OSCE Mission to Montenegro organizes training on investigative journalism
Eleven media professionals from different Montenegrin media outlets, as well as students from the Department of Journalism of the University of Montenegro, participated in a three-day workshop on investigative journalism from 9 to 11 October 2019. The OSCE-supported event took place in Podgorica.
The training was conducted by Sanita Jemberga, Executive Director of the Baltic Centre for Investigative Journalism (Re: Baltica).
The Mission’s Media Programme Manager Daniel Blank said that the training provided participants with reliable methods to research, cross-check and structure valuable information. “The time factor is particularly important when working as an investigative journalist — not only to publish results and findings as soon as possible, but also to follow different leads as long as necessary in order to present a holistic picture of what is happening,” said Blank.
Jemberga said that the workshop examined the theoretical framework, as well as its practical application: “I want you to come up with your own ideas for an investigation. When you leave this workshop after three days, you should leave with more than a good story idea.” According to her, investigative journalists are those who challenge the system on behalf of those who cannot. She added that as an investigative journalist, one should write about issues which are not necessarily popular, adding that in the Balkans, there are brilliant examples of investigative journalism.
During the workshop, the participants conducted in-depth case studies and practice exercises. The training course was part of the OSCE Mission’s project on “Support to Media Institutions, Information Pluralism, Freedom of Media and Safety of Journalists in Montenegro.”