Africa-Press – Angola. The coordinator of the Forum of Women Journalists for Gender Equality, Milena Costa, encouraged journalists today, Tuesday, to focus on investigative stories, especially on cases of embezzlement and corruption.
When speaking at the opening session of the Training on Investigative Journalism, aimed at professionals from public and private bodies, the person in charge highlighted that by taking this path, more credible information will be transmitted to society.
Milena Costa stressed that investigative journalism is an area little explored by journalists, due to its complexity, as it requires predisposition, time, patience, transportation and financial means to develop an in-depth report.
According to the coordinator of the Forum of Women Journalists for Gender Equality, the journalist must be persistent to develop investigative materials, especially current topics, within the Angolan context and reality.
“In Angola, investigative journalism is not done because it is a very complex matter. There is a lot of lack of interest from journalists, because we chose this topic because it is an area little explored in our class” said the FMJIG leader.
He explained that his organization intends to stimulate and motivate journalists to carry out investigative reports in the country, taking into account the existence of relative freedom of expression in the Angolan press, particularly when talking about the Angolan Executive’s anti-corruption program.
He added that active social networks provide opportunities for professionals to investigate the facts and monitor public assets.
Milena Costa asked participants to improve investigative reporting techniques, knowledge about professional ethics and deontology and knowledge about the legislative package on the limits of the Press Law and the status of journalists.
On the occasion, the general secretary of the Union of Angolan Journalists (SJA), Teixeira Cândido, reinforced that the journalist must have the ability to monitor public assets and investigate, in greater depth, cases that appear on social media as complaints or clues .
“The fight against corruption is not a problem for the courts. Our training tells us that we must monitor the management of public affairs, which can then lead to criminal proceedings. And we have to encourage professionals to pursue information until they find proof”, he stressed.
He added that there is nothing that prevents journalists from carrying out their work, especially because the Law does not place limits on investigating the management of the treasury, for example.
Teixeira Cândido made it known that in order for investigative work to exist and be carried out, there cannot be conditioning in the editorial lines of media organizations and censorship of materials, practices that discourage and mobilize professionals to carry out investigative journalism.
The Forum, promoted by the Forum of Women Journalists for Gender Equality, ends this Wednesday.
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