At the forum, an open conversation took place about the state and prospects for the development of the genre in the country. Kyrgyzstan has been named a leader in the genre of investigative journalism in the entire Central Asian region.
The participants received information about new tools for documenting corruption, learned about the rules for ensuring digital security, shared important skills in working with financial documents, which is important for conducting high-quality investigations.
The peculiarity of the past forum was that it was mainly held in the Kyrgyz language, and over the past year, strong teams of investigative journalists have appeared in regional newsrooms.
At the opening of the forum, Azamat Tynai Tegin, a head of the Internews project noted that the forum brought together a professional community of investigators, which over the past five years has grown and strengthened qualitatively.
He stressed that investigative journalism is strengthening and becoming an increasingly popular genre, currently, many editorial offices work with investigations, and receive awards at international competitions.
“Our journalists conduct classic journalistic investigations, and also create documentaries. They learn how to use the data journalism tools and raise important social, environmental and climate issues.
Panellist “New Risks and Challenges for Investigative Journalism – The Situation in the World and in Kyrgyzstan” Cornelia Cozonac (Center for Investigative Journalism of Moldova),
noted in her speech that she has long followed and admired the work of investigative journalists in Kyrgyzstan.
She spoke about the experience of exposing corrupt officials in Moldova and urged journalists not to give up or give up, as the result may appear in a few years.
“The authorities should understand that investigative journalists help them uncover corruption schemes and illegally acquired property since they declare that they are fighting corruption,” she said.
Dilbar Alimova (PolitClinic) said that in difficult times, journalists must be in solidarity and support each other.
She expressed the hope that there will be wise advisers who will convey to the country’s leadership that investigative journalists are not enemies of the people, but on the contrary, help the authorities, and their work is of great public importance.
At the online session, well-known investigative journalist Andrey Zakharov stressed that in the international professional community, Kyrgyzstan is represented as a country with a distinctive School of Investigative Journalism.
Ali Toktakunov, one of the leaders of the professional workshop, noted that Bishkek can become a platform for the exchange of experience for the entire Central Asian region.
He stated the importance of solidarity and cooperation between different teams and called on colleagues to work together on socially important topics.
In conclusion, the Director of Internews in the Kyrgyz Republic, Nazik Chekirova, noted the noticeable professional growth of young investigators trained under the TRACK project, and at the last forum acted as trainers and speakers at master classes.
She called on journalists to pay more attention to the financial literacy of the population, acute social issues and environmental issues.
Photo: internews.kg
