The Investigative Reporting Workshop, based at the School of Communication at American University, was founded in 2008 by longtime investigative journalist Chuck Lewis, who continues to report and write for the site and national publications.
The mission of the Investigative Reporting Workshop is to hold the powerful accountable through original, data-driven investigative reporting produced by experienced journalists working with the next generation of investigative reporters. IRW is committed to increasing diversity and inclusion in investigative reporting.
IRW, an independent, nonprofit news organization, produces investigations on a range of issues, including the environment, national security, immigration, the economy and more. Its staff also provides critical reporting, data analysis and research to partner newsrooms to pursue high-impact accountability journalism.
Student journalists at IRW get unique hands-on investigative experience by working with professional reporters. IRW develops free journalistic tools, including The Accountability Project, a groundbreaking resource for public data, and BankTracker, which chronicles the financial health of the nation’s banks and credit unions.