Local Journalism Students Offered Conference Scholarships

COLUMBIA, MO - Journalism students in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana or Mississippi are being encouraged to apply for a scholarship intended to provide financial assistance to those attending the Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) annual conference, to be held in Houston from June 13th-16th.

The James Richard Bennett Scholarship, worth up to $1,375 to the winners, is made possible by Dr. James Richard Bennett, Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Arkansas. The scholarship covers travel, accommodation and registration costs for the conference, plus a one-year membership or renewal to IRE. Applications must be received by April 15th.

The keynote address for this year’s conference will be delivered by Rick Hutzell, the editor of Capital Gazette Communications in Annapolis, Maryland. The address will occur close to the anniversary of the June 2018 shooting that killed five Capital Gazette employees.

“Choosing Rick as our keynote speaker for this year’s luncheon was an easy decision for the board,” IRE Board President Cheryl W. Thompson said. “What he and his newsroom went through was unthinkable, yet they pressed on. Their determination and dedication to our craft have inspired journalists everywhere.”

Formed in 1975, the Investigative Reporters and Editors is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of investigative reporting. Based at the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism IRE’s mission is to create a forum in which journalists throughout the world can help each other by sharing story ideas, newsgathering techniques and news sources.

Further information on the Bennett Scholarship and other similar scholarships can be found at: https://www.ire.org/events-and-training/fellowships-and-scholarships/#bennett

Further information about the 2019 IRE conference can be found at: https://www.ire.org/events-and-training/event/3434/