IRE postpones spring workshops due to coronavirus

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.