The International Press Institute (IPI), on Tuesday urged journalists to intensify efforts in carrying out thorough research on issues, in order to develop their investigative reporting abilities.
The IPI Press Freedom Manager, Miss Barbara Trionfi, disclosed this while delivering a lecture at the ongoing IPI media seminar, in Lagos.
The seminar, which is in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), was entitled: ``Journalism Practice in a Developing Economy’’.
Trionfi charged every practicing journalist to put in extra effort to make the much needed breakthrough in his or her chosen profession.
She said that painstaking investigation would make every story stay in a class of its own.
According to her, the search for investigative ideas is unending as they can come from anywhere.
She urged journalists to avoid discarding tips without screening them, as any of them could turn out to be the kernel of a story.
Trionfi noted that listening to regular sources was also critical in developing a flair for investigative journalism.
``For general and beat journalists, developing regular sources is necessary.
``They need to leave the office, meet sources face-to-face, and listen to conversations in elevators and restrooms.
``They also need to cover government meetings that no other investigator attends.
``And for freelance investigators, who jump from topic to topic, regular sources are likely to be friends or social acquaintances.
``Every person an investigator meets knows something the investigator does not and therefore, is a potential source,” the IPI Press Freedom Manager said.
According to her, the best investigators also read local and national newspapers every day, watch television news, listen to radio and look at a range of magazines.
She said that such investigators also visit bookstores and libraries and place their names on mailing lists maintained by government agencies, corporations, charities and other organisations. (NAN)
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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