Data in Local Newsrooms Training - Investigative Reporters & Editors

The Data In Local Newsrooms Training Program provides free data training to small and midsize newsrooms in the U.S. and Canada. This program is powered by the Google News Initiative.

What IRE Offers

By participating in the Data in Local Newsrooms Training, you will get access to the latest knowledge in the industry, putting your newsroom on the cutting edge. Here are a few things you can expect from this training:

Two consecutive days of hands-on data training, led by an IRE trainer, with modules focused on using Google Sheets, SQL and/or tools for extracting, cleaning and visualizing data.
One-year IRE memberships for up to 15 employees.
Follow-up consultation and mentoring from IRE trainers.
Scholarship opportunities to attend IRE’s national conferences.
Credits toward IRE data services.

2019 Application

**Applications for 2019-20 are now closed.**

Please check back regularly for updates on next year’s application.

Requirements

An editor, news director or equivalent must complete the application.
Selected newsrooms will need to provide a projector, laptops/computers for attendees.
Newsrooms must be able to commit to allowing a significant portion of the staff to attend the entire training.

Eligibility

Successful applicants will have a clear plan to encourage more data work in their newsroom, a commitment to send most of their staff to the training and specific ideas for data-powered journalism that this training could help them accomplish.

Newsrooms must be based in the U.S. or Canada and meet the criteria for a small to midsize news organization:

For newspapers, Sunday circulation (or largest circulation day) of 100,000 and below
For magazines, circulation of 100,000 and below
For broadcast, markets below the Top 20
For online-only organizations, sites with a local or regional audience

Applications will be reviewed by IRE staff. Google is not involved in the selection process.

Meet Your IRE Expert

Cody Winchester

Cody Winchester was a newspaper reporter, data specialist and web developer before joining IRE as a training director in 2017. He became tech lead in 2022.

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