THE PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM has launched the second leg of its seminar series on Advanced Investigative Reporting with 16 senior journalists and editors from Mindanao taking part in the three-day seminar-conference.
The seminar Governance by the Numbers: Investigative Reporting and Numeracy will run from May 12 to 14 at the Cocoon Hotel in Quezon City. The seminar draws on the combined skills, knowledge, and techniques of various experts, from the journalism community, the legal profession, and from government. The seminar aims to improve the investigative skills of journalists throughout the country in sourcing, analyzing, and correlating documents and information.
The seminar includes a briefing by the Commission on Audit on the regular and special purpose funds for local government units, and accessing, reading, and interpreting the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) of government officials.
As well, there will be discussions on the Statements of Contributions and Expenditures filed by political candidates with the Commission on Elections, and interpreting corporate records and financial statements.
Also of particular interests to newsmen are modules on connecting documents and data, and organizing the story.
There will also be a special session on Philippine laws that have an effect on investigative reporting.
The seminar-workshop is supported by the National Endowment for Democracy. It is the second seminar on advanced investigative reporting for the year, after a March seminar for Visayas reporters. A third seminar is scheduled for Luzon reporters later this year.