Organisation Urges Journalists To Improve Skills Of Investigative Journalism

A non-Governmental Organisation, Safer-Media Initiative has trained Nigerian journalists on improving their investigative reportage skills.

The training took place at a Two-Day Capacity Building Workshop held in Abuja, the nation’s Capital. The training was tagged “Strengthening Grassroots Governance and Accountability Reporting” and had 39 Nigerian Journalists in attendance. The training was in collaboration with the Whole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism with support from MacArthur Foundation.

Several facilitators trained participants on topics cutting across various media organisations on how to carry out investigative and solution driven reporting.

The journalists were trained on diverse issues relating to investigative journalism, investigative interviewing, generating story ideas, data gathering, communication ethics, as well as challenges journalists encounter during reporting and possible solutions.

Executive Director, Safer-Media Initiative, Peter Iorter said that the exercise was aimed at equipping media practitioners with the requisite skills to research and investigate corruption and other issues in Nigeria.

He also pointed out that the training would guide participants on how to create a deeper public awareness of the menace of corruption through their reportage.

“The project aims to step up professional news coverage and investigative reporting, contributing to improving the sustainability capacity of journalists to perform their duty of holding government accountable, especially at the sub-national, state and local level as stated in the Nigerian constitution, ” he said.

Mr. Iorter disclosed that after the training the organisation will provide funding to assist selected journalists in their investigations.

“SMI will provide a small funding covering basic logistics to selected journalists. Trained and selected journalists will do investigative stories on issues around water, education, farming health, democracy deficits, poverty, ICT, women and children among others”, Mr. Iorter explained .

He added that Mentors will be assigned to support the selected journalists to uncover some of the ills in society and grassroots.

One of the facilitators, Mr. Hassan Adebayo applauded the organiser and its partners and also tasked the media practitioners on professionalism in their reportage, especially in fact-checking and evidence gathering for credibility.

A Participant, Mrs Dorcas Jonas appreciated the organisers and its sponsor for the training which has equipped her with the skills to do in-depth grassroots reporting and investigation.

Another participant, Mr. Emma Okereh, urged the NGO to expand and organise more capacity-building programmes that would equip journalists in carrying out their responsibilities.