UCJ Trains Campus Journalists on Investigative Journalism and Storytelling for Impact

Oluwatosin Adeoye

The Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ), University of Ibadan, in conjunction with The Civic Innovation Center, organised an Investigative Reporting & Storytelling Workshop for Campus Journalists on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at the Postgraduate Room, Department of Communication and Language Arts, Faculty of Arts.

Speaking in the first session of the training, seasoned journalist, Chikezie Omeje, highlighted idea originality, mystery solving, myth-busting, pegging of responsibility, and policy or law introduction as the important considerations in Storytelling for Impact.

Omeje explained that impact-driven Campus Journalists can engage in Role Play and Reverse engineering, ensuring that they find an expert for each story, not only to be quoted but to get information on what sort of documents or other information the CJ will need to get to the bottom of the issue.

“No matter what you are reporting as a journalist, you need to add new information which will be your distinguishing factor”. He added.

He also advised that before starting an investigative story, a journalist should consider answering these questions; “What is this investigative story all about? What questions are at the heart of the story? If I succeed at penetrating the secret world surrounding the story, what do I intend to find out?”

While speaking on Investigative Journalism, investigative journalist, Habib Oladapo, explained to the participants that Investigative Journalism is designed “to uncover something somebody wants to keep secret”.

He asserted that there are diverse sources of story ideas ranging from keen observation, tip-off, topical issues, and mainstream media stories to government policies.

Oladapo stated that proper Investigative Reporting ought to align with the Investigative Cycle in the order of; “Conception, Feasibility Study, Go-No-Go Decision, Base Building, Planning, Research, Re-evaluation, Filling the Gaps, Final Evaluation, Writing and Rewriting, Publication and Follow-up Stories.”

He noted that every good reporter must consider the facts, the logic, the language and the structure at the writing stage of the investigative reporting cycle. He also added that there must be some elements of emotion when writing impact stories.