William Nyarko, Executive Director, ACILA
[dropcap]U[/dropcap]S and Ghana-based research and education think tank, Africa Center for International Law & Accountability (ACILA) is set to deploy a groundbreaking investigative journalism seminar to equip young and upcoming journalists who want to sharpen their skills in the area of investigative journalism.
The two-day seminar with case studies by award-winning Investigative Journalists is on the theme “The Theory and Practice of Investigative Journalism: From a Story Idea to Investigation, Expose, Follow-Up, Impact, and Causing Change”
[ads1]The seminar seeks to enhance the capacity of participants in investigative reporting in order to help them undertake investigative journalism from start to finish and conduct follow-up investigations until corrective action is taken by responsible institutions/persons for reforms” – Mr. William Nyarko, Executive Director of ACILA told Awake News
Mr. Nyarko, who is a also a two-time winner of the best investigative journalist of the year award by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) added that the seminar will also equip participants with the skills and knowledge they need to “provide accurate and reliable information to the public; engender responsiveness and accountability from duty bearers; promote transparency in the affairs of state and non-state organizations; contribute to promoting good governance, rule of law, anti-corruption, and human rights; enhance understanding of media law, professionalism and ethics”
The seminar, according to Mr. Nyarko, is open to “people interested in sharpening their investigative journalism skills or those getting into it for the first time; editors and journalists who want to upgrade and refresh their knowledge and skills, tutors and lecturers, and fresh journalists” adding that it has “it has also been designed and made suitable for a wide array of groups, including those who trained on the job, as well as student journalists, bloggers, researchers, and anyone interested in public accountability” – he added
Awake News learnt that ACILA members have had substantial practice in investigative journalism and have also facilitated five capacity building workshops/seminars in investigative journalism for journalists in collaboration with organizations such as Dakar-based Panos Institute West Africa and Tiger Eye. In addition, ACILA recently delivered five lectures in investigative journalism gratis to about 400 students of the Ghana Institute of Journalism.
The two-day seminars will be conducted in lecture format supplemented with case studies in all segments of the media (radio, television, print, and new media) by media lecturers,editors, award-winning investigative journalists, and lawyers.
Some of the resource persons include Dr. Etse Sikanku, Lecturer of Communications, Ghana Institute of Journalism; Mr. Zakaria Tanko, Head of Print Journalism Department, Ghana Institute of Journalism; Ms. Esther Armah, Media Communications Lecturer, Webster University, Award-Winning International Journalist and Radio Host “The Spin”, and Mr. William Nyarko, Executive Director, Africa Center for International Law and Accountability (ACILA).
The seminar will also have case studies presenters comprising award-winning and practicing investigative journalists, editors, and media managers, including Ms. Eyram Bashan, Group Managing Editor, EIB Network; Mr. Kwetey Nartey, Senior Broadcast Journalist, Investigative Desk, Multi-media Group Ltd; Mr. Gabriel Obodai-Torgbor Ashong, Broadcast Journalist, Metro TV; and Mr. Isaac Yeboah, Editor, Graphic Online
Some of the topics that will be deployed will include:
- Investigative journalism: From story idea to investigation, publication/broadcast, follow-up, impact, and change
- How to develop sources and locate documents
- Investigative Techniques: Undercover v. plain cover
- Media law: understanding the law and how to avoid running afoul of the law(contempt of court, invasion of privacy, libel)
- Ensuring professional and ethical reporting.
- New media and online journalism.
- Investigating and reporting for international media (BBC, Aljazeera etc)
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Editor’s Note:
Rate: GHc200.00
Early bird registration by May 31st, 2017: Ghc150.00
Register: http://awakeafrica.com/ijs-register/ or write to editor@awakeafrica.com
Package includes
- Two coffee/tea/cocoa breaks, lunch, training materials(note pad/pens), certificate of participation
Venue: ACILA Office, H/No.20 Onyankle Street, Abelenkpe, near Accra Community School
Date: 23rd-24thJune, 2017
Time: 9am-5pm daily