INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN

EDUCATION SECTOR
.
FACILITATOR: RWANDA EDUCATION BOARD .

MEDIA TRAINER: HENRY MAPESA ANERIKO-

LECTURER: TV PRODUCTION, MOTION PICTURE
&FILM PRODUCTION, RADIO DRAMA AND
PUBLIC RELATIONS
AT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF KABGAYI (ICK)
VENUE: FATIMA HOTEL MUSANZE.
7TH/NOV/2020.
 MY EDUCATION
BACKGROUND
 PhD CANDIDATE IN MASS
COMMUNICATION.
 MASTER OF ARTS IN PUBLIC RELATIONS

AND MEDIA MANAGEMENT (CUU).

 BSC:MASS COMMUNICATION(IUIU).

 PUBLICATION: PHOTOJOURNALISM AS A

CORE JOURNALISM COURSE UNIT:

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS. A
SURVEY OF SOME UNIVERSITIES IN
RWANDA
 7TH/NOV 2020.
Investigative Journalism in education sector.
TABLE OF CONTENT.
 Introduction Investigative Journalism in education sector.
 Key elements of investigative reporting in education sector .
 Importance of Investigative Reporting in the education sector.
 How can we use investigative journalism to communicate stories in the education sector.
 Limitations of Investigative Reporting in the education sector -Discussion 1.
 Recommendations should be given to improve investigative journalism in the education sector. Group Discussion 2.
 Group Presentation.
 Introduction: Investigative Journalism in
education sector

 One of the major duties of a journalist is to be a

civic watchdog and achieving this often demands
investigation and in-depth work. Thus, Investigative
Journalism in education just like in all stories are
investigative stories because they require research,
digging, interviewing and writing (not puff
reporting or depending on yellow journalism).
 All reporters are investigators who are trained to

ask questions, uncover information and write the

most complete stories possible.
 The elements of investigative reporting
in education sector are
 It is about digging deeply into an issue or topic:
‘investigative’ implies, simply relying on a ‘bite’ of
information. Do home work to get the really issue on the
ground. For instance journalists can an investigative story
about ghost teachers in a given school.
 The issue or topic has to be of public interest: “Public
interest” means that a community will be disadvantaged
by not knowing this information. For instance a school of
200 pupils operating without latrines or toilets would be
of public interest to know.
 .
 The elements of investigative reporting
in education sector are: Cont.
 It is a process, not an event: Investigative journalism
never provides an instant story. It goes through
recognized stages of planning and reporting, and has to
work to accepted standards of accuracy and evidence. For
instance investigating stories defilement among children
in schools requires time.
 It is original and proactive: Investigative stories have to
be based on the work of the journalist and (where
resources permit) his or her team.
 It should produce new information or put together
previously available information in a new way to reveal
its significance.
 The elements of investigative reporting in
education sector are: Cont.
 It should be multi-sourced: Attributing or sourcing
different documents while doing an education
investigative story will give the story credible
information.
 Because of its in-depth nature, it calls for greater
resources, team working and time than a routine news
report: Most of the case studies presented of investigative
reportage are the result of team investigations.
 Importance of Investigative Reporting in
the education sector.

.
To inspire changes through its contents, which can lead to policy changes,
landmark developments in the education and other spheres of the society.
 To encourage transparency and accountability in the public office thus
forcing public office holders to be on their toes.
 To make the media more credible in the eyes of the society when they expose
what affects the public thus calling actions from concerned authorities.
 Help the media to play the watchdog role through its painstaking efforts at
investigating and exposing corruption in the society.
 Importance of Investigative Reporting in the
education sector. Cont
.
 Widen the scope of journalistic freedom as the reporter
has the ability to explore various areas and places in
search of facts.
 Foster development in a society by ensuring that public
funds are not embezzled, public officers are dedicated
to their work while bringing to the attention of the
government of the day the needs of the pubic.
 Limitations of Investigative Reporting in the
education sector:
 Proprietorial interference: The owners of media out lets have
influence not just direct by direct intervention or by establishing
lines that cannot be crossed. They set the tone, they decide which
markets to target, they control editorial budgets and they hire and
fire their editors who are their representatives in the media world.
Thus, the editor’s powers can be constrained when the owners
insist and impose policies on the media house.
 Media gatekeepers: In the media world, a number of gatekeepers
exist to ensure standards and expectations are met. Some editors
create limitations for the investigations of certain topics, people
and situations because conflict interest.
 Economic constraints: Some media cannot manage to facilitate
journalists investigating educative stories.
 Limitations of Investigative Reporting in the
education sector:
 Technological limitations: Many African countries and
especially their rural areas- have poor communications
infrastructure and this limits the journalist’s ability to
communicate to various parts in the country and the world
at large.
 Limited skilled manpower: Many news organisations in
Rwanda and indeed Africa are not yet large and
diversified enough to afford a specialized investigative
unit. Many journalists lack access to formal skills and
training in the art of investigative journalism.
 Group Discussions
 How can we use investigative journalism
to communicate stories in the education
sector.
 List the major limitations of investigative

journalism in the education sector.

 Recommendations should be given to
improve investigative journalism in the
education sector.
Thank you very much for paying
attention
END !
GOD BLESS YOU.
BY HENRY MAPESA ANERIKO.
+250787301882
+254759992805
Email:mapholuo@gmail.com
Jesus Christ is my Lord. Philippians 2:9-11