LOCAL Journalists have been urged to sharpen their investigative journalism skills by U.S based International Investigative Journalism (IJ) Trainer Lucinda Fleeson.
BY TAFADZWA TSEISI
Speaking on the sidelines of an Editors reception hosted by the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (VMCZ) on Tuesday evening, Fleeson said journalists need to improve reportage on issues that have a impact on ordinary citizens.
“Ninety-five percent of what we do as journalists is the news of the day and its only 5-10% of the stories that mirror deeper work.
“We can do a lot of training in conferences as participants but we need to implement those skills in the field,” Fleeson said.
Fleeson was also the lead trainer at the just ended Investigative Journalism Training seminar.
The IJ training seminar was attended by participants from state controlled, privately owned and community media.
Fleeson, who was facilitating the training alongside VMCZ Board Member Reyhana Masters also reflected on the media landscape in the U.S vis a vis the Zimbabwean media.
“I was impressed by story ideas that emerged from the IJ Seminar.
“While some focused on poverty reduction, others also focused on corruption and human trafficking,” Fleeson said.
VMCZ Board Chairperson Alec Muchadehama said journalists have both a duty and a responsibility to uphold quality reporting.
“Investigative journalists have both a duty and responsibility to defend free speech, inform citizens, and encourage deliberation on public policy to serve public interest in the promotion of democratic institutions.
“These duties will sometimes require that journalists expose criminal activity, investigate abuses of power and bring to the fore wrong-doing and shenanigans happening within our midst,” he said.
The VMCZ Board Chairperson also said the investigative journalism project comes at a time when Journalists in Zimbabwe are working in a declining economic climate that can influence the journalists to neglect their own professional values and affect their ability to remain neutral.
“Zimbabwean media practitioners are working in a declining economic climate.
“However investigative journalists must be responsible as it is their role to seek and report the truth as completely and independently as possible,” he said.
Reiterating the same sentiments was VMCZ Executive Director Loughty Dube who said journalists should stop scratching the surface when covering news.
“Reporters should go beyond basics and dig deeper when sourcing for stories.
“Some reporters are now giving us the he said she said type of stories that lack in-depth analysis,” lamented the Director.
The Editors reception also marked the launch of the Investigative journalism fund among editors and reporters.
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