Nearly 1,000 investigative journalists are in Denver this week for the annual convention of Investigative Reporters and Editors, an industry group dedicated to watchdog journalism.
The convention, a mix of educational panels and workshops, started Thursday. CBS News’ Dan Rather, who retired as the network’s news anchor in March amid controversy over a report on President Bush, will be the keynote speaker at Saturday’s awards ceremony.
“In the end, we really are trying to achieve the greater goal of the best possible investigative and public service journalism,” said Brant Houston, IRE’s executive director. “And the way to do it is, whenever possible, share ideas and techniques.”
Journalists are coming from around the country and from other countries, he said.
They come because they want to learn how to be better at tracking down important stories, some conference attendees said.
“You can go up and buttonhole a Pulitzer Prize-winner in a hallway, and he’s willing to tell you what he did (to get a story),” said Paul Overberg, an editor who specializes in database reporting for USA Today. “That’s one of the great things about IRE.”
Thursday included sessions on how to research the safety of bridges and dams, how to investigate stories about the environment, how to cover health care and business, and how to use databases in reporting. Other sessions covered writing and editing techniques.
L. Kelly, an editor who overseas police and court coverage for the Wichita Eagle, said the conference is an important opportunity to learn about emerging “best practices” in journalism.
“This is an industry that’s undergoing an awful lot of change,” she said.
The conference offers an opportunity to learn about new technologies and how top journalists do their work, she said.
At the Capitol on Thursday, Gov. Bill Owens was aware that legions of muckrakers were descending on Denver, spokesman Dan Hopkins said. “I don’t think we’ve had to increase security,” he said.
Staff writer Jim Hughes can be reached at 303-820-1244 or jhughes@denverpost.com.
