Congratulations to the IJNET team for giving the forthcoming Global Investigative Journalism Conference 2010 at Geneva its deserved publicity. I also commend your untiring efforts at sustaining your goals. The 2010 Geneva Conference is as significant as it is important. The timing is apt and the impact it would create unquantifiable. I strongly commend the ingenuity of the organizers and their large-heartedness at providing grants for participants. I congratulate, in advance, journalists from the globe that would be a part of the conference and wish them a very rewarding conference.

Idorenyin Aquaisua Editor Independent Platform Newspapers Uyo, Akwa Ibom State - Nigeria Mobile:+234-703-751-8224, +234-802-362-1771 e-mail: idyaqua@yahoo.com; platformnews@yahoo.com

Thank you so much for organising such kind of programme to promote investigative journalism. At present time it is very import to encourage and motivated the media people and media houses for giving more focus for publishing or telecasting investigative reports. Besides, needs continuous support to capacity building of the journalists for conducting investigative reporting. It has multiple impact in the society, including combating corruption, promoting good governance, accountability, democracy, human rights and freedom of press. All the journalists should put hands together and fight for free flow of information.. Wishing the success of the conference.

Shahiduzzaman Editor News Network Road 5, house 9, Dhanmondi, Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh Phone: +880 2 9660388, +880 2 8613238 Fax:+8802 9663598 Email:shznpost@yahoo.com, shahiduzzaman@newsnetwork-bd.org www.newsnetwork-bd.com

Thank you very much for p[reparing such conference, I am quite sure the conference will be crucccial to Journalists who arte eagerly looking ahead to strenghthen their skills in investigative Journalism.

In most countries, carrying investigative stories has been very difficult due to different reasons, apart from financial constraints, in most African countries, the exercise is roofed with intimidations and threats from the ruling class. Journalists are attacked, jailed and even killed. It is very challenges to practise a real profession journalism in Africa as Politicians want to use the media for their own interests, and the matter becomes worse as most of them are main owners of the media houses.

We need changes in the industry, we need new ideas and fresh mind, we need to encourage this new generation to be ready to shed blood and tears for this profession, we need people who can stand and say no to all evils in the society, we need people who can say no to brutalization and awkward media/ newsroom policies that are deliberately set to undermine Journalists and other activists of human rights.

Media is power, it is a stronger weapon than a gun, together we walk, together we win. God bless Journalism.

Florence MUgarula, The Citizen Newspaper, Box 19754, Dar es Salaam. Tanzania. +255 713 359063. mugarula2004@yahoo.com, mugarula@thecitizen.co.tz