Media Development Center wraps-up investigative journalism course

The Media Development Center at Birzeit University, together with International Media Support and the Danish House in Palestine, has recently concluded the Investigative Journalism Project, which took place from January to August 2018. 

The project included three stages: Information gathering and interviewing techniques, investigative and digital storytelling, and publishing on different platforms. These stages culminated in journalistic investigations carried out by the trainees and supervised by local and international media experts.  

The Investigative Journalism Project, which resulted in seven journalistic investigations - five written and two video-based - bolstered the investigative skills of reporters and journalists, and trained them in investigation methodologies, and publishing techniques. 

Director of the Media Development Center Nibal Thawabteh said the project was an investigative journalism landmark due to the caliber of experts involved, the high standards employed, and the techniques taught. 

Emad Alasfar, the monitoring and evaluation coordinator at the Media Development Center, highlighted the group effort that went into making the project a success. Saleh Masharqeh, the research and studies coordinator, edited the investigations and guided the trainees, and Akram Al-Jariri, the social media coordinator, organized the logistics with the various parties involved in the project. 

Mohammed Daraghmeh, the Associated Press’ chief correspondent in Palestine, joined Alasfar and International Media Support Media Adviser Henrik Grunnet in chairing the project’s panel.  

Alasfar added that of the seven investigations produced, Hamzeh Salaymeh’s “Medical Waste” investigation was rated the highest by the panel of judges.