The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) on Tuesday, 19 March 2024, extended its drive to create and strengthen investigative journalism desks to Harmony FM in Ilorin, Kwara State. This House-to-House initiative is an activity under the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development, Inclusivity and Accountability (CMEDIA) project. The initiative is designed to engage staff and management of news media houses on investigative reporting, leadership of women in the news and newsroom, and other relevant issues for the desired end.
Motunrayo Alaka, WSCIJ’s Executive Director/CEO, explained that the CMEDIA project intervenes to address the gap in news reporting where the focus is national issues at the detriment of state and local government ones. Alaka advocated for the scrutiny of subnational governments to ensure the delivery of democratic benefits to the vulnerable, foster democracy, and enhance governance and accountability at the grassroots.
During the virtual session, Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Nation Newspaper, Northern Operation, said good investigative journalism is often exceptional, original, dynamic, and factual with an element of surprise. Setting the tone for his discussion titled, ‘How to set up investigative journalism desk,’ he affirmed that investigative journalists draw inspiration from research, extensive networking, official documents such as court records and policies, anonymous tips, online content, scandals, filling story gaps, and following up on stories.
Another resource person, Chinelo Ozoalor, Head, Political Desk, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Enugu National Station, explored the advantages of local reporting. She said reporting local issues illuminates the impact of subnational governments and addresses issues of infrastructure, public safety, and education at the grassroots that national media often gloss over. Ozoalor explained that the media houses could benefit from a dedicated investigative journalism desk despite its cost implication as it promotes collaboration, knowledge sharing, and resource pooling in the public interest.
During her presentation on ‘Local and state government issues begging investigations on radio,’ Ozoalor highlighted environmental regulations, use of public funds, campaign finance, gender-based violence, justice dispensation, state of drainages, child labour, out-of-school children, cost and access to electricity, state of roads as some of the issues deserving investigations.
Remarking on behalf of Harmony FM management, Abdulwahab Akoshile, the station’s General Manager, thanked the WSCIJ team for the training. He reckoned that media practitioners must go beyond armchair reporting and press releases to delivering impactful stories. He pledged Harmony FM’s commitment to set up an investigative journalism desk.
The event moderated by Samson Ademola, Programme Officer, had other members of the WSCIJ team, including Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, Technical Adviser, CMEDIA; Emem Nssien, Finance Officer, CMEDIA project; and Afolabi Oni, Communications Officer.
