What we believe

Accurate information is necessary for democracy.

We need access to reliable information about the world we live in for a healthy government and society.

More journalism needs investigative rigor.

There is too much space between the best of journalism and the bulk of journalism – a problem deepened by economic incentives of for-profit media. Bridging that gulf is key to building a media that the public can trust.

Everyone is capable of learning investigative skills.

For too long, too many people have been excluded from investigative journalism, which has resulted in too many important stories remaining untold.

What we do

We pair student and early-career journalists with professional reporters on investigative, data and enterprise projects. With the guidance of our staff editors, IRW’s interns and fellows learn journalism by doing journalism. In exchange, our partners are able to produce ambitious journalism they would have been unable to accomplish.

What we produce

In the last year, IRW produced and co-produced 30+ stories on topics including the environment, health, sexual harassment, immigration, race and politics. IRW collaborates with major national newsrooms as well as focused nonprofits.

My summer at IRW gave me hands-on experience with the type of journalism I’ve come to love most: ambitious, ground-breaking reporting projects based on data and public records. Where else could a graduate student report on police shootings, the opioid epidemic and environmental racism in one summer? The IRW has a staff of caring, kind and incredibly talented journalists, and it’s an ideal place for young reporters to get their starts. 

Reis Thebault

West Coast Correspondent at The Washington Post
The fellowship at IRW was crucial to my career and helped me make the transition from daily news reporting to investigative journalism. I would have probably left journalism otherwise, and I’m glad I didn’t.

Alexia Fernández Campbell

Investigative Reporter Bloomberg Industry Group
I came to IRW at a strange time in my career (and the world), following the COVID-19 pandemic. The year I spent as a fellow with IRW while earning my master’s degree in journalism was the most transformative year for myself both personally and professionally. IRW gave me the opportunity to explore and foster my interest in education reporting while also building my foundation in investigative journalism. IRW undoubtedly set me up to be in the position I’m in now.

Emily Seymour

Reporter at InsideNoVa

Some Recent Work