Journalists who participated in the two-day Amplify In-depth Media Conference and the 17th Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting, WSAIR, in Lagos last week got some useful insights on how to improve their investigative and other reporting skills.
They learnt from the top media professionals and academicians who spoke at the various sessions of the conference on election reporting, climate change, fact-checking, media sustainability and other developments in the industry.
The two-day event supported by the MacArthur Foundation and coordinated by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism featured presentations, panel discussions, explainers, and the award ceremony which was the highlight of the programme.
Professor Lai Oso of the School of Communication at the Lagos State University in his keynote address on the role of journalism in a democratic society, called on journalists and media practitioners to reflect political contestation in their reporting, noting that no news is neutral, and every happening has a political implication on the society.
“The media is expected to provide a civic space for people to ventilate their views, articulate their perspectives, debate and have conversations”.
He also highlighted the role of the media in a democratic society.
“The media is responsible for the circulation of ideas and information that will influence citizens to participate meaningfully and actively in a democratic process, which involves election.
“We can not talk about free, fair, and credible elections without the circulation of the right information that will nurture the minds and the hearts of the people.
“The media through investigative reporting guides the decision-making process of the citizens by the power of revelation, mobilization for policy change, public knowledge, ensuring transparency and credibility of a public institution,” he said.
According to him, the main goal of investigative journalism is to maintain the moral ethos and code of existence of society.
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He said investigative journalism must be systematic and emphasize moral and legal wrongdoing in society perpetrated by those in power to harm the common man.
Idris Akinbanjo, Managing Editor, Premium Times, urged journalists to be accurate and transparent in their reporting and do public service even if the citizens do not think it is necessary.
“Nothing must deter us from doing the right thing, it is our duty as journalists to report in the public’s interest,” he said.
Haruna Mohammed, Co-Publisher, WikkiTimes, enjoined journalists to narrow down investigative reporting to the local media for the benefit of citizens at the local level.
“Media should make investigative information available for citizens at the local level. If you expose it, you are equipping people at the local level with the right information and the right knowledge to ask critical questions.
“When the people are armed with critical information and knowledge, they can question some decisions taken on their behalf, but that does not address their needs,” he said.
Vivia Chime, a reporter at The Cable stressed the need for journalists to undertake investigative reports to expose individuals and corporations behind the funding of projects that affects the climate.
Abdulkareem Mojeed of Premium Times advised journalists to speak to resource persons and experts to have a better understanding of climate change. With relevant data at their data, journalists will be equipped to write impact stories on climate change.
According to him, when writing stories around climate change, journalists must spice up their reports with works and data from experts to back up their stories to drive home their argument.
As the world faces climate change, Mojeed said journalists should inform people about the critical roles of trees in the sustainability of the environment.
Undercover reporter and founder Tiger Eye Foundation, Anas Aremeyaw Anas at the 2022 #AIMConference, said many Ghanaian citizens believed that his investigations were motivated by political affiliations and voted against those they assumed had a hand in his reports.
He noted that journalists should be mindful of the effect their stories can have on the people. Hence, they need to note how their investigations could motivate people to vote out of their emotions rather than from a logical analysis of individual capability.
Speaking about the challenges he faces as an undercover reporter, Anas noted that it can be very boring because the sensitivity of his work has taken a toll on his social life.
Yemi Adamoleku, Executive Director, Enough is Enough, Nigeria said investigative journalism is good but needs to sit with civic education.
“What is right and what is wrong is all mixed up in what is in it for me,”
Justina Asishana, State Correspondent of The Nation while discussing ‘Local journalism, investigative journalism and democracy’ noted that most of the reportage of security in Niger state faces hurdles like bias from security agencies and even citizens.
“We face a lot of challenges but the media should be critical nevertheless. There are lots of misconceptions about press freedom.”
For media operations to be sustainable, Adedeji Adekunle, Programme Director, Nigeria Media Innovation Program noted that “If you want to be editorially independent, you need to be financially independent “
Dara Ajala, Program Manager, Nigeria Media Innovation Program said to increase engagement, the media need to increase relativity by analysing audience uniqueness to properly cater to their needs.
Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, Professor, Department of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos, highlighted the major threats disinformation poses to society, especially during elections.
She encouraged journalists to build up the needed skills to combat this threat.
Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director, International Press Centre, based on his findings noted that people across the world have migrated online for news consumption.
“They prefer to get information through digital channels as opposed to traditional channels. Our most potent weapon now is perhaps the mobile phone. We need to develop skills to protect these devices, he stated.
Kemi Busari, Editor, Dubawa, said many journalists are interested in fact-checking, but the dearth of information, audience attitude and journalists aiding misinformation have posed a serious problem.
At the award ceremony, Hassan Adebayo of Premium Times won the overall investigative journalist of the year and the best investigative story for the online category.
Other winners are:
Juliana Francis of the New Telegraph,
Best investigative print journalist
Babatunde Okunlola
Best investigative journalist in the Radio category.
Abdulaziz Abdulaziz of the Trust TV
Best TV investigative report
Deji Lambo, The Punch
Photojournalist of the Year
Victor Asowata of The Will
Editorial cartoon of the year.
