Investigative journalism conference brings hundreds to Winnipeg

Veteran US reporter Carl Bernstein, best known for breaking the Watergate scandal, is among hundreds of journalists, academics and lawyers gathered in Winnipeg this weekend for an investigative journalism conference.

About 320 delegates from around the world are coming together in the Manitoba capital for an event organized by the CBC and the University of Winnipeg, Holding the Power to Account: Investigative Journalism, Democracy and Human Rights.

The conference kicked off Friday morning with opening remarks by CBC chief correspondent Peter Mansbridge and Bernstein's lunchtime keynote on the Watergate scandal.

The timing of Bernstein's speech comes 40 years after he and Bob Woodward co-published “All the President's Men,” their accounts of the Watergate break-in and cover-up that ultimately led to the resignation of then-President Richard Nixon.

Also speaking on Friday is David Milgaard, who will talk about his conviction for wrongful killing and the role of the media in exposing such injustices.

Some CBC/Radio-Canada investigative journalists will speak, including Linden McIntyre and Bob McKeown of Fifth Estate and Alain Gravel and Marie-Maud Denis of Encuenten.

Other speakers and delegates include CTV, Global, Sun Media, Toronto Star, Hamilton Spectator, Winnipeg Free Press and more. there are journalists.

More than 70 speakers from around the world, including Canada, USA, South Africa, Botswana, Uganda, Austria, Tunisia, India, Bosnia, Kenya, Germany, Australia and other countries will participate. Also, a number of young journalists from different countries are coming to share their experience of working in difficult conditions.

New Delhi-based investigative reporter Murali Krishnan has been in the business for 25 years.

From 2000 to 2013, Krishnan tracked corruption in sports, specifically cricket.

“There will always be elements that disrupt the game and sports administrators around the world, be it cricket, football, rugby or any other game, need to be more vigilant and possibly take proactive and strict measures. to attack the roots of corruption,” he said.

According to Krishnan, as globalization continues, questioning authority will become more important.

“People are starting to question governments,” he said. “(This conference) resonated and resonated with large segments of society, not just in Canada, but around the world, especially in the developing world.”

Krishnan focused on political upheavals around the world.

“That's what they're doing is reporting for the authorities,” he said.

Ntibinyane Ntibinyane is an investigative journalist from Botswana, Africa, who will address the conference on Sunday.

“For us in Africa, investigative journalism is almost everything,” he said. “We can hold the guys in high power accountable, and in Africa, that's very necessary.”

One of the speakers, 26-year-old Nathalie Sedlecka, traveled from Ukraine to discuss her role in the team that uncovered 25,000 documents dumped in a lake near the home of Ukraine's ex-president.

“Anyone behind these decisions, if they think they're going to stop investigative journalists from digging, they don't fully understand what we're doing,” said CBC veteran Adrienne Arsenault, who is scheduled to speak at the conference.

Participants said it was inspiring to be in the same space with so many of the world's leading journalists.

“It's like being sloppy at a Star Trek convention. It's amazing to see Peter Mansbridge in the room with you,” said Ian Hitchens, a reporter from Brandon.

Even Arsenault said he was a little starstruck.

“(Berenstein) is a rock star. I want to be with him even for a moment,” he said.

The conference will continue until Sunday.