Investigative Journalism -

Mogadishu (ASOJ.ORG) – The Associated Somali Journalists-ASOJ and
Journalists for National Agenda- JONA had concluded two days workshop
on investigative reporting for 25 prominent journalists in Mogadishu.
The workshop which focused on how the journalists can investigate,
verify and report a certain issue was held in the conference hall of

Mogadishu media house in Mogadishu.
Abdulkader Mohamed Osman, the chairman of JONA told the participants
that they are responsible to dig any hole that deserves and tell it to
the public with the safest and most efficient way they can.
“The journalists are the eye of the public, we respond to the public
interest and multiply the activity of the authority” said Mr. Osman.
“We need to be curious, we need to come up with serious investigation
about the issues relating to the national interest, so we must work
for the public interest, that is what Journalists for national agenda
means” he added.
Mr. Dahir Abdulle Alasow, the chairman of ASOJ speaking from Breda
Netherlands through phone, told the journalists participating the
workshop that they must be careful to report unfound reports to the
public.
“Whenever we investigate something we need to get evidences for it, so
we must make sure the originality of the evidences, it the evidence
you have is copy or false then your investigation can cause you to end
up in jail” said Alasow.
“Be careful, tell only a truth with evidence, don’t narrate groundless
facts that can put you in danger and don’t trust anyone without a
really fact” he advised the journalists.
Abdulahi Mohamed Hassan Black, the director of Mogadishu Media House
(MMHouse) encouraged the participants to start investigating any
public issue that is not clear for the public.
“We need to sacrifice for the public and national interest, so be
courageous to do investigative reporting, but don’t endanger your
lives” he said.
“Fear doesn’t mean silence, we can do investigative reporting even if
we are in the worst place for journalists in the world and that is
Somalia, we need to decide to die for the truth” he added.
The participants of the workshop requested ASOJ and JONA to conduct
more workshops about the investigative journalists, and praised the
trainer Abukar Albadri, who was giving the lessons for the two days
workshop.
Somalia is the worst place for journalists in Africa, and the third
worst place for journalists in the world and has no functioning
government since 1991 when the central government was ousted by clan
warlords.

By Abdisalan Abdulle