Investigation technologies: journalists in Zaporizhzhia acquired new knowledge and skills

On October 11-13, the first part of the second training course for investigators-beginners was implemented in Zaporizhzhia. Trainers: Yulia Zaltsberh, the IFES Ukraine trainer on regulation of financing of electoral campaigns, expert on political finances and electoral processes with experience in promulgation and implementation of political finance reform in Ukraine; Oleksandr Kurbatov, an investigative journalist with 24 years of experience; cooperates with independent investigative projects "Slidstvo.Info" and "Our Money" produced by BIHUS.INFO.

During the training, participants gained knowledge on the following topics:

- methods of reliable information acquisition;
- search for documents and information in registers/databases;
- search for documents and information about a specific person;
- investigative journalism methods;
- types of surveillance during the investigation;
- methods for finding information on political funding;
- basics of storytelling.

One of the participants Artem Marchenko gave a presentation on the experience of investigative journalism on the topic "Corrupt actions of officials in the process of medical reform in Kremenchuk". The investigation reveals a number of offences in the health care of the city. Artem Marchenko shared his experience of investigating illegal actions that were followed by tragic consequences: child mortality.

A special guest was also invited to the training – a human rights activist Denys Tarasov (Zaporizhzhia Human Rights League "Universal"), who told the participants about the experience of public resistance and investigation of illegal actions and offences on the part of local authorities and "thugs". The human rights activist presented the presentation "Specifics of the work in Zaporizhzhia. The struggle for Yalanskyi Park".

"Investigative Journalism for Transparency" project is implemented in a partnership with German organization “Media in Cooperation and Transition" using the German Federal Foreign Office resources.