This 14^th November 2019, two editors and coach  Alphonsine Niyigena and Fred Mwasa  visited investigative journalists in implementation of the project “Promoting Investigative Journalism in Rwanda ” funded by British High Commission Kigali.

Journalists from two radio Partners, Isangano radio in Western province and Huguka radio in Southern Province have been visited. At Isangano Radio, the targeted pair was composed by Dushimiyimana Ngabo Emmanuel and Jean de Dieu Ntakirutimana while at Huguka radio, the visited pair of journalists is composed by Uwizeyimana Aimable and Jean Bosco Mbonyumugenzi.

The main objective of the visit was to provide coaching and monitoring, each pair had a coaching session depending on the context taking into account the realities of each of the media involved in the project and the nature of the topics they are working on.

 The key points raised at Isangano radio were

• Approaches to field visits ;
•  How to create credibility to informants;
• How can one investigate issues in their residential area without risk?

At Huguka radio, coaching focused on

• How to manage  pressure from local leaders;
• Investigative interview techniques ;
• How to differentiate citizen advocacy and investigation.

The coaching session have also been attended by radio directors; Uwamariya Brigitte of Huguka radio and Charles Twagiramungu of Isangano radio. These directors shown their eagerness to work with the project and promised to defend their journalists once threatened by government authorities

Journalists said they are happy for such coaching and the lesson learnt is that theories are easy to hear but practice is complex and requires endurance.   Editors helped journalists to fix their ongoing story and also visited one site where journalists want to pitch the next investigation

Coaching and monitoring of investigative journalists is one of key activities in implementation of the project of Promoting Investigative Journalism and Freedom of Expression in Rwanda “PIJ”