Published: 09 September 2023
With a particular focus on the tools required to investigate and unearth corruption for news reporting, aspiring journalists have attended a workshop where they learned ways of analysing data for investigative reports and methods of storytelling to retain people's interest.
As part of capacity-building initiatives for professionals and students working in the media, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has hosted the Workshop on Investigative Journalism for the students of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Jahangirnagar University on September 9, 2023.
At the day-long workshop, students had the opportunity to see and learn from real-world stories covered by veteran journalists who have unearthed irregularities in different sectors.
Chair of the department at the university, Rakib Ahmed, emphasised how important it is for students to meet with industry experts. "While you can learn many things in the classroom, it is crucial to experience how the industry functions at workplaces and what skills are needed to make an impact. TIB has established a link between the students and the experts, which creates a lot of opportunities to learn and develop oneself," he said while inaugurating the day-long workshop.
To develop the investigative capacities of journalists working in Bangladesh, TIB has been hosting a range of workshops with professional journalists' forums and universities. Workshops, organised in different phases across the year, have focused on anti-corruption reporting, election-related skill development, data-driven reporting, and investigative journalism skills.
In this workshop, veteran journalist Julfikar Ali Manik introduced the students to tools and techniques for investigative journalism, while Badruddoza Babu introduced them to the basics of investigating and storytelling techniques. TIB's Coordinator at the Outreach and Communication Division, Mohammad Tauhidul Islam, taught students how to use data for investigative journalism.
At the event, Sheikh Manjur-E-Alam, Director of Outreach and Communication at TIB, said, "TIB always works to enhance the professional skills of stakeholders like journalists in the social movement against corruption. Journalists have an important duty in unearthing corruption, and TIB will continue to support them."
TIB's Executive Director, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, reiterated the organisation's commitment to support journalists, who play a crucial role in helping people make informed decisions. "Investigative journalists have a lot to do in order to deeply analyse irregularities and hold power accountable. I hope many of you will continue to fight the good fight with integrity," he said while distributing certificates to the participants.
The day-long workshop ended with students sharing their experiences with investigative journalism techniques and data-driven reporting tools.
