INVESTIGATING REPORTING- a summary of Mr. Richard Ikiebe's lecture.

Investigative journalism goes by different names: advocacy reporting, public service journalism, adversarial reporting, and expose reporting or muckraking. It is defined as, “digging beneath the surface” so we can help readers understand what’s going on in an increasingly complex world”

(Bolch and Kay 1978: 3; Mollenhoff 1981: 19).  It could also serve to check the abuse of power by government and mold opinion to shape public policy. Bob Greene of Investigative Reporters and Editors identifies three basic elements of Investigative reporting:

-it must be the reporter’s work

-the subject of the story must be of importance to his readers

-that there are attempts by others to hide the truth from the people.

Investigative reporting, which characterizes most reports, serves as a watchdog to independently monitor the affairs of government and business chieftains. It is not designed as a tool of affliction for the comfortable. Sadly enough, this is an aspect of journalism which seems to be on the decline in Nigeria. Notably, Segun Osoba made a mark via investigative reporting, and so did foreign journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein who pursued the Watergate scandal story to its logical conclusion. The only way in which the press can truly live up to its role as the watchdog of society, is when it is free and unrestrained.

Beyond exposes and muckraking, elements of an effective investigative reportage involves making the management and execution of power transparent, uncovering secrets hitherto unknown to the public, and helping the public to grasp the effects of power. The watchdog role of the media becomes weakened when it ignores blatant abuses of power  like non-accountability, mismanaged foreign policy matters, corruption in all sectors, and focuses on trivialities, or become unabashed celebrities themselves, amongst other things.  The quote below captures this point:

“Clever men hire PR people to plant stories; they pay lawyers to threaten those who do not believe them; companies put out PR fronts about who they are. Most papers are only too happy to accept that but let’s go and find out”.

- Michael Gillard, The Express

A good investigative reporter must have an incisive mind, a clear sense of history, curiosity, and luck. Also, he must be prepared for unpopularity, single-minded, motivated, angry enough at injustice, and dogged in his pursuit of truth. An investigative report first begins from a hunch or tip, which is closely examined, and if anything is proven, then a more serious investigation follows, after which the reporter analyzes, organizes and writes the story. Mere suspicion is not a good enough basis to launch an investigation or else you will only be embarking on a chase that leads nowhere.  You must have a reason that is compelling enough to push you to action and that reason must be based on facts, not gossip. You must also keep an open mind and do not back down on your investigation because you uncovered something unexpected. Open mindedness is a vital trait for any good reporter.

Once you decide that a course of investigation is worth your time and efforts get organized and methodical in your approach. Ensure that as you develop your story, there is accuracy hence, you must continuously double-check and ensure that all loose ends are well tidied up and the people, who are a part of investigation are included in the story through good descriptive powers. Simplify your story as much as possible, and with the availability of facts, help your readers to understand how the results of your findings affect them and make your recommendations.