Alaka stressed that investigative journalism influences the outcome of election results and called for the availability of the media at the subnational level.
The Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), has stated that investigative journalism has exposed corruption, and named and shamed corrupt public officeholders across the country.
The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, WSCIJ, Motunrayo Alaka, made this known on Monday, noting that there is a need to amplify works by journalists, especially in an age of digital technology.
Alaka stressed that investigative journalism influences the outcome of election results and called for the availability of the media at the subnational level.
The Director, while addressing journalists in Lagos, noted that the 2022 edition of the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Journalism has been scheduled to hold on December 8 and 9, in Lagos.
She said, “There is a need to amplify the works journalists do, especially in this age of great technology and advancement.
“There are so many platforms that enable digital interaction available. There is news almost at a nanosecond, but how do we ensure it is news that is important to the livelihood of the people and the threats to their lives and developments as well as democracy?
“We want to ensure that the works of journalists do not get buried. It should be highlighted that they contribute to civic education, the robustness of the civil space and that the change we want on the streets of the country, we have them eventually.
“There will be conversations on how investigative journalism shapes election outcomes in an electoral season.”
She continued, “Our call to action is that we hope to have many journalists and students of journalism in the room. That is why we are making it an open event. We want to make it a festival of ideas around the issues that concern us as reporters and journalists.
“We want to highlight the importance of covering local issues and the media being available at the grassroots. There is a need to shift the focus from the federal government and concentrate on the subnational levels.
“Development is local, politics is local and journalism would make a difference must also be local. There is a need to beam searchlights on what is happening to journalism at the local level.”
She reeled out the list of confirmed speakers at the event to include Lai Oso, a Professor of Mass Communication at the Lagos State University School of Communication; Anas Aremeyaw Anas, undercover reporter/founder, Tiger Eye Foundation, Ghana; Tobore Ovuorie, freelance investigative journalist; Fisayo Soyombo, founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism; Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, Professor, Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos; Lanre Arogundade, executive director of International Press Centre (IPC); Kemi Busari, Editor, Dubawa and Yemi Adamolekun, Executive Director- Enough is Enough.
Others are Haruna Mohammed, publisher- WikkiTimes; Ibiba Don-Pedro, co-publisher of National Point; Anita Eboigbe, Editor-in-Chief, Citizen, by Zikoko, Dara Ajala, Programme Manager, Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF); Adedeji Adekunle, Programme Director, Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF), and Motunrayo Alaka, executive director/CEO, WSCIJ. Idris Akinbajo, Managing Editor, Premium Times; Vivian Chime of TheCable; Jimeh Saleh, Editor, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Abdulkareem Mojeed of Premium Times Nigeria and Tijesu Adeoye, Reporter, TVC News, complete the list of speakers.