Investigative reporters from several African countries launched the new Investigative Reporters Africa (IRA) network during a brainstorming session in Johannesburg last week, the Media Institute of Southern Africa said on Tuesday.
The IRA would function as an independent professional association of working journalists committed to improving pan-African reporting standards and access to information.
”IRA’s founding members have committed the organisation to promoting effective, ethical and original investigative reporting that moves beyond mere muck raking in favour of more systematic and issue-based reporting in its proper context,” the organisation said in a statement.
”The organisation will also attempt to bridge Africa’s national borders by linking journalists across the continent and encouraging cooperation on multi-national investigations.”
IRA intended to achieve these goals by facilitating an exchange of ideas and resources, channeling support and technical advice, and creating an online platform for linking journalists within Africa and elsewhere in the world.
The network would also develop mechanisms for facilitating access to existing databases and information resources.
The IRA would develop appropriate ethical codes, accuracy checklists, tip sheets, and other guidelines for improving the standards and scope of investigative journalism as a profession in Africa.
The IRA had secured initial seed funding from the Netherlands Institute for Southern Africa (NIZA) to create the necessary structures and appoint a coordinator for one year.
A steering committee, initially consisting of journalists from Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, had been tasked with drafting founding and policy guidelines and detailed funding proposals for core activities.
Membership was, at the moment, by invitation only, and subject to rigorous peer review. Membership would thereafter be broadened, but would remain subject to nomination and peer review. – Sapa