In order to encourage the press to present quality investigative news, a legal rule is needed to enable the press to function as a watch dog and also to improve the skills of journalists to be more competent in conducting investigative reporting.
Senior journalist Najwa Shihab conveyed this through the opening webinar of the Anticorruption Journalism Academy program organized by the KPK (9/6). According to Najwa, the rule of law is needed to limit media conglomerations and ensure that journalists can carry out investigative coverage without being afraid of any threats.
"Until now, violence against journalists has not stopped, not only physical violence, but also digital violence," said Najwa.
Therefore, she said that it is necessary to protect journalists from being afraid to carry out investigative coverage, including covering corruption cases. Equally important, she continued, is the effort to continue to improve the professional skills of journalists. "Professional journalists are lifelong learners. They need training in journalistic skills and professional ethical standards."
Najwa appreciated the KPK for giving attention to journalists by organizing the Anticorruption Journalism Academy program. In the midst of the changing media landscape, she continued, it is an absolute necessity for journalists to improve their skills.
Journalists, continued Najwa, also need to strengthen their professional organization. Through this professional organization, the quality of journalists' skills can be improved and most importantly, can become the protective home and fortress for journalists so that they can remain independent in carrying out their duties.
Investigative coverage, including coverage of corruption cases, said Najwa, requires more effort because it is neither easy nor cheap, and it requires a long time. Journalists must also have competent journalistic skills and a good network of sources.
Because investigative coverage is not cheap, she said, in the future it is necessary to think about how to mobilize public funds for the cost of coverage, both through public broadcasters and institutions that manage crowd funding to finance investigative coverage.
Due to the enormous challenges faced by journalists, the KPK created the Anticorruption Journalism Academy program. This program consists of an intensive five-day course containing materials needed to publish information regarding the issues of corruption eradication, so that in the future, journalism can sort and identify journalistic products that can be trusted as sources of information.
