Knight International Fellow Kathie Klarreich, on left, faces the audience during the panel discussion. (Photo By Ayiti Kale Je)

What started off as a pilot project to see if we could engage Haitian journalists and the community in a discussion on investigative journalism is now going to be an ongoing every-other-Saturday affair. As Haitians say – Ayibobo!

It was so exciting to see that the last of the investigative film and documentary pilot series Verite Sou Tanbou (Truth on the Drum) packed the house, especially since the program featured investigations done by Haitians on Haiti. A full house! The two-hour program, which turned into three because of the prolonged discussion, featured a print journalist and a member of Haiti Reporters, a short documentary by Haitian cineaste Rachel Magloire and several video pieces by Ayiti Kale Je, a multimedia partnership with AlterPresse, SAKS and Refraka (community radio associations).

Knight International Fellow Kathie Klarreich, on left, faces the audience during the panel discussion. (Photo By Ayiti Kale Je)

The subject matter of the investigations varied from housing in Leogane to lack of oversight for a $2 million project to the history of a tower that sits unfinished in the middle of the capital. The questions that followed addressed the content as well as the techniques, and then the real debate began – why are there not more investigations in Haiti?

One of the reasons, in my mind, was underscored by who was in attendance. The audience consisted mainly of young students and journalists; markedly absent were the owners and editors of the media except for the partners of Ayiti Kale Je. Despite a particular plea I made to the media owners association asking for their support, not a single representative came. I don’t think it’s necessarily that they aren’t interested, but it’s not a priority for them. Or for their editors. Too much work, too few resources, general apathy, perhaps, since they see no reason to buck the status quo.

This in sharp contrast to those who were there, those who are not satisfied with the level of reporting and do not want to accept the status quo. Representatives from Ayiti Kale Je, as well as a professor at the University and a representative of International Media Support all spoke about what they are defining as a new movement. A movement of investigative journalism. They believe that the popularity of Verite Sou Tanbou and the increasing number of investigations is symbolic of public engagement.

I’m not saying that we’re close to creating the critical mass we need to change the culture of investigative journalism, but the work that’s been done this last year has put the discussion on the table. We need to capitalize on that by producing more reports, creating more demand. We’re on the map. Now we have to keep the ball rolling, not just in the capital but across Haiti.