It’s been almost two months since I took up the Knight Fellowship and six investigative journalism units in Egypt, Jordan and the West Bank are up and running.

Training for both broadcast and print journalists at several different media outlets has been completed, and investigations are underway in the areas of stock exchange corruption, road accidents and even business by some influential business men who are also prominent politicians.

In Jordan, Farah Al-Nas Radio has completed an investigation on child alcohol consumption in a Jordanian border region.

When the sky turned black and the rain started to fall last Friday afternoon, I took refuge in a shelter enclosed by glass on two sides. I watched as the first tree that fell bounced off the roof of the shelter, and then crashed onto the parking spot next to my car. Seconds later another tree fell, and the wind continued to sing like a tortured soul as branches hurled around me.

All I could think about was the camps. The camps. At least I had a secure roof over my head, one that had survived the quake.

The challenges of setting up an investigative reporting team in Haiti reflect the challenges of the country as it tries to lift itself up from the weight of the January 12 earthquake. Management of resources, strategic planning, access to verifiable information, planning, insufficient infrastructure and materials, as well as security concerns influence, and in many cases hamper, Haiti’s reconstruction effort. These same elements enter into the reporting equation as well, only more so for investigative reporting.

How do you put out a paper when riots have paralyzed the city?

By building calf muscles as strong as Diego Forlan’s!

We walked. And walked. On day 2 of the riots, Fernando Mbanze, the editor of Savana sister’s publication, Media Fax started walking at 6:30 am and reached the newsroom 22 kms later, at 10:30. Several times the Savana car tried to reach him but either protesters or police, barricades of burning tyres or random shooting, prevented the car from going through. So Mbanze walked on.

Fearing their cars might be stoned, damaged or burnt, car owners did not venture out.

Editor’s Note: Mercedes Sayagues is a Knight International Health Fellow working to improve coverage of health issues in Mozambique. She found herself in the midst of violent riots in Maputo this week, and her reporter’s instincts took over.I was 50 meters away when the bullet hit Helio Rute, slicing a chunk of his skull. Helio was 12 years old and heading home when he was caught between rioters and police on Acordos de Lusaka avenue in Maputo. He died on the spot, one of more than half a dozen killed today.