State of investigative journalism in Bangladesh

Division, fragmentation or categorisation of journalists -- into different strands -- is, in all frankness, unfair to a great extent. All journalism belongs to one community and the same field of endeavour. And it essentially relates to presentation of facts or events -- though of varying nature and types -- in an objective, fair and unbiased manner. As such, there is no wall between 'political journalist', 'economic journalist', 'environment journalist,' 'community journalist', 'sports journalist', 'crime journalist' 'investigation journalist', and so on and so forth. The same professional skill, expertise, principles, ethics and codes apply to all journalists, inspective of the fields of their work. And every journalist on his or her own 'beat' or particular sphere of his or her work, can become an investigative journalist when his or her work grows in scope and depth, beyond a routine report that usually means covering any news or event or happening, in its usual surface-type coverage. Investigative Journalism: Varieties and some relevant international examples: The scope is wide open for doing, what we call, investigative journalism in all different relevant fields. Good journalists are always good investigators. It is the depth or content or subject-matter that distinguishes investigative journalism from regular journalism. Investigative journalism is thus not any exclusive domain of any particular field of journalism, for an example, financial or economic journalism. There are many notable examples of investigative journalism which is also termed by many as 'watchdog journalism'. The reporting by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of the Nixon-era Watergate scandal in the USA for the Washington Post is known to most of us. That was essentially of the nature of political investigative journalism. And in a way the modern idea of 'investigative journalism' took its root in the worldwide publicity that was given to that investigation. It eventually led to the resignation of the then US President. There are also some other noteworthy illustrations of investigative journalism, at the international level, like the stories filed by Seymour M Hersa that helped uncover the massacre at My Lai during Vietnam War; the exposure of Dan Rather's investigative segment, based on the Killian documents, which cast George W Bush's military record in an unfavourable light; the debate over the US occupation of Iraq, also by Seymour M Hersh, through his exposure of the abuse of prisoners at Abu Gharib detention centre; Stephen Gray's revelation of 'extraordinary renditions' whereby terror suspects have secretly been relocated by the US from prisons in countries that do not allow torture to prisoners in countries that do. These examples are being cited here only to show how investigative journalism can be carried out in the domain of political journalism as well. In the world of financial or economic journalism, such examples are too many. In this context, the Enron scandal, the sub-prime mortgage crisis, the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the corporate fraud in the USA and the Madoff case there, the 'mafia' economy in Italy, the telecom scandal in India, the latest case of Olympus in Japan etc., can be mentioned as some commendable pieces of investigative financial or economic reporting. There is, of coarse, no single model for investigative journalism. But certain common aspects of investigative journalism do merit attention, though the country-specific situation, circumstances, priorities, affordability factors and resources of the media concerned, do largely influence decisions about what investigative reports do tend to focus on, in different parts of the world. Investigative Journalism: Its nature, characteristics and challenges: Investigative journalism is about digging deeply into an issue or topic. Simply relaying a simple 'bite' of information -- e.g. the national export fair will begin in the capital city in the first week of next month -- will not count as investigative journalism. The issue or topic has to be of public interest. This means that either a community or a sizeable segment of a country's population will benefit (either materially or through informed decision-making) by knowing the information about it or they will, or may be, disadvantaged by not knowing this. For this purpose, investigative reporters need a clear sense of what their mission is and whom they serve. Conceptualisation of the issue and its contextualisation are matters of critical importance for the investigative journalists to appreciate the subject or issue that is being dealt with, in a clear way. Investigative journalism is a process and not an event. It is not intended to provide an instant story. Investigative journalism has to go through the recognised stages of planning and reporting, and the media personnel do need to work here on the basis of, what are known as, the accepted standards of accuracy and advocacy. Because of its in-depth nature, it calls, at times, for team working and involves more time and greater resources than a routine news report. It should produce new information or put together previously available information in a new way to reveal its significance. If the investigation, or the understanding of its importance is not new, then the question will naturally be asked: what is the investigation being made? Investigative journalism is original and pro-active. It has to be based on the work of the journalist and (where resources permit) his or her team but must not simply report the tip, to be printed or to be put on air or telecast, a secret document that is, more often than not these days, anonymously faxed through. Doing the latter kind of reporting and parading it as investigative reporting is not only lazy and careless. It also carries huge risks if the identity, bonafides of the source and the authenticity of the evidence are not investigated. An investigative journalist needs to develop hypothesis about what the tip means, plan additional research, decide on the relevant question and go out to ask the individuals or organisations concerned questions about it to verify and ascertain its factual part. He or she most see evidence, hear and analyse answers for himself or herself, and go beyond simply verifying the tip. Otherwise, there is every chance of ending up defaming someone; printing or putting on air, lies about someone or some organisation, public or private, may originate from, and lead to, charges being made or framed by somebody's agents or the persons at whom the finger is pointed at. Investigative reports should be multi-sourced. Fascinating revelations and, depending on who the source is, access to insights and information, can be provided by a single source. On occasions, such a source may need to be kept otherwise hidden. But until the story from that source is cross checked against other sources -- experiential, documentary and human -- and its real investigation has been made, no real investigation has really happened. In a wide way, investigative reporting is, thus, simply good reporting. That is what all good journalists should do. Investigative journalism has, however, to be considered a departure from event-centred reporting. It is journalism with a specific mission -- the mission for unearthing information that is not easily accessed by everyone. It requires some additional professional skill in, and expertise about, conceptual and contextual aspects of things, issues, matters etc., that are covered under it. Investigative journalism, promoting transparency and good governance and combating corruption: The specific mission of investigative journalism does particularly relate to unearthing information that is not easily assessed by everyone. It usually seeks to uncover secrets somebody wants to keep hidden. This is not necessarily always popular, particularly for the authorities or quarters concerned; people caught out in wrong-doing will obviously not like it. Investigative journalism is essentially purported to serving some meaningful purpose in terms of people's or community's well-being. This is precisely the reason why investigative or watchdog journalism has to be based on reliable, credible and substantiated disclosures. It can then provide a useful means to promoting accountability in the exercise of public and private power. We all know why enforcement of this accountability -- and promotion of transparency in its process -- is one of the core elements of good governance. Indeed, one of the essential goals of good governance is to prevent making private gains at public expense and misappropriation of public money, abuse or misuse of public positions or power for personal benefits or amassing private wealth by flouting laws, rules and regulations, wastage of resources for making private fortunes by indulging in malpractices that grossly run afoul of the concept of value-for-money. And all such afore-mentioned areas of activities denote, what we call, official corruption -- or, corruption within the government or public sector. But corrupt practices are not confined to the public sector alone. Its wings are spread to the private sector as well. Dishonest, unfair, illegal or immoral practices -- the practices that connote corruption -- in the domain of trade, finance, stock exchange, property market etc., can be cited here. Corruption takes place in the private sector in disregard of what the rule-book does otherwise state; it equally hurts the interests of the wider segment of the community or society. Against this backdrop, investigative journalism can play a very important pro-active role to enforce accountability and transparency through exposures of scandals and corrupt activities in both public and private sectors. Such exposures can help combat or curb corruption. Investigative journalism can help foster, promote maintain, nourish and nurture democratic culture. This is all the more important to promote good governance in both government and business sectors and uphold the true principles of transparency and accountability that are of consequence to combat corruption. Investigative journalism is, by its nature, creative and innovative. Of course, it is in no way meant to be irresponsible or to run afoul of the basics about code and ethics of the profession. The way forward for investigative journalism as a major tool to help combat corruption: Two elements that was noted earlier do need to be reiterated here at this stage. These are critical for investigative journalism to make its mark for serving as an extra eye, ear and voice of the citizens in pursuit of the goals of curbing corruption and promoting reform and change for the better. These are: proper conceptual clarity and contextual understanding of the issues or matters that investigative journalists do cover. Hence, a successful investigative reporter, let us say for the purpose of an illustration only, on the stock market or the financial sector, is expected to, at least, comprehend the basics of the market, its operational dimension and also the evolving aspects of related developments at home and also at abroad. He or she is expected to be properly updated on the issues that matter. Some understanding of accounting and auditing standards and norms, and the latest developments of anti-money laundering laws and taxation-related matters, is also a must. However, an investigative reporter is not necessarily expected to be a master of everything. Here, good contacts and sources, if cultivated properly, while upholding the norms and ethics of the profession, can be quite useful. The motive for investigation must also be clear and transparent. Successful investigative journalism is demonstrated by skills and methodologies for source building, data searching, depth, insight, newsworthiness and uncovering of facts that would otherwise be kept away for public scrutiny. Furthermore, it has to be pointed out here that 'scandals', to be worth investigating, that any investigative journalist seeks to reveal, should have no particular purpose like appealing unnecessarily to people's nosiness about the private lives of others. And investigative reporting on scandals and corruption, in order to be worthy of purpose must go beyond personal misbehaviour, into the forms of practices of corruption and wrong-doing in both public and private sectors that flout law and effect public interest and where there is a lot more at stake. These aspects of investigative journalism are highlighted here only to remind ourselves as the media personnel of the imperative for keeping them into our dispassionate consideration while preparing or filing investigative reports. Unfortunately, we tend to ignore them, or relegate the same to the background, at times. This scribe would deliberately prefer not to cite instances of some reports in our media that were published in the not-too-distant past and many of those did unfortunately not meet the above-noted requirements. We should follow the standard rules of the game, in the context of our professional code of conduct, if we are to look forward positively to investigative journalism in Bangladesh as an effective 'watchdog' tool, notwithstanding many endogenous and exogenous constraints that hinder its growth and development in the country. Subjects of news stories, for investigative journalism, as it should be emphasised, must be diligently sought out to give the partiespersonsbodies considered to be involved in wrong-doing, corruption or foul-game, the opportunity to respond to allegations. Ethical journalists are expected to treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings, deserving respect. Sources should be identified whenever feasible, keeping in mind that the public is entitled to such information as far as possible, on sources' reliability. Investigative journalists should always question the sources about motives, before promising anonymity and when such a condition is agreed upon -- with anyone in exchange for information -- it should be clarified while keeping promise. The distinction between advocacy and news reporting do also need to be kept in mind; analyses and commentaries should always preferably be labelled and should not provide the least of any scope for misrepresenting fact or context. News should be distinguished from advertising. Hybrids that blur the lines between the two should be shunned. All such do's and don'ts that relate broadly to code of ethics for journalism in general and investigative journalism in particular, constitute a tall order in the context of the situation that prevail in countries like Bangladesh. As professional journalists, we should nonetheless make unflagging efforts to follow the standard code of ethics. If it is done, then subjecting the journalists to repression and other kinds of harassments by the government or the powerful vested interests will be nothing but abridgement of fundamental rights. In that event, the broader society itself will have reasons to raise stronger demands for redress of any such situation. [This is the first part of the key note paper by the writer for the Investigative Journalism Award-giving function on Wednesday (November 30, 2011) organized by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) at BRAC Centre Inn at Mohakhali, Dhaka]