Jackson State University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies in collaboration with Reveal from the Center of Investigative Reporting will host Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) and The Center of Investigative Reporting for a Watchdog journalism workshop on Feb. 11-12 at the Mississippi e-Center @ JSU.
IRE will offer several of its core sessions, designed to improve one’s ability to find information on the Web quickly, locate critical documents and data for more depth in daily work and produce quick-hit enterprise stories. Workshop sessions will also give tips on how to negotiate records requests and persuade sources into speaking candidly in addition to a deluge of tools and “tricks of the trade” designed to create better, faster, watchdog journalists.
Veteran investigative reporter Jerry Mitchell is the scheduled speaker for the afternoon session, “Reporting on Injustice” set for 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, Mitchell — whose reporting helped put four Klansmen behind bars — is a 2009 $500,000 MacArther “Genius” fellow and a Pulitzer Prize finalist.
“For years, IRE has done a terrific job of promoting investigative reporting, and I’m so tickled they’re going to host a Watchdog Workshop at JSU. I hope that many students and other young reporters take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about this wonderful profession and how we can make a difference in the lives of others,” said Mitchell, who is writing a memoir about his pursuit of civil rights cold cases.
The sessions are designed for reporters, editors and producers from small, midsize and large publications, TV, radio stations, Web-only news sites and news blogs. Freelancers, students and journalism educators are also encouraged to attend.
“The School of Journalism and Media Studies is pleased to host IRE and encourages local and statewide media to attend this important workshop,” said Elayne H. Anthony, dean of the SJMS. “We consider it a great opportunity to expose our faculty and students to in-depth, technology-assisted reporting techniques and to network with veteran journalists who take investigative reporting seriously.”
Workshop Fees are:
$55 Professional; $25 Student; and $30 Optional Computer-Assisted Reporting Training.
The fee also includes a one-year IRE membership. If you are a current IRE member, your membership will be extended by one year. Attendees must meet IRE membership terms.
To register, and for more information on the workshop and a detailed schedule, please visit https://ire.org/events-and-training/event/2871/
You may also contact the JSU School of Journalism and Media Studies at 601-979-2151, or email journalism.mediastudies@jsums.edu for information.