Explore new stories in The IRE Journal online 

(Feb. 18, 2025) — Longtime IRE member Tom Koch is an accomplished journalist and author, an expert in mapping, data analysis, elder care, medical ethics and so much more. 

But in the 1980s, an unsafe work environment threatened to derail that promising career.

“They wanted to put me on permanent disability leave because I couldn't use their computers,” Koch said. “But the problem wasn’t me, it was the computers.” 

He successfully fought back, winning concessions that set the first standard for ergonomics within newsrooms in North America.

Read about Koch’s inspiring life, how he went on to cover the U.S. Olympics, wrote more than a dozen books, and how today he’s still publishing and helping fellow journalists cover public health and disability issues in a profile featured at the new digital home for The IRE Journal.

His story is just one of the features in the new version of The Journal, the official publication of Investigative Reporters and Editors, the largest professional journalist organization in the nation. The online publication includes the same in-depth stories and regular departments previously available in the print version, plus new audio and interactive features — including the latest IRE Radio Podcast episodes, recent newsletters and comprehensive content relevant to journalists today. 

IRE announced the new digital format in late 2024, designed to expand accessibility and provide members with a more dynamic, interactive experience.

Members can access the online magazine after logging in at ire.org with their regular login and password. The Journal is under the Resources tab on the homepage.

Check back for new stories published regularly. Here are a few in the works:

• A deep dive into each of this year’s Philip Meyer Journalism Award winners 
• In-depth analysis of IRE member survey data by leading academics
• A guide to FOIA under a second Trump administration 
• Behind the scenes with a grad school project that evolved into a multi-year investigation into the ethics of controversial brain research 
• And more! 

We want your feedback: If you have an idea for a story, send us a pitch! We welcome any critical and constructive feedback as we strive to improve The IRE Journal. Submit your pitch or general feedback via this Google form, or send us a note by email at editorial@ire.org.