Newsroom training: Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) in Las Cruces

Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) training is being held for our Digital First Media colleagues in Las Cruces, New Mexico this week. Participating journalists plan to tweet takeaways throughout the sessions via hashtag #IRENM.

Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) training is being held for Digital First Media journalists in Las Cruces, New Mexico this week. Participating journalists have been asked to tweet takeaways throughout the sessions via the hashtag #IRENM. Follow along on Twitter, or right here. If you have any questions, reach out to these journalists on Twitter. Schedule is in Mountain Time and is subject to change.

WEDNESDAY, January 15, 2014
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. | Hands-on 2.0 | Learn about Pivot Tables and importing into Excel

10:45 - 11:45 a.m. | Paper and database trails | Advice on developing a documents state of mind, understanding records retention schedules, exploring key records on a variety of beats, and becoming familiar with key national data sets to produce high-impact local stories.

11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. | Lunch | chat, eat, ask questions

12:15 - 12:45 p.m. | Backgrounding | How to organize and tools to use when backgrounding people

12:45 - 1:15 p.m. | Watchdog for a beat | How to integrate watchdog into your daily beat. Tips on time management, organization and daily watchdog stories.

1:30 - 2 p.m. Fostering a watchdog culture in the newsroom | An interactive exercise to identify your newsroom’s vision for watchdog journalism, the obstacles holding you back, ideas for producing more investigative work, and personal responsibility and goals for each participant.

2:15-2:45 p.m. | What IRE can do for you | Resources, data and consultation during the next six months.

3 - 4 p.m. | Breakout session to brainstorm and develop local stories

4 - 5 p.m. | Individual consultations

by Chris March 1/14/2014 3:18:41 AM

3rd & 7 37yd

Excited to go to an investigative reporting workshop today along with colleagues. Many thanks to @fjgwriter for making it possible! #IRENM

by Diana Alba Soular via twitter 1/14/2014 3:26:33 PM
.@IRE_NICAR is providing @digitalfirst journalists in New Mexico w/ training this week. Follow #IRENM for takeaways bit.ly/1a4bLhl

by Chris March via twitter 1/14/2014 3:34:35 PM
Today and tomorrow the @CrucesSunNews is learning some investigative reporting tools from @MeganLuther . I'll be tweeting some tips. #IRENM

by Lindsey Anderson via twitter 1/14/2014 4:11:24 PM
I'll be tweeting about investigative reporting for the next couple of days. If you have any investigative story ideas, let me know. #IRENM

by Lucas Peerman via twitter 1/14/2014 4:26:46 PM
Sketchy photo? Search photo EXIF data to verify photos. Cannot be used in Twitter or FB, but can be used in Google image search. #irenm

by Lucas Peerman via twitter 1/14/2014 8:37:37 PM
MT “@L_M_Anderson : Docs for watchdog reporting: annual reports, audits, salaries, public officials' calendars, licensing data #NMIRE ” #irenm

by Lucas Peerman via twitter 1/15/2014 6:32:33 PM
All data is dirty and it's just a starting point. It can't replace solid street reporting. #irenm

by Lucas Peerman via twitter 1/15/2014 6:43:14 PM
After data analysis, do the analysis again to make sure you have the right numbers. #irenm

by Lucas Peerman via twitter 1/15/2014 6:46:34 PM
Story idea: Look at toxins released into air by surrounding factories. That info is public record. #irenm

by Lucas Peerman via twitter 1/15/2014 6:47:28 PM
To do: Spend a couple hours on data.gov. #Storyideas #irenm #lobocamp

by Lucas Peerman via twitter 1/15/2014 7:53:09 PM
... also, usaspending.gov and fedspending.org good places to get info and/or story ideas. #irenm #lobocamp

by Lucas Peerman via twitter 1/15/2014 7:57:22 PM
“@sylviaulloa : Want to know which contractors are getting government money in your area? Try usaspending.gov. #NMIRE ” #irenm

by Lucas Peerman via twitter 1/15/2014 7:57:56 PM
MT “@L_M_Anderson : Make extensive backgrounding part of routine & include that info in profiles, stories, etc. - @MeganLuther ” #irenm

by Lucas Peerman via twitter 1/15/2014 8:24:44 PM
I've always been interested in how to do background checks on people. Learning cool websites to do so today. #irenm

by Lucas Peerman via twitter 1/15/2014 8:38:59 PM
Searching nonprofit info? Go to guidestar.org and register for free account. #irenm

by Lucas Peerman via twitter 1/15/2014 9:11:59 PM
Some awesome tips on watchdog and data journalism shared today by @LittleGuyInATie via #irenm . bit.ly/1a4bLhl

by Chris March via twitter 1/15/2014 9:17:13 PM
Watchdog on the beat: When a source tells you, "data, analysis, numbers, we have found," make sure you get that data the have found. #irenm

by Lucas Peerman via twitter 1/15/2014 9:33:43 PM
When doing an investigative report, go deep, not wide; better to produce multiple stories from one dataset than cram into 1 story. #irenm

by Lucas Peerman via twitter 1/15/2014 9:35:50 PM
Rolling investigation like a ball of yarn. Keep pulling the string and uncover new info. New stories at every roll. #irenm

by Lucas Peerman via twitter 1/15/2014 9:37:47 PM
+ projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/ & citizenaudit.org MT @LittleGuyInATie : Searching nonprofits? Free account at guidestar.org #irenm

by Thunderdome data via twitter 1/15/2014 9:39:01 PM
Got a wealth of database-crunching and search tool info today from @MeganLuther . ... Many thanks, Megan! #IRENM

by Diana Alba Soular via twitter 1/15/2014 11:49:30 PM
Excited to work with @auguststaley @L_M_Anderson @AlbaSoular @DuaneBarbati and @sylviaulloa putting to use our #irenm training

by Lucas Peerman via twitter 1/16/2014 12:06:24 AM

Newsroom training: Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) in Las Cruces

Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) training is being held for our Digital First Media colleagues in Las Cruces, New Mexico this week. Participating journalists plan to tweet takeaways throughout the sessions via hashtag #IRENM.

WEDNESDAY, January 15, 2014