At a recent programme by the United States Consulate in Lagos, acclaimed Investigative journalist and Founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), Nigeria, ‘Fisayo Soyombo was asked what extent of risk is too much for a journalist to take in getting a story, however important.
His first response was that the answer lies in between two popular statements: “Fortune favours the brave” and “no story is worth your life”.
According to Soyombo, it is up to the journalist to know which of these two statements should apply to a story.
“I always say if your story is motivated by public interest, you will always know when to draw the line,” he said. “A great journalist wants to sink their teeth into the biggest stories but working solely for public interest means you naturally know when to take a step back.”
The multiple award-winning journalist regarded as a dare-devil investigator spoke about the importance of proper risk assessment for any assignment and knowing the possible options for escaping danger.
He recalled his investigation on the state of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, which required him to go undercover as a drug patient. He said even though many thought he took a blind risk by potentially subjecting himself to psychiatric injections or ingesting psychiatric drugs, which could disrupt his nervous system, he said he devised a risk elimination plan.
“I didn’t just up and go to the hospital,” he said. “I sat down with a psychiatrist to understand the scale of risk involved and learn how to answer all of the doctor’s questions in such a way that I would be considered qualified for admission but not for drugs or injections.”
He also spoke about a foreign journalist who proposed a trip to Sambisa Forest for a story but he didn’t need to be told that embarking on such a mission would have been utterly reckless. “I smiled and we exchanged cards at the end of the conversation, and that was it,” he said. “I still have her complimentary card in my house. I’ve never rung her. I never will.”
