2020.
Description: For decades, Florida medical examiners have released a list of statewide deaths, including recent deaths attributed to the COVID-19 virus. After the Tampa Bay Times wrote a story pointing out that the medical examiners' list was about 10 percent larger than the list touted by the state department of health, which uses a different method to tally COVID-19 deaths, the public was blocked from seeing the medical examiners' list -- a longstanding public record. Listen to this interview to hear what happened next and pick up some tips on navigating the politics of this data in your market.
Behind the story: Tracking COVID-19 in nursing homes
Speakers: Tyler Dukes of WRAL; Emily Featherston of WECT; Nick Ochsner of WBTV; Jordan Schrader of the News & Observer; Lucille Sherman of the News & Observer; and Frank Taylor of Carolina Public Press
Watch: The recording can be viewed here. Closed captioning is available by clicking the CC button in the bottom right of the player and selecting “English CC.” Recorded May 12, 2020.
Description: As the coronavirus tears through nursing homes in North Carolina, state officials have refused to identify facilities with outbreaks. Reporters from six local news organizations teamed up to challenge this policy and investigate the situation. Hear from the reporting team about what made the collaboration work and pick up some tips on pursuing a similar investigation in your market.
Resources: Tipsheet here.
Behind the story: Government accountability
Speakers: Willoughby Mariano, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution; Aneri Pattani, Spotlight PA; Steven Rich, The Washington Post
Watch: The recording can be viewed here. Closed captioning is available by clicking the CC button in the bottom right of the player and selecting “English CC.” Recorded May 7, 2020.
Description: Learn how to hold public officials accountable from journalists who are doing it in their COVID-19 reporting. We'll cover story strategies that show how past budget cuts are affecting reopening efforts in Pennsylvania, how published data from Georgia's Department of Public Health is causing confusion and how you can use data compiled by The Washington Post to find public companies who have reported receiving money from the Paycheck Protection Program.
Resources: Tipsheet here.
For students: How to best prepare for summer and beyond with or without an internship amid COVID-19
Speakers: Norma Guerra Gaier, University of Texas; Linda Shockley, Dow Jones News Fund; Chip Mahaney, The E.W. Scripps Co.
Watch: The recording of the video can be viewed here. Closed captioning is available by clicking the CC button in the bottom right of the player and selecting “English CC.” Recorded May 1, 2020.
Description: By now, students would be finalizing plans for a summer internship and looking forward to getting into their first newsroom. But due to COVID-19 concerns, students are instead seeing internship opportunities dry up altogether, or will have a very different experience likely having to work remote. Learn from experts on how to make the most out of this summer to keep you on the journalism career-bound track.
Resources: Tipsheet here.
So you manage a remote team now
Speakers: Kate Howard, the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting; Mark Rochester, Type Investigations; and Liz Roldan, CBS Miami. Audrey Cooper of the San Francisco Chronicle will moderate the panel.
Watch: The recording can be viewed here. Closed captioning is available by clicking the CC button in the bottom right of the player and selecting “English CC.” Recorded April 29, 2020.
Description: With many journalists working from home, newsroom managers are having to adapt to new workflows while supervising remote teams. Learn some tips on handling the transition from folks who managed remote teams before the pandemic -- and from folks like you who are learning as they go.
Resources: View the tipsheet here.
Behind the story: Covering populations vulnerable to COVID-19
Speakers: Keri Blakinger, The Marshall Project; Samah Assad, CBS2 Chicago; Nicole Foy, Idaho Statesman; and Trisha Thadani, San Francisco Chronicle.
Watch: The recording can be viewed here. Closed captioning is available by clicking the CC button in the bottom right of the player and selecting "English CC." Recorded April 27, 2020.
Description: Amid all the story angles of COVID-19, those marginalized in our nation's history likely could be so again — as data already shows them disproportionately affected by the virus. Learn from journalists who are covering some of the country's most vulnerable populations and how you can do so as well. We'll discuss covering communities of color, the elderly, immigrants and the undocumented, as well as those in prison and jail and others who work in those facilities.
Resources: Tipsheet here and slides here.
Investigating higher ed amid COVID-19
Speakers: Elizabeth Brixey, Missouri School of Journalism; Michael Vasquez, Chronicle of Higher Education; Shera Avi-Yonah, The Harvard Crimson; and Mike Hiestand, SPLC's senior legal counsel. Hosted by David Herzog, IRE & Missouri School of Journalism; Sarah Hutchins, IRE; Denise Malan, IRE.
Watch: The recording can be viewed here. Closed captioning is available by clicking the CC button in the bottom right of the player and selecting "English CC." Recorded April 22, 2020.
Description: Student journalists can dig deep when covering their own campuses, especially in the wake of COVID-19. Learn how to investigate higher education with a focus on essential data and documents. Also, hear about higher ed stories that can be done in any newsroom. This webinar was part of the IRE-Mizzou Watchdog Series, a monthly seminar in partnership with the Missouri School of Journalism.
Resources: View the tipsheet here.
Covering job losses and economic fallout from coronavirus
Speakers: Paul Overberg, The Wall Street Journal; Keith Taylor, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50
Watch: The recording can be viewed here. Closed captioning is available by clicking the CC button in the bottom right of the player and selecting "English CC." Recorded April 15, 2020.
Description: The economic toll from the coronavirus pandemic is hard to fathom. This session will cover finding data to quantify and dig into the economic fallout, as well as finding the human stories to illustrate the staggering toll. Panelists will show how to find and use economic data from the St. Louis Fed, how to dig into WARN reports of layoffs in your state, and crowdsourcing to find human sources, especially among vulnerable populations.
Resources: View the tipsheet here.
Fact-checking coronavirus stories
Co-hosted with Society of Professional Journalists
Speakers: Rachana Pradhan, Kaiser Health News; Samantha Sunne, independent journalist; Cristina Tardáguila, International Fact Checking Network; Claire Wardle, First Draft News
Watch: The recording can be viewed here. Closed captioning is available by clicking the CC button in the bottom right of the player and selecting "English CC." Recorded April 9, 2020.
Description: The coronavirus pandemic has created a steady stream of misinformation on social media, questionable websites and from political leaders across the globe. Learn from fact-checking and health reporting pros on how to find and verify facts, track hoaxes and the spread of misinformation, and ultimately bring your audiences the high-quality, fact-based reporting they need.
Resources: View the tipsheet here.
IRE Chat: Janine Zacharia on covering disinformation
Speakers: Janine Zacharia, journalist and lecturer at Stanford University; interview conducted by IRE training director Cody Winchester.
Watch: The recording can be viewed here. Closed captioning is available by clicking the CC button in the bottom right of the player and selecting "English CC." Recorded April 6, 2020.
Description: Zacharia discusses the recommendations in her new report, written with Stanford colleague Andrew Grotto, on how journalists can report on disinformation and propaganda responsibly. The 10-point playbook includes recommendations for newsrooms on developing social media guidelines, protocols for determining the origin of viral content and more.
Finding COVID-19 data and responsible context
Co-hosted with Reynolds Journalism Institute
Speakers: Caroline Chen, ProPublica; Armand Emamdjomeh, The Washington Post; Jennifer LaFleur, American University/The Investigative Reporting Workshop; and Cheryl Phillips of Big Local News at Stanford University. Hosted by Kat Duncan of Reynolds Journalism Institute and Denise Malan of IRE.
Watch: The recording can be viewed here. Closed captioning is available by clicking the CC button in the bottom right of the player. Recorded April 3.
Description: Panelists will address where journalists can find accurate data about COVID-19, share advice for using the data within larger context responsibly and ways to deliver that information to communities in easily understandable formats for the greatest impact.
Resources: View the tipsheet here.
Fighting for open records during the COVID-19 crisis
Co-hosted with Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
Speakers: Adam Marshall and Gunita Singh, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press; Jason Leopold, BuzzFeed News; hosted by Denise Malan of IRE
Watch: The recording can be viewed here. Closed captioning is available by clicking the CC button in the bottom right of the player and selecting "English CC." Recorded April 1.
Description: Panelists will discuss specific records to ask for to investigate coronavirus response at all levels of government, and resources to help push back against agencies that say they can't fill requests during this crisis. Bring your questions.
This webinar is co-hosted by IRE and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, which is gathering and continually updating legal resources for reporters covering the crisis here: https://www.rcfp.org/covid-19-resource/.
Resources: View the tipsheet with tips and resources mentioned on the call, plus answers to additional questions
TV and radio broadcasting from home
Co-hosted with RTDNA
Speakers: Eric Flack, investigative reporter at WUSA9 Washington; Danielle Leigh, investigative reporter at ABC7 New York/WABC; and Lee Zurik, director of investigations for Gray Television and chief investigative reporter at WVUE in New Orleans. Hosted by Cindy Galli, chief of investigative projects for ABC News and Denise Malan, deputy executive director of IRE
Watch: The recording can be viewed here. Closed captioning is available by clicking the CC button in the bottom right of the player and selecting "English CC." Recorded March 28, 2020.
Description: Step inside the living rooms of veteran local TV and radio investigative reporters to see how they've adapted to "work from home." So how do you do it? How are we all broadcasting from home? What do you need gear-wise? What are best practices for Skype interviews? How do you make TV or radio without a studio? Can you actually create a green screen in your apartment? (Hint: yes, we've done it). Join IRE and RTDNA members for an informal chat as we all swap ideas and navigate a new normal together.
Resources: View the tipsheet with all the apps, tools and tips mentioned in the webinar here
How journalists can fight stress from covering COVID-19
Speakers: Al Tompkins of Poynter and Sidney Tompkins, licensed psychotherapist; hosted by IRE Executive Director Doug Haddix
Watch: The recording can be viewed here. Closed captioning is available by clicking the CC button in the bottom right of the player and selecting "English CC." Recorded March 25, 2020.
Description: Al Tompkins of Poynter and Sidney Tompkins, a licensed psychotherapist, have been working with newsrooms to help journalists manage traumatic stress. Now, with nonstop coverage of the coronavirus spread, self-quarantines and economic fallout, journalists are facing an unprecedented amount of stress. Al and Sidney will give a short presentation and then talk with attendees about the challenges they face and strategies to cope.
Other resources mentioned during the webinar: Poynter post about taking care of yourself while covering coronavirus, by Al and Sidney Tompkins. Poynter post including links to articles about avoiding weight gain while working from home.
IRE Chat: Getting the most out of interviewing from home
Speakers: Fernanda Santos, former New York Times journalist and professor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University; interview conducted by IRE Editorial Director Madison Fleck.
Watch: The recording can be viewed here. Closed captioning is available by clicking the CC button in the bottom right of the player and selecting "English CC." Recorded March 24, 2020.
Description: Fernanda Santos has been working through workarounds for interviewing with her journalism students at Arizona State University. She shares her tips on how to still get the most out of interviews and how to get to know sources, even when reporting virtually.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the #IRE20 national conference has been rescheduled for Aug. 27-30. The conference will be held in the same location: the Gaylord National hotel in National Harbor, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C.
Government bans on large gatherings and uncertainty about travel led IRE to delay the conference, which had been set for June 18-21. By late August, we hope that our gathering can take place, bringing together investigative journalists eager to learn from one another.
“We appreciate your understanding and support of IRE and our shared mission during these tumultuous times,” IRE Executive Director Doug Haddix said. “Together, we’ll persevere through this pandemic.”
For those who already have signed up for the conference, your registration will automatically transfer to the August event. If you cannot attend in August, you may cancel your registration with no fees by emailing logistics@ire.org.
The nightly hotel room rate and resort fee will stay the same for the new dates. All reservations for June will be canceled, and any deposits paid will be refunded to your method of payment on file within 7-10 business days. A new link for reservations for August will be available soon.
Please feel free to reach out with questions or concerns: info@ire.org.
If you’d like to receive updates on #IRE20 as we adjust plans, please sign up for our 2020 IRE Conference email list.
IRE Watchdog Workshops scheduled this spring in Miami, Pittsburgh and Salt Lake City will be postponed because of the rapidly shifting landscape involving coronavirus.
Workshop registration fees will be refunded for those who already have registered. IRE will work with its workshop hosts to reschedule the training events.
“There’s too much uncertainty about travel and the spread of COVID-19 for us to move forward with these workshops,” IRE Executive Director Doug Haddix said. “We expect to have more information in coming weeks that will help us assess other IRE events such as data journalism boot camps.”
Plans continue for the IRE national conference June 18-21 in National Harbor, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. The health of our members remains our paramount concern.
At this point, we expect the conference to proceed as scheduled.
“With three months remaining before the kickoff of #IRE20, it’s too early to make any decision about changing plans for the conference,” Haddix said.
In coming weeks, IRE will closely track developments connected to COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is working with state and local governments to implement aggressive measures to prevent the spread of this new coronavirus. The CDC has a COVID-19 page online with full details. The Share Facts, Not Fear page is especially helpful.
IRE will provide updates as events warrant. Subscribe to our special IRE20 email list to get updates on the conference as they’re announced.
A second NICAR20 attendee has received a presumptively positive test result for the COVID-19 virus, IRE learned today (March 16). The attendee feels better and expects a full recovery.
The attendee traveled from inside the United States to New Orleans for the conference. They arrived Wednesday evening (March 4) and left Monday (March 9). The attendee stayed at the conference hotel but did not use the pool or fitness center. IRE has sent separate notification to people who participated in a pre-registration hands-on data class with the individual.
On Saturday (March 7), the attendee developed a persistent cough, shortness of breath and nasal congestion. The attendee saw a doctor on Tuesday morning (March 10) and received a diagnosis of pneumonia. On Thursday (March 12), the attendee received a positive test result for the novel coronavirus. The attendee was told that the Centers for Disease Control would contact IRE. When it was clear that had not happened, the attendee reached out directly to IRE on Monday afternoon (March 16).
Since the COVID-19 diagnosis, the attendee’s state health department has notified anyone they had close contact with during the conference. Based on the onset of symptoms, the attendee could have contracted the virus before or during the conference. Symptoms can appear within two to 14 days of exposure, and in some cases do not appear at all, according to the CDC.
The attendee has asked to remain private. To protect those privacy rights, IRE will not release the person’s conference schedule or cross-check it against other attendee schedules. In addition, IRE doesn’t want to give anyone a false sense of security. Given what we’ve all learned recently about COVID-19, it seems likely that far more people across the country have been infected with it than any of us realized. For those of us who traveled through airports, sat on planes and interacted with lots of people before, during and after the NICAR conference, there’s a chance that we encountered someone along the way who was carrying the novel coronavirus.
If you have concerns or questions about your own health, the CDC recommends that you contact your medical provider, explain the situation and seek professional medical advice.
The first attendee with a presumptive positive test for COVID-19 is still awaiting word from the CDC on whether their result has been confirmed.
Please see our FAQs for further information and guidance.
IRE Watchdog Workshops scheduled this spring in Miami, Pittsburgh and Salt Lake City will be postponed because of the rapidly shifting landscape involving coronavirus.
Workshop registration fees will be refunded for those who already have registered. IRE will work with its workshop hosts to reschedule the training events.
“There’s too much uncertainty about travel and the spread of COVID-19 for us to move forward with these workshops,” IRE Executive Director Doug Haddix said. “We expect to have more information in coming weeks that will help us assess other IRE events such as data journalism boot camps.”
Plans continue for the IRE national conference June 18-21 in National Harbor, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. The health of our members remains our paramount concern.
At this point, we expect the conference to proceed as scheduled.
“With three months remaining before the kickoff of #IRE20, it’s too early to make any decision about changing plans for the conference,” Haddix said.
In coming weeks, IRE will closely track developments connected to COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is working with state and local governments to implement aggressive measures to prevent the spread of this new coronavirus. The CDC has a COVID-19 page online with full details. The Share Facts, Not Fear page is especially helpful.
IRE will provide updates as events warrant. Subscribe to our special IRE20 email list to get updates on the conference as they’re announced.
The 14-day period of self-isolation due to the novel coronavirus has ended for the two #NICAR20 attendees who tested positive for COVID-19, as well as for IRE staff.
The first attendee who reported a presumptively positive test still has not heard from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The attendee has fully recovered and did not need any medical attention or medicine, including over-the-counter drugs, at any point since the test result. The attendee's spouse tested negative and continues to show no symptoms. The state public health department released the attendee last week from self-quarantine, and the attendee was reunited with their family Sunday night.
The second attendee also recovered at home and has gone back to work (remotely).
IRE staff also have been cleared from their voluntary self-isolation, which was taken as a safety precaution. Five IRE staff members were tested for COVID-19 at the University of Missouri, where IRE is based. All tests came back negative. Other IRE staff members, who live in six other states, had no symptoms and were unable to be tested.
In addition, two University of Missouri professors and 25 Mizzou students who attended the New Orleans conference also were tested for the novel coronavirus. All tested negative.
To IRE’s knowledge, no other #NICAR20 attendee has tested positive for COVID-19. As of today (March 23), IRE has not been contacted by the CDC or any state health department with further information or instructions connected to the coronavirus pandemic.
A second NICAR20 attendee has received a presumptively positive test result for the COVID-19 virus, IRE learned today (March 16). The attendee feels better and expects a full recovery.
The attendee traveled from inside the United States to New Orleans for the conference. They arrived Wednesday evening (March 4) and left Monday (March 9). The attendee stayed at the conference hotel but did not use the pool or fitness center. IRE has sent separate notification to people who participated in a pre-registration hands-on data class with the individual.
On Saturday (March 7), the attendee developed a persistent cough, shortness of breath and nasal congestion. The attendee saw a doctor on Tuesday morning (March 10) and received a diagnosis of pneumonia. On Thursday (March 12), the attendee received a positive test result for the novel coronavirus. The attendee was told that the Centers for Disease Control would contact IRE. When it was clear that had not happened, the attendee reached out directly to IRE on Monday afternoon (March 16).
Since the COVID-19 diagnosis, the attendee’s state health department has notified anyone they had close contact with during the conference. Based on the onset of symptoms, the attendee could have contracted the virus before or during the conference. Symptoms can appear within two to 14 days of exposure, and in some cases do not appear at all, according to the CDC.
The attendee has asked to remain private. To protect those privacy rights, IRE will not release the person’s conference schedule or cross-check it against other attendee schedules. In addition, IRE doesn’t want to give anyone a false sense of security. Given what we’ve all learned recently about COVID-19, it seems likely that far more people across the country have been infected with it than any of us realized. For those of us who traveled through airports, sat on planes and interacted with lots of people before, during and after the NICAR conference, there’s a chance that we encountered someone along the way who was carrying the novel coronavirus.
If you have concerns or questions about your own health, the CDC recommends that you contact your medical provider, explain the situation and seek professional medical advice.
The first attendee with a presumptive positive test for COVID-19 is still awaiting word from the CDC on whether their result has been confirmed.
Please see our FAQs for further information and guidance.
The spouse of the NICAR20 attendee with a presumptively positive COVID-19 test result has tested negative for the novel coronavirus.
The attendee is still awaiting word from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on whether the initial test result has been verified at the federal level. That process can take up to a week. The attendee had the test performed on Monday (March 9) and received the presumptive positive result the next day. The test was then sent to CDC for confirmation.
The attendee is feeling fine with minor symptoms similar to a head cold. The spouse did not attend NICAR20 or travel to New Orleans.
A person who attended the NICAR20 conference in New Orleans last week tested presumptively positive March 10 with COVID-19.
This attendee has mild symptoms and is expected to make a full recovery. They are self-quarantining at home for 14 days, as recommended by health professionals.
The test has been sent to the Centers for Disease Control for confirmation. Until the test result is confirmed by the CDC, which can take up to a week, it is considered a presumptive positive. IRE is notifying conference attendees now so that individuals can make their own decisions on how best to proceed.
The attendee traveled from within the United States to the conference in New Orleans and was present from Thursday (March 5) until Saturday afternoon (March 7). Based on the onset of the limited symptoms, they could have contracted the virus either before, during or after the conference. Symptoms can appear within two to 14 days of exposure, and in some cases do not appear at all.
The attendee has been reaching out today to people they had close contact with during the conference. In addition, IRE is notifying individuals who participated in a pre-registered hands-on class with the attendee.
IRE has consulted with the CDC for guidance. The CDC recommends conference attendees contact their health care provider to let them know that they attended a large gathering with someone who has a laboratory-positive test for COVID-19. Based on your health history and whether you have any symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough or shortness of breath), your doctor may want to see you and/or conduct a coronavirus test. Protocols and testing availability vary from state to state.
The CDC also suggests checking with your local and state health officials and employer for guidance on whether you should work from home or take other measures to limit contact with others. If you develop a fever, cough or shortness of breath, please contact your health care provider immediately.
If you do become ill, please contact IRE so that we can notify public health officials and other attendees as necessary. Please email IRE Executive Director Doug Haddix (doug@ire.org). IRE will respect your privacy.
For further information, the CDC recommends this particular guidance page as well as the more general COVID-19 page online.
IRE will send further updates as warranted. For questions, please email info@ire.org.
In the meantime, we are starting an FAQ section here. It will be updated as other questions or issues arise.
These FAQs will be updated frequently as more information is available
If I attended NICAR20, should I self-quarantine? Should my family self-quarantine?
If you have concerns or questions about your own health or your family’s health, the CDC recommends that you contact your medical provider, explain the situation and seek professional medical advice. For further information about symptoms and a host of other related issues, the CDC recommends this particular guidance page as well as the more general COVID-19 page online.
Will IRE report any other presumptive positive COVID-19 test results among attendees?
IRE will notify attendees and the public if the organization learns of any other presumptive positive cases of COVID-19. As of now, IRE is aware of one case that has tested presumptive positive and is awaiting final determination by the CDC, which can take up to a week. If you become ill, please contact IRE Executive Director Doug Haddix (doug@ire.org) so that we can notify public health officials and other attendees. IRE will respect your privacy.
When did IRE know about the presumptively positive test, and what steps did staff take?
IRE was notified by the individual late Tuesday afternoon (March 10). Upon learning of the case and discussing it directly with the individual involved, Executive Director Doug Haddix notified the IRE Board of Directors at 6:30 p.m. EDT. IRE staff quickly convened in a conference call to come up with a communication plan for attendees and the whole IRE community. Staff worked with public health officials, including the CDC, to gather accurate guidance for attendees. It took more than 90 minutes to connect with a representative of the CDC who could offer specific guidance and instruction for IRE. About 8:30 p.m. EDT, a detailed email was sent to conference attendees and others present for NICAR20. IRE also posted a public statement on its website, and tweeted out a detailed thread about the situation. Those who participated in a pre-registration, hands-on class with the attendee were also notified by IRE staff via email Tuesday evening. IRE is continuing to communicate updates and information at ire.org/coronavirus and on social media.
How is IRE staff operating in the wake of the news?
On Tuesday evening, all IRE full-time staff and part-time student employees were instructed to work from home, practice social distancing and monitor their own health until further guidance. Most IRE employees work remotely and live in various locations across the United States. Four IRE full-time staff work at IRE headquarters at the Missouri School of Journalism. IRE has been in close communication with the University of Missouri, which issued a notification to the campus community and agreed with IRE’s decision to have full-time and student employees work from home until further notice.
Will IRE release the list of sessions, classes and social events attended by the person with the presumably positive coronavirus test?
No. NICAR20 attendees attended numerous sessions, classes and receptions, in addition to having conversations in hallways, at restaurants and during other social interactions. Having a precise calendar of the attendee’s movements would not provide other attendees with any sense of whether they actually had close contact with the person. In addition, releasing someone’s conference itinerary could make it possible to identify the individual. So, to maintain the individual’s right to privacy, particularly involving a medical issue, IRE has decided not to provide a detailed schedule for one attendee or answer inquiries about a particular session, class or event — with one exception. Those who participated in a pre-registration, hands-on class with the attendee have been notified by IRE. The attendee has reached out directly to everyone else they had close contact with during the conference. Another reason we're not releasing the person's schedule or cross-checking it against other attendee schedules is because we don't want to give anyone a false sense of security. Given what we've all learned recently about COVID-19, it seems likely that far more people across the country have been infected with it than any of us realized. For those of us who traveled through airports, sat on planes and interacted with lots of people before, during and after the NICAR conference, there's a chance that we encountered someone along the way who was carrying the novel coronavirus. If you have concerns or questions about your own health, the CDC recommends that you contact your medical provider, explain the situation and seek professional medical advice.
Can IRE say what city or part of the country the individual traveled from?
No. To protect the individual’s privacy, IRE will not provide the specific location from which the person traveled. The attendee did travel to New Orleans from within the U.S.
Did the individual stay at the conference hotel?
Yes, but did not use the gym or the pool.
Is IRE helping the individual reach out to others who had direct contact?
Yes. IRE remains in close contact with the individual, who already has reached out to people with whom they’ve had close contact. IRE has notified those who participated in a pre-registration, hands-on class with the attendee.
If I don't receive an email about shared workshop attendance, does that confirm I was not in a paid workshop with the individual? Can you let me know which paid workshop this person attended?
All attendees in the pre-registered hands-on workshop the individual participated in were notified via email Tuesday night. If you did not receive an email specifically about this class, you did not attend the workshop with the individual. (This email was separate from the email sent to all conference attendees about the presumptive positive test.)
Why didn’t IRE cancel the conference before it began?
Shortly before the start of NICAR20 on March 5, IRE assessed the situation and decided to proceed with the New Orleans conference as planned. Government and health authorities in New Orleans, Louisiana and the federal government had not issued any advisories about potentially canceling conferences or limits to travel. No cases of COVID-19 had been reported in Louisiana when the conference began. Prior to the conference, IRE told attendees about safety and hygiene protocols including hand-washing and the availability of hand sanitizer and computer wipes.
What is happening with IRE trainings in March and April?
All IRE training events in March and April have been postponed. Staff made the decision to postpone spring Watchdog Workshops before learning of the COVID-19 case. Registration fees will be refunded for those who already have signed up for a training. IRE staff are contacting those registered for postponed events and will update members as trainings are rescheduled.
What’s the status of the IRE conference in June?
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the #IRE20 national conference has been rescheduled for Aug. 27-30. The conference will be held in the same location: the Gaylord National hotel in National Harbor, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. Previously, the conference had been set for June 18-21.
By Phil Williams, WTVF-Nashville
In my mind, Don Bolles had always been a hero of journalism — a reporter who stood up against intimidation and eventually paid the price with his life.
But in recently listening to the podcast, “Rediscovering: Don Bolles, a murdered journalist,” the late Arizona Republic journalist became more than a legendary figure.
Recordings of his voice revealed Bolles to be a real human being, one who struggled to nail down a story that he believed to be immensely important to his state. It was a story that sparked efforts to intimidate him and, understandably, led to his own intense fears and suspicions about the potential source of the next threat.
Yet, he persevered.
In 2017, when I served on the IRE Board, we created the Don Bolles Medal to memorialize the legacy of one of IRE’s earliest members.
Our goal was also, at a time when journalism is increasingly under attack, to recognize the heroes of our day and send a message that we all stand together.
The first recipient, awarded posthumously, was Mexican journalist Miroslava Breach Velducea, who was gunned down in retaliation for her efforts to exposed organized crime and corruption in her own country.
In 2018, the Don Bolles Medal went to Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who were imprisoned in Myanmar for their reporting on human rights abuses in the place they called home.
Last year, IRE recognized Turkish journalist Pelin Ünker, who had been threatened with prison for truthfully reporting on the offshore business dealings of key government officials.
Now, once again, we are pondering this important question:
According to the guidelines for the Don Bolles Medal, the recipients must be “investigative journalists.” Not activists. Not opinion writers. But reporters who are out in the trenches attempting to dig up truths that someone else would like to keep hidden.
In addition, the recipients must have “exhibited extraordinary courage in standing up against intimidation or efforts to suppress the truth about matters of public importance.” That, for sure, means death threats, but it can also be other forms of intimidation.
Do you know someone who has faced harassment lawsuits in an effort to thwart legitimate investigations? Or perhaps someone who has faced intense online harassment in retaliation for important investigative reporting? Or efforts by high public officials to stir up public ire against investigative journalists? Or the use of private investigators as a form of intimidation?
Who is that person or persons who best exemplify the legacy of Don Bolles?
IRE needs your help.
By Phil Williams, WTVF-Nashville
In my mind, Don Bolles had always been a hero of journalism — a reporter who stood up against intimidation and eventually paid the price with his life.
But in recently listening to the podcast, "Rediscovering: Don Bolles, a murdered journalist," the late Arizona Republic journalist became more than a legendary figure.
Recordings of his voice revealed Bolles to be a real human being, one who struggled to nail down a story that he believed to be immensely important to his state. It was a story that sparked efforts to intimidate him and, understandably, led to his own intense fears and suspicions about the potential source of the next threat.
Yet, he persevered.
In 2017, when I served on the IRE Board, we created the Don Bolles Medal to memorialize the legacy of one of IRE's earliest members.
Our goal was also, at a time when journalism is increasingly under attack, to recognize the heroes of our day and send a message that we all stand together.
The first recipient, awarded posthumously, was Mexican journalist Miroslava Breach Velducea, who was gunned down in retaliation for her efforts to exposed organized crime and corruption in her own country.
In 2018, the Don Bolles Medal went to Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who were imprisoned in Myanmar for their reporting on human rights abuses in the place they called home.
Last year, IRE recognized Turkish journalist Pelin Ünker, who had been threatened with prison for truthfully reporting on the offshore business dealings of key government officials.
Now, once again, we are pondering this important question:
Who is the Don Bolles among us?
According to the guidelines for the Don Bolles Medal, the recipients must be "investigative journalists." Not activists. Not opinion writers. But reporters who are out in the trenches attempting to dig up truths that someone else would like to keep hidden.
In addition, the recipients must have "exhibited extraordinary courage in standing up against intimidation or efforts to suppress the truth about matters of public importance." That, for sure, means death threats, but it can also be other forms of intimidation.
Do you know someone who has faced harassment lawsuits in an effort to thwart legitimate investigations? Or perhaps someone who has faced intense online harassment in retaliation for important investigative reporting? Or efforts by high public officials to stir up public ire against investigative journalists? Or the use of private investigators as a form of intimidation?
Who is that person or persons who best exemplify the legacy of Don Bolles?
IRE needs your help.
Please click here to submit your nomination by April 26 for those journalists who deserve consideration.
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