IRE announces new membership category, price change

IRE is adding a new membership category to benefit early-career journalists beginning this summer.

Beginning July 1, early-career journalists can join IRE for $50/year. Along with paying less in membership dues, these members will also have lower registration fees for some events. This category is open to journalists who have five years of experience or fewer.

The IRE Board voted unanimously to create this new pricing structure at its last meeting in April. There will be no refunds for early-career journalists who paid their dues before July 1, 2024 but you'll have the option to renew at the early-career rate next time if still applicable.

"I and the rest of the Board believe that these changes represent a major step forward for IRE and will help us to fulfill our mission to serve the investigative journalism industry," IRE Board President Brian Rosenthal said. "As our business continues to evolve, I am proud of our organization for keeping up."

In July, the professional membership rate will also increase by $5 to $75/year. This is the organization's first increase since 2011. The student membership rate will stay the same at $25/year.

Other membership changes to the Articles of Incorporation will be presented to IRE members at IRE24 in Anaheim next month. The proposals include:

1. Expanding IRE's associate membership category to the following groups of people: Those who are not full-time journalists but work part-time in news gathering, presentation and/or production; and those who do not work in journalism directly but contribute to the field of investigative journalism. Associate members cannot vote in IRE elections or serve on the board of directors.
2. Expanding IRE's retiree category to make all retired journalists eligible for membership in IRE, including those who were not part of the organization while they were working journalists.
3. Expanding IRE's student category to allow recent college graduates to temporarily remain student members (instead of professional members) until they land their first job.
4. Removing gendered language from the IRE Articles of Incorporation.
5. Clarifying that IRE members can vote on future amendments virtually.

These amendments aim to open IRE membership to more people and give young journalists greater flexibility as they start their careers. IRE members will vote on the proposed changes to the Articles of Incorporation at the annual meeting of the membership at the IRE24 Conference in Anaheim this June. The membership meeting is at 5:30 p.m. PDT Saturday, June 22. Only eligible professional, academic, retiree and student members may vote.

Learn more about the IRE membership tiers here. Read the minutes from the IRE Board of Directors' last meeting here.