Call for Participation: Investigative Journalism Seminar

The Africa Center for International Law & Accountability (ACILA)

Presents

A Two-Day Groundbreaking Investigative Journalism Seminar With Case Studies By Award-Winning Investigative Journalists

Theme: The Theory and Practice of Investigative Journalism: From a Story Idea to Investigation, Expose, Follow-Up, Impact, and Causing Change

Background

The 1992 Constitution of Ghana carved out a special role for the media as the “Fourth Estate of the Realm”, giving it a special responsibility to hold duty bearers accountable to the people. Indeed, since 1992 the media have, on balance, played its role under the Constitution with varying degrees of success.But as with all human-driven activity and performance, there have been hits and misses….read more

Objectives

A key objective of these seminars is to enhance the capacity of participants in investigative reporting in order for participants to:

• Undertake investigative journalism from start to finish and conduct follow-up investigations until corrective action is taken by responsible institutions/persons for reforms.
• Provide accurate and reliable information to the public.
• Engender responsiveness and accountability from duty bearers.
• Promote transparency in 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

Who Should Attend?

• This seminar is essential for 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, fresh journalists
• It has been designed and made suitable for a wide array of groups, including and those who trained on the job, as well as student journalists, bloggers, researchers, and anyone interested in public accountability.

Outcomes

At the end of the seminar,participants will be able to:

• Conceive, design, develop, and execute investigative journalism projects from start to finish.
• Use techniques and strategies to obtain public records and use them in their reporting.
• Employ expert strategies to identify and cultivate sources and persuade reluctant interviewees to cooperate with an investigation and provide information.
• Access electronic databases and use tools for computer-assisted reporting.
• Gain understanding of media law and balance ethics with the public right to know.
• Utilize investigative techniques to report for national and international media.

Methods

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.

Resource Persons/Trainers

• Etse Sikanku, Lecturer of Communications, Ghana Institute of Journalism
• Zakaria Tanko, Head of Print Journalism Department, Ghana Institute of Journalism
• Esther Armah,Media Communications Lecturer, Webster University, Award-Winning International Journalist and Radio Host “The Spin”
• William Nyarko, Executive Director, Africa Center for International Law and Accountability(ACILA)

Case Studies Presenters

• Eyram Bashan, Group Managing Editor, EIB Network
• Kwetey Nartey, Senior Broadcast Journalist, Investigative Desk, Multi-media Group Ltd
• Gabriel Obodai-Torgbor Ashong, Broadcast Journalist, Metro TV
• Isaac Yeboah, Editor, Graphic Online

Topics

• 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)

Rate: GHc200

Early bird registration by May 31^st, 2017:150 Ghc

Register: http://awakeafrica.com/ijs-register/

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: 23^rd-24^thJune, 2017

Time: 9am-5pm daily

For more information; call 0249155003

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Payment Options:

Pay at the Bank Account name: Africa Center for International Law and Accountability
Bank: Societe General Ghana
Account Number: 60000850793-4; Branch:Madina

Pay via MTN Mobile Money: 0548206068 or pay at ACILA Office: No.20 Onyankle Street, Abelenkpe, Accra, near Accra Community School
PayPal: acila@acilaa.com