A great, inexpensive opportunity for journalists of all types to gain important watchdog skills on Friday, Oct. 18.

Led by an IRE (Investigative Reporters & Editors) trainer and sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists, Georgia Chapter (SPJ GA).

Six sessions in this daylong workshop cover: 1) building watchdogging into your daily routine, 2) backgrounding and using best search tools, 3) prying loose public records, 4) using data journalism tools and techniques, 5) bulletproofing the story and 6) verifying information online.

SPJ members free. Nonmembers $50. Students $10. Pre-registration required. (You can join SPJ here.)

YOU MUST BRING YOUR LAPTOP.

Space is limited to 42 participants. Sign up now!

Introductions and welcome at 8:30 a.m., along with coffee, tea and muffins. The first session begins at 9 a.m. Register at this link.

The workshop is designed for reporters, editors, and producers from small, midsize and large publications, TV, radio stations, Web-only news sites and news blogs, as well as freelancers, students and journalism educators.

Taught by Denise Malan, senior training director of IRE.

Location: Georgia State University, Student Center West, Room 466-468, 66 Courtland St. SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303