Entry material required

All entries must submit the required contest questionnaire. For more info, check out the FAQ

Print/Online (written word) – Divisions I, II, III, IV: To be eligible for this category, your story must be primarily in print or online text. Any audio or video elements will be considered only as supplementary material.

• Checklist to enter the Print/Online category:
  • ✅ I am a current IRE member (or entering on behalf of one) through July 2023.
  • ✅ I have answered the contest questionnaire and saved it as a PDF.
  • ✅ I have no more than five primary stories/elements selected. (You are limited to five primary stories/elements in your entry.)
  • ✅ I have included links (w/login & password info) AND a text version of my primary story(ies) in one document (EXAMPLE).
  • ✅ I have removed all ads, house ads and sponsorship from the pdf of my entry.
  • ✅ I have saved my primary entry materials as a PDF that is no larger than 25 MB.
  • ✅ I understand I can include a cover letter to the judges as supplemental material, but I am not required to do so.
  • ✅ I understand that I can provide other supplemental material but am not required to do so.

Video – Divisions I, II, III, IV: To be eligible for the category, your story must be primarily presented in video. Any text or audio elements will be considered supplementary material.

• Checklist to enter the Video category:
  • ✅ I am a current IRE member (or entering on behalf of one) through July 2023.
  • ✅ I have answered the contest questionnaire and saved it as a PDF.
  • ✅ I have no more than one hour (condensed) video of primary stories/elements selected. 
  • ✅ I have removed all commercials, including sponsors, underwriting and house ads, from my video. This includes bumps and teasers that are not original editorial content or show opens that mention funders or advertising. I understand that any ads left in will result in disqualification.
  • ✅ I have uploaded my condensed video of primary stories/elements to a third-party video hosting site (e.g. YouTube or Vimeo).
  • ✅ I put the link to my primary story/stories (hosted on a third-party video hosting site) in a text document and included any login/password information for the judges, if needed. (EXAMPLE)
  • ✅ I have saved my primary entry materials file as a PDF.
  • ✅ I have saved the transcript of my primary entry materials as a PDF.
  • ✅ I understand I can include a cover letter to the judges as supplemental material, but I am not required to do so.

Audio (small, large): To be eligible for the category, your story must be primarily presented in audio. Any text or video elements will be considered only as supplementary material.

• Checklist to enter the Audio category
  • • ✅ I am a current IRE member (or entering on behalf of one) through July 2023.
    • ✅ I have answered the contest questionnaire and saved it as a PDF.
    • ✅ I have no more than one hour (condensed) audio of primary stories/elements selected. 
    • ✅ I have removed all commercials, including sponsors, underwriting and house ads, from my audio. This includes preroll, midroll and post role and anything that is not editorial content or show opens that mention funders or advertising. I understand that any ads left in will result in disqualification.
    • ✅ I have uploaded my condensed audio of primary stories/elements to a third-party audio hosting site (e.g. SoundCloud)
    • ✅ I put the link to my primary story/stories (hosted on a third-party audio hosting site) in a text document and included any login/password information for the judges, if needed. (EXAMPLE)
    • ✅ I have saved my primary entry materials file as a PDF.
    • ✅ I have saved the transcript of my primary entry materials as a PDF.
    • ✅ I understand I can include a cover letter to the judges, but I am not required to do so 

Student (small, large): To eligible for this category, work must have been done by a student or group of students. Please follow platform-specific rules for entering and fill out the questionnaire.

Books: For outstanding investigative reporting that resulted in a published book. The cost to enter is $75.

• Entering the Book category: Only eBooks will be accepted for submission. You will be able to include a link or a PDF of the book through the online submission process. Please fill out the questionnaire.

Special Categories: Any medium, any size circulation or market. Follow guidelines above for entering based on your platform. Please also fill out the questionnaire. The cost to enter any of the special categories is $75.

•  Tom Renner Award: For the best investigative reporting, whether a single story or a lifetime body of work, in print/online (written word), video, audio or book form, covering organized crime or other criminal acts. This award comes with An IRE Medal for Outstanding Crime Reporting and $500. Please refer to platform-specific rules above for required entry material. The cost to enter is $75. (Limited to 10 stories)

• IRE FOI Award: Honors individual or organization whose significant actions further open records or open government. This award comes with an IRE Medal honoring an individual or organization whose actions further open records or open government. Please refer to platform-specific rules above for required entry material. The cost to enter is $75.

• Investigations Triggered by Breaking News: For outstanding investigative work done within 30 days of a news event or development. This award honors deep and quick digging that uses investigative techniques to produce exclusive and timely information for readers or viewers. Please refer to platform-specific rules above for required entry material. The cost to enter is $75 (Limit to 5 stories.)

• IRE Award for Sports Investigations: This award honors investigations that dig into the darker side of sports from amateur leagues to professional organizations. Please refer to platform-specific rules above for required entry material. The cost to enter is $75