ARIJ conducted a three-day in-person training in Amman, titled “Fundamentals of Investigative Journalism” for 10 journalists (50% female), from February 17 to 19, 2025.
The training, supported by Free Press Unlimited (FPU), and held in collaboration with Alghad Newspaper, covered key aspects such as hypothesis development, ethical journalism, data verification, and access to information laws in Jordan. Guided by the expertise of ARIJ’s Editor-in-Chief Munir Al-Khatib, and the Executive Editor and data journalism specialist at ARIJ Ethar Al-Azem.
Participants explored the fundamentals of investigative journalism, learning how to develop strong hypotheses and generate innovative story ideas while adhering to ethical reporting standards. The training also provided an in-depth look at data sources in Jordan, emphasizing the importance of primary and secondary sources, data verification.
Through interactive discussions and hands-on exercises, journalists refined their investigative proposals, receiving expert feedback on strengthening their hypotheses, selecting effective investigative angles, and applying rigorous research methodologies.
كيف كانت أيام التدريب في ورشة "مبادئ التحقيقات الاستقصائية" التي عقدتها أريج في إطار تعاونها مع جريدة الغد الأردنية؟ ولماذا يحتاج الصحفيون/ات الاستقصائيون/ات البقاء على اطلاع بكل جديد في هذا المجال؟
— Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (@ARIJNetwork) February 21, 2025
الصحفية في جريدة الغد ديما محبوبة تجيبنا على هذا السؤال في حديثها عن أهم ما… pic.twitter.com/JKWorPM93R
Journalist Sara Nidal, said that the training “included detailed information with clear methodologies to understand investigative journalism, and these were discussed in a flexible and thorough manner”.
From his side, journalist Abdalrahman Alkhwaldeh confirmed that he “gained a comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of practicing investigative journalism and became aware of the importance of this type of journalism, along with its human and social significance”.
It is worth noting that ARIJ has updated its “Investigative Journalism Handbook” late 2024, which provides a practical methodology for novice investigative journalists in the Arab world. It focuses on how to manage information and transform it into a compelling story, rather than just concentrating on sources of information.
