Global Concord Newspaper has been in the state for over four
years now and I want to believe Mr. Thomas Thomas has been editor of that
newspaper since its formation and has been doing his business without any
interruption. What every discernable person should ask is: WHAT HAS HE DONE
WRONG TO WARRANT THE ARREST? We all know that journalism is a profession and it
is expedient on every journalist to carry out his or her official assignment in
the line with the ethics of the profession and the law. Let’s assume Global
Concord Newspaper is more of investigative journalism and it is important for
the general public to be educated on who is an investigative reporter and the
role he or she play in the society.
WHO IS AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER?
The investigative reporter is not just any reporter that is
concerned with going after the press releases, attending press conferences and
briefings or any event that is newsworthy just to remain relevant. An
investigative reporter is engaged in the “journalism of outrage” (outrage at
unfairness, outrage at abuses and exploitation by the powerful). To the public,
he functions in many capacities and does the work of the police, courts,
parties and parliaments. He is not just a passive recorder of events but a
complete watchdog who barks when it is right, proper, expedient, and called
for. Contrary to the view of some people, the investigative reporter is not
concerned with only the negative or punitary effects of a story (getting people
sacked, jailed, demoted, assassinated, irritated, etc). He is also concerned
with bringing relief to people (stories on health hazards of industrial waste,
harshness of public policies that need to be changed, etc). Investigative
reporting is the ultimate test of professionalism for the journalist.
QUALITIES OF AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER
In view of the highly demanding nature of investigative
reporting, certain basic qualities have to be in place for a reporter to
effectively and satisfactorily fit into this field. They include:
1.
SOUND NEWS JUDGEMENT – This is the basic quality
that should be inherent in any reporter. Without the ability to determine what
is news, it will most certainly be difficult to determine what to investigate.
An investigative journalist should first of all, have the basic qualities of a
general reporter, one of which is sound news judgement including nose for news
in order to know what would interest his audience after it has been
investigated. It is what make news that is worthy investigating because it will
appeal to the audience. In the absence of this, an investigative reporter’s
exercise may become a wasteful venture.
2.
SENSE OF PUBLIC INTEREST – This is often what
powers or drives an investigative reporter to tread the risky parts in
providing the news behind the news. It simply implies that an investigative
journalist should always bear in mind that he is working in the interest of the
public, to cause a reform or make a positive change in the society. The urge to
better the society is a driving force or inspirational guide for an investigative
reporter.
3.
RESEARCH, ANALYTICAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS –
Research here refers to fact finding which is a key aspect of investigating
reporting. There could be a need to look out for materials on related events as
a support for the current investigation. It could even be the need to gather
facts on all that has been reported on the matter to arm the reporter with
facts that will guide the investigation.
Having gather facts, a good analytical
skill is necessary for the reporter to objectively make out meaning from what
he has gathered. If the facts are not well analyzed, the wrong conclusion could
be reached.
The issue of good communication skill is
what every reporter should possess. To engage strangers in an interview in the
cause of an investigation will be difficult without good communication skills.
The investigative reporter should know the right words to use at any given
point in time.
4.
A MIND OF ADVENTURE – This does not mean that an
investigative reporter should be embarking on unnecessary jamboree or
gallivanting for no reason. It simply means that he should be ready to go
anywhere an investigation takes him, while also minding his own safety. Having
the mind for adventure helps the reporter to defeat any kind of discouragement
that comes up because of geographical spread of the story being investigated.
This is where the doggedness, ruggedness and legwork abilities of the reporter
come to play.
5.
CAPACITY TO MAKE SOUND AND BALANCED
SOCIO-POLITICAL JUDEGMENT – This is different from the ability to make sound
news judgement. A reporter who acts as the watchdog of the entire society needs
to be informed on socio-political issues and should be able to make judgements
on them. A sound and balanced judgement increases the reliability of the reports.
For instance, in investigating an allegation of massive rigging in a given
election, the reporter should not first develop a biased mindset against one of
the parties in the matter. He should operate objectively and allow the facts to
guide his conclusion.
6.
GOOD WRITING SKILLS – Investigating a subject
matter thoroughly is one thing while writing the investigated report is
another. A good report could be rubbished by poor presentation or lack of good
writing skills. An investigative reporter should first of all know how to write
well before embarking on an investigation. A story could fail to achieve the
desired impact on the readers due to poor presentation. The use of words to
create emotion, anxiety, rage, fury, intrigue, excitement, horror, etc, can only
be achieved by a good writer. Good sentence construction and paragraph
transition can keep a reader’s attention until he has read the entire report.
7.
COURAGE – Saying that an investigative reporter
must be courageous sounds like an understatement because that is a major
quality that keeps him going in the profession. In investigative reporting, it
is ‘the more you look, the more you see.’ He needs to remain focus on achieving
his goal against all odds. This is not just the boldness to walk up to any
person for an interview no matter his status. It has to do with treading where
others cannot tread just to fetch a story.
8.
KNOWLEDGE OF PHOTOJOURNALISM – This is
important, especially for the print investigative reporter. It includes ability
to manipulate the still camera. Photojournalism is simply reporting in
pictures. Knowledge of photojournalism will give an investigative reporter good
photonews judgement to know the photographs that will not just make news but
back up his investigation. Pictures add credibility to an investigative report,
among many other uses.
9.
GOOD INTERVIEW SKILLS – This skill is an
extension of other qualities already discussed. Good communication skills,
boldness, joviality, among other qualities will help an investigative reporter
in successfully conducting interviews.
The above qualities and more are expected from an
investigative reporter in discharging his or her official assignment. On the
issue of Mr. Thomas Thomas, I will advise those that arrested him to charge him
to court if he has breach in his reportage rather than detain him without
following the path of the law.
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