[1] He returned to newspapers in June 2007 after spending eight years as a clinical associate professor at the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University.
He began his career in community journalism as a reporter and photographer at a 4,000-circulation weekly and later worked as an editor at a 450,000-circulation daily.
In 2011, Irby retired as editor of the Bismarck Tribune after a 40 year career in journalism.
In retirement he has written a religious book titled "Lessons from my fathers in heaven."
Early in retirement he was a consultant for the North Dakota University System, a local Federal Emergency Management Agency hire, consultant for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and private investigator.