The ‘Second Gathering of Investigative Journalism’

Ends Events with Announcement of its Competition Results and Formation of a Press Lobby

 The ‘Second Gathering of Investigative Journalism’ organized with the participation of 100 + journalists, academicians and Information colleges’ students, concludes its activities by the formation of a ‘press lobby’ and announcement of  the gathering contest’s results for the best journalistic materials in both  ‘descriptive  and ‘investigative’ reports.

  The gathering  held by the ‘Network Of Iraqi Reporters of Investigative Journalism’ ‘NIRIJ’ was made up of six public debate sessions,  besides meetings to exchange views and information with the contribution of more than (30) speakers, including journalists, academicians and  leaders of organizations concerned with the press issues. 

  In the meantime, two training workshops were also held with focus on the art of writing ‘descriptive’ and ‘feature’ reports. Participants included (40) journalists and students who received intensive training offered by two proficient instructors; Lars Muller and Kamy Al-Melhem.  

 Participants in the two training workshops included students from the information colleges of both Takrit and Mosul universities, as well as professional journalists and chiefs of press establishments operating throughout the country.  

 In the context of the gathering activities, journalists and academicians announced their creation of a ‘press lobby’ with the objective of achieving and preserving the ‘freedom of press work’, in compliance with the ceiling already stipulated in Iraq’s constitution. 

  Meanwhile, the gathering included a competition for the best journalistic and investigative reports issued by Iraqi journalists during the last two years. Its result was announced at the end of the gathering which also included debate sessions, discussing the security, legal and financial challenges facing journalists.  

   Among other things, the gathering also investigated the reality of societal components journalism versus independent press in Kurdistan region, as well as Kurdish journalism. It also allocated a session attended by three women journalists with focus on the reality of women journalists’ work and the challenges they meet in their working environment. 

 Participants in the gathering included chiefs of press establishments, professional journalists as well as information professors working with five Iraqi universities, and some activists from the civil society.

  Contributors submitted working papers and summations of their wide scale experiences in the press world and its reality, as well as their press coverage of events under crises, acts of violence and threats. Their discussions also covered the professional, legal and financial challenges facing journalists and press establishments.

  Sharers also discussed the role played by media establishments in creating change and contributing to the preservation of civilian peace in a polygenetic, multicultural society with its different faiths and sects. They also discussed how challenges facing journalists could be encountered to be better capable of submitting profound influential press works characterized by professionalism; press that can stick to investigation, accuracy, objectivity, neutrality and balance.