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ICFJ's International Journalists Network holds weekly discussions on timely topics. Share your opinion or read those of colleagues from Arkansas to Accra.
This Week's Topic: Digging Deeper: How to Boost Investigative Reporting
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By Charles Rice
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| Trainer Charles Rice shows Ayten Farhadova how to use a digital editing software to produce radio stories. |
“Don’t embrace obstacles,” became the mantra for ICFJ’s first class of in-depth investigative reporting in Baku. Ayten Farhadova says those three words, mouthed by one of her trainers, have made a difference in the way she approaches her stories now. “I used to start my story planning with “this will be impossible, this interview will be a problem, but now, I always interrupt myself and say why should it be a problem. And I always find a way to do it,” she said.
“We waited three hours but the guy never showed up,” recalled student-journalist Vusala Alibeyli who had been told by a government official that he would do an interview for her story, but then had blown her off. She didn’t give up. Vusala kept returning to the government office building accompanied by her instructor, Khadija Ismailiyova, until finally the official gave her the interview for her story on the difficulties of being a pensioner in Azerbaijan.
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| Elchin Sardarov prepares to shoot some video for his story as trainer Khadija Ismailiyova assists. |
It was the power of persuasion that allowed Elchin Sardarov to shoot video footage at a polluted oil well site in the community of Balakhani, near Baku. New houses are being built on the toxic lands around a sea of oil wells. As he stood amid the litter and oil-saturated soil, a security guard with the state-run oil company demanded he turn off his camera. Elchin continued to roll and ultimately convinced the guard that his story could potentially save lives since it is important to point out that the land is not suitable for people to live on.
The project’s chief trainer, Khadija Ismailiyova, who works one-on-one with the journalists, says the more stories they do and the more interviews they conduct, the better they will get. “For most journalists, the problem is a lack of self confidence. This program helps our students to build their self-confidence and acknowledge the fact that what they are doing is very important considering the fact that government officials are often reluctant to give their comments and contact the media, especially when it involves corruption issues. I hope we prove to our trainees that when journalists are insistent and spend more effort on a story and show confidence, they are able to get the interviews they need,” Ismailiyova said.
The program is unique to Azerbaijan in that it provides long-term training for journalists, creates a realistic news room atmosphere with deadlines and requires each student to produce stories for publication or broadcast. The program also exposes the participants to all forms of media – print, radio, TV and online reporting.
The participants are exposed to a variety of trainers and techniques. For instance, an investigative reporter from Los Angeles, Don Ray, taught them how to ask question without actually asking questions. His method, in which he asks the subject to “tell me about” or “describe for me” a particular event or feeling, often generates a descriptive response rather than a “yes” or “no” answer.
“This ‘don’t embrace obstacles’ thing, works! We should use it not only in professional life, but in everyday life,” Ramil Memedov said.
Editor’s Note: The second of three, four month in depth investigative reporting courses offered by ICFJ will begin on February 5, 2008. For more information on the program, click here.
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