Investigative Reporters & Editors
@ire
Providing training, resources and a community of support to journalists around the world. Join us at #IRE26 June 18-21 in National Harbor, MD! 🔍 ire.org
Join the IRE Investigative Editors and Managers of Color Community for a free summer webinar series featuring award-winning editors: 📅 July 24: Kimbriell Kelly 📅 July 31: Fernanda Santos 📅 Aug. 7: Sisi Wei Sign up today! https://bit.ly/4ptysDx
Discover 10 AI tools that can help you search records, organize documents, summarize meetings, build maps and strengthen your reporting—all while using AI ethically. Read IRE Training Director @aviationqueen.bsky.social latest IRE Journal article: https://bit.ly/3R409pU
The fan-favorite "Truth Has Claws" merch is officially in the IRE Journal Store! 🐾 And yes—the Diana Fuentes Memorial T-shirt is available, too. ❤️ We'd love to see you repping IRE! 🐾 Truth Has Claws collection - https://bit.ly/4fnpdAk ❤️ Diana Fuentes Memorial T-shirt - https://bit.ly/4ytFdt1
Save the date! 📅 AccessFest 2026 returns Oct. 8–10 with three days of virtual watchdog journalism training. Help shape this year's conference! Share your speaker ideas, session topics and feedback by Aug. 9. No idea is too small—and you can submit more than one. Pitch: https://bit.ly/4vQ1OOJ
There are stories only you can tell. If you're a journalist of color based in the U.S., apply for the Chauncey Bailey Journalists of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship. Bet on yourself. Apply by Sept. 1: https://bit.ly/4vEMyUb
Congratulations to the 2026 Koch Continuum Grant recipients! 🎉 Marissa Evans and Brian Howey have been selected for their investigative reporting projects focused on public health, disability, and accountability. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4tve8lW
Registration is open for AccessFest26! Join IRE Oct. 8–10 for 3 days of virtual watchdog journalism training. Learn from expert trainers, sharpen your investigative skills and connect with journalists. Rates are $76 for professionals and $26 for students. Register: https://bit.ly/4vxIAg7
💬 Your questions. Your ideas. Your IRE. Join IRE Board President @hinklej.bsky.social and Executive Director @jkealing.bsky.social for Office Hours on July 15 to discuss the future of IRE, AccessFest26 and ways to volunteer on a committee. Register: https://bit.ly/4aF4UN4
Today, Francisco Vara-Orta, IRE's interim deputy executive director and director of diversity, belonging, equity and inclusion, is training students in the Texas Hill Country Youth Media Initiative. The program equips high school students with journalism and media production skills.
🚨IRE Board President @hinklej.bsky.social shares exciting news that Jonathan Kealing will be the organization’s new Executive Director starting July 27! 🎉 👉 https://conta.cc/4h58yUk
Investigating religious organizations? In the latest IRE Journal, Liam Adams shares practical strategies for finding lawsuits, church governance records, property documents and other records that can lead to stronger investigative reporting. Read the full article: https://bit.ly/3Rsp46v
Attending the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Conference? Join IRE Training Director and IRE Journal Managing Editor @byadamrhodes.bsky.social for "IRE Training: Quick Hit Investigations" on Thursday, July 9 at 10 a.m. See where our training directors are headed next: https://bit.ly/4dMX06K
Join the Investigative Managers and Editors of Color Task Force for a virtual conversation with Vanessa de la Torre, Chief Content Officer at Connecticut Public. 📅 July 10 🕛 12–1 p.m. ET Join the conversation via Zoom: https://bit.ly/44TFZC2
🚀 @IRE_NICAR is thrilled to announce @jkealing.bsky.social as our new executive director! With his extensive experience from the Institute for Nonprofit News, he's set to elevate investigative journalism into the future. Discover more about this exciting moment for IRE: https://bit.ly/4fmTfVK.
The IRE Board of Directors has selected its 2026-27 Executive Committee for the coming year. Please join us in congratulating them. Read more: https://bit.ly/4gEqdCa
The IRE staff will be taking some time to rest and recharge. The IRE office will be closed 6/22 to 6/26, as our team recovers from the conference after welcoming over 1,900 IRE members to National Harbor. We'll respond to emails and inquiries as soon as possible when we return.
Meet the 2026-27 IRE Board of Directors! 🎉 IRE members elected seven journalists to the Board of Directors during #IRE26 in National Harbor, MD, joining six continuing board members to form the organization’s 13-member board.
🗳️ IRE members have elected seven journalists to the Board of Directors and two members to the Contest Committee. Congratulations to the newly elected leaders, and thank you to all who ran to serve the organization and its members. Read more: https://bit.ly/4fZjBOv
⏰ FINAL DAY TO VOTE ⏰ Today is the last day to cast your ballot in the 2026 IRE Board of Directors and Contest Committee elections. Make your voice heard before voting closes at 6 p.m. ET. Vote now. Meet the candidates: https://bit.ly/4uzzC1w #IRE26 #IREVotes #InvestigativeJournalism
🏅 Congratulations to Julie K. Brown, winner of the 2026 Don Bolles Medal. Brown was honored at #IRE26 for her fearless investigative reporting that exposed the special treatment given to Jeffrey Epstein & helped reopen a case many believed would never see justice. Read more: https://bit.ly/4vXql45
At the #IRE26 Awards, University of Toronto's Investigative Journalism Bureau founder and director Rob Cribb presented the 2026 Golden Padlock Award to Allegany County Attorney T. Lee Beeman Jr. and Allegany County, Maryland. Read more about why here: https://bit.ly/4wkVhf5
Congratulations to the IRE26 Fellows! We’re excited to support the next group of journalists attending IRE26 through our conference fellowship program. These fellowships help make investigative and data journalism training more accessible. Make sure you say hello when you see them at IRE26! 📰✨
🎟️ #IRE26 Reminder: Name badges must be worn at all times to ensure safety for attendees. Please keep your badge visible during sessions, networking events and all conference activities. Wearing your badge helps us maintain a secure environment and makes it easier to connect with fellow attendees.
Created with love by the IRE team, this beautiful ofrenda honors the life and legacy of the beloved late executive director, Diana "DeeDee" R. Fuentes. As you attend #IRE26, we invite you to stop by the altar, connect with fellow attendees, share memories and tell stories.
We asked IRE staff to share their can't-miss #IRE26 recommendations. Their picks include sessions ranging from LGBTQ+ Data Reporting and Visualization to Filing Better FOIAs. Check out what else made the list and start planning your conference schedule: https://bit.ly/4vVIPC5
Investigative Managers and Editors of Color is hosting @katstafford.bsky.social, Global Race and Justice Editor at Reuters, on Friday, June 26, from 2–3 p.m. ET on Zoom. Attend: https://bit.ly/4vORFBF
Check your e-mail inbox today for the weekly edition of "Local Matters," an IRE-sponsored newsletter featuring the best local watchdog journalism from across the country. Subscribe for free: https://bit.ly/4aorGJx. Submit your best work at localmatters@ire.org
IRE Training Directors Laura Moscoso, Laura Kurtzberg and Benét Wilson enjoyed the nice DC weather on the second day of training for a group of journalists from the Korea Press Foundation. Special thanks to: Lynne Perri, Liz Lucas and Dylan Freedman. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4vRJDbb
Don't miss “Mining the Epstein Files” at IRE26. Julie K. Brown, Steve Eder and Khadeeja Safdar, moderated by Niala Boodhoo, will discuss how journalists mined more than 3 million newly public records for stories. Start planning your IRE26 schedule: https://bit.ly/3PgsnNg
Don’t miss this IRE26 conversation! Award-winning NBC News White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor joins Ron Nixon on June 18 for a discussion on politics and accountability reporting. This session is presented by NBC News. Start planning your IRE26 schedule here: https://bit.ly/3PgsnNg