By: Varney Dukuly
MONROVIA: A three-day intensive investigative journalism training is expected to come to an end today in Monrovia with focus to build the skills and capacity of Liberian journalists for ground breaking investigative stories.
The training, with support from USAID, and organized by Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP), brought together some of Liberia’s best reporters from across the country.
“We have managed to gather for you some of the best in investigative journalism including international facilitators,” said Malcom Joseph of the Center for Media Studies and Peace building.
Though the training aims to broaden the skills of Liberian journalists to find stories gear toward holding policymakers to account, the almost lack of implementation from leaders is another tall order for journalists in Liberia.
On the other hand, out of eighteen journalists who enrolled in the investigative journalism fellowship, nine persons were dropped, according to the organizers.
The CEMESP Executive Director said, a target of 30 investigative stories have been earmarked but unfortunately not much has been seen.
He added that the training intends to sharpen the skills of investigative journalists to look beyond the ordinary.
He said the goal is to support the Journalists to produce quality investigative stories in the course of one year in Liberia. Among other things, Malcolm stressed that the quality of the stories set the stage for better pay.
“So, we want to charge you to double up,” said Joseph.
He encouraged the journalists to put in their best and warned against ‘lazy journalism’ during the period of the one-year fellowship which is approaching its climax.
The CEMESP boss however showered praises on the American People through USAID and the Internews for the support to good journalism.
“This workshop is specifically designed for our fellows under the Investigative Journalism program,” he said.
“This is the second of three workshops that are designed under year two of the USAID Liberia media activity.”
Internews Liberia Chief of Party, Lien Bach, lauded the training initiative.
She stressed that the move is a step to good investigative journalism.
Ms. Bach mentioned that the word ‘investigating’ calls for going beyond the ordinary and stressed that it was important to investigate.
“We know this is a challenging work for you,” said Bach, “We are here to support you to ensure that you achieve.”
The Internews Chief of Party reminded the journalists that investigative stories are in the hard- to-reach areas not the comfort zone of the workshop.
Some of the media personalities selected to facilitate the training include Cllr. P. Alphonsus Zeon, Cllr. Lamii Kpagoi, Maureen Sieh, Ruth Gbatoe, Wremongar Joe. Others are, Arwen Kidd and Rodney D. Sieh.
