African journalists, working in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Mali and Senegal, recently completed an online training organized by the International Anti-corruption Academy. This training, entitled “power of the pen”, aimed to arm these journalists with the techniques of investigative journalism in order to fight against economic crimes. It took place from November 14 to 16, 2022.
During the three days that inaugurated the training, several topics were covered in depth, including investigative journalism as well as the risks associated with covering corruption. Participants were also able to gain knowledge on how to protect their journalistic sources in the digital age.
The Ghanaian journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, believes that to carry out a journalistic investigation, it is important to proceed in stages, starting with the recognition of the problem, the search for sources and the understanding of the theme to be investigated before launching. In addition, Khadija Sharife, another journalist, insisted on the importance of protecting journalistic sources in all circumstances, especially in the digital age. She also recommended the establishment of a solid network to limit the risks.
As part of the second session which will take place from May 18 to 19, 2023, participants will have access to virtual meetings for personalized follow-up, thanks to the advice provided by experts on investigative journalism and “open source” investigation. “for journalists. The facilitators of these meetings will be Moussa Aksar and Neil Smith.
This training brings an additional dimension to the fight against economic crimes in Africa, and allows journalists to train in investigative journalism techniques in a context where press freedom is often threatened. It will also strengthen the credibility and quality of journalism in Africa.