30 Journalists in Kaduna Undergo Action Aid Training

30 Journalists in Kaduna Undergo Action Aid Training

Zainab Tanimu

Kaduna, North-West, NIGERIA

In a bid to enhancing good reportage, Action Aid Nigeria under its Strengthening Citizens Resistance Against Prevalence of Corruption (SCRAP-C ) project has deemed it necessary to organize a workshop for Media Practitioners and members of Civil Society Organizations (CSO) on how to go about reporting corruption cases through investigative journalism using the freedom of information (FoI) Act and constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria to demand accountability from public officeholders.

The 3day training which took place at Bafra Hotel Kaduna had Journalists from different media organizations ( Online, Broadcast and Print Media) and members of Civil Society Organizations in attendance.

The workshop objective is to build the capacity of media practitioners on not only corruption reporting through  investigative and data journalism but to also step up grey arrears with reference to  storytelling, news writing, techniques of conducting interviews all which need to be given professional touch.

In his presentation, the Media Expert Lekan Otufodunrin while explaining the nitty-gritty involved in investigative reporting had stressed on the need for journalists handling such reports to be very knowledgeable and to develop the culture of data gathering as a way of enriching their work. He said data driven journalism is an aspect of journalism that cannot be undermined.

Still emphasizing on the importance of data usage which the presenter said gives the reporter the privilege to analyze issues; he had encouraged journalists that are handling investigative reporting to always use data to enrich their reportage. It shows professionalism. He said.

“Find new angles to your stories. Take angles that people are not talking about. You must find a way to finding new angles to your stories. From data that we get, we can abstract other angles”.

There are other untold stories that one can bring to fore from data that have been gathered. He explained.

Explaining further, data he said can be gotten directly from governmental data bases, Can be sourced from agencies with oversight functions, from public institutions/agencies with reporting requirements, can be through whistle blower, through online tools and could be through scrutiny of government owned statistics.

However, nothing is wrong with one verifying the data gathered before usage. He advised.

As part of the training, participants were also expected to be taken through the principles of clear writing, interviewing techniques, idea development including how to pitch a story.

Highlighting on  the techniques involved in news writing, as well as mode of  conducting good interviews, the Managing Editor, The Nation Newspapers, Lekan Otufodunrin stressed on the need for a good ‘lead’ which he said is very key. Be it news writing or conducting an interview, there is the need for proper planning. He emphasized.

Some other basic things mentioned were, knowing the reason behind the interview or story writing, knowing your priorities, In what order do you need to cover it? What manner of approach do you need to convey the message or to be used in interviewing the guest?  These are some of the questions to put into consideration. So also is that of time -keeping. Most importantly, be guided on mode of questioning. He said.

“Ask questions how? Why, What? Avoid sounding as if you are putting your own point of view into question. Be fair, show independence and do not be aggressive when asking questions”. Lekan cautioned.

In his words of wisdom, Mr. Lekan called on journalists to always use available resources within their reach to empower themselves.  Journalists should work hard and use their ability to multi-task for according to him, there are multiple skills to engage in to improve their lots.

“Journalists can write books, journalists can organize programmes, seminars, workshops. Journalists can form their own NGOs while they are still working. If journalists don’t have good welfare, they cannot work.”

He cited the deplorable conditions of journalists in Nigeria where most organizations do not pay them salaries. For him, he has explored ways by which he can generate extra income among which is the publication of books.  Mr. Lekan already has two books to his credit.

Mr. Francis Nwosu another media expert brought his wealth of experience to fore as he took participants through the principles of clear writing.

He had explained the basic principles of clear writing to be that of writing in a language  that ones audience or readership must understand the exact meaning of what message one  wants to put across.

If there is no ambiguity in the message one is passing across, the reader, listener or viewers as the case may be would be able to catch the exact message one is sending.  He said.

“If you are writing in too many words instead of being concise, you can confuse your readers because it can convey a different meaning of what you really meant.   So in journalism, your message has to be very clear, simple and written in a few words so as to have an impact and transmit the message as you wish it to be.  That is the basic principles of clear writing”.

However, the Media consultant said the principles of clear writing is made more effective if every media house has its own style book of which the reporter must follow.

“If you follow the style book and your message is very clear, your message is transmitted the way you want it to, there is no ambiguity, no distortion along the line, that is when the principle can work effectively.

“Use the language you know well if you want to paraphrase, try as much as possible to quote and quote correctly. Another principle is that of objectivity and balance”. Journalist should be factual. Nwosu emphasized.

Emphasis was also made on having a very good lead as that would help to sustain peoples’ interest in reading the story to the end.

The lead of a story is considered the most important aspect and therefore should be carefully arranged in such a way that the interests of the audience are well captured.

Journalists were caution on indiscriminate use of terminologies such as the use of words like ‘epidemic’ instead of ‘outbreak’ which is a lighter way of describing an outbreak of disease. Only when the gravity of the disease has been confirmed by a medical expert should such word like ‘epidemic’ be used because it paints a picture of a serious spread of such disease. He warned.

Earlier in her opening remark, the Project Administrator, SCRAP-C project, Foluso Ibigbami had stated the expectation of the training, part of which was to look into challenges being faced by journalists in the course of carrying out their work with a view to strengthening the skills and system problems.

Folusho also added that the group discussion to be conducted at the end of the workshop would further broaden the understanding of participants while she urged that attention be given during the training so as to reap the benefit of the workshop.

The workshop ended on a good note with participants getting more enriched on their jobs.