The force of the fourth Estate – investigative journalism in my country

by Veselina Foteva, Bulgaria

In Bulgaria the system “kill the messenger” often applies. Some of the best investigative journalists were attacked with acid, beaten, threatened, blackmailed, bribed. These threats exist all over the world, but in Bulgaria the perpetrators often stay undetected. The question arises - is seeking the truth really worth the risk?
Three basic conditions can be identified in creating an environment for investigative journalism. Firstly, there must be an independent pluralist media that is able to carry out investigative journalism. Secondly, journalists must be able to highlight problems and investigate them – that means mainly that they can obtain information from various sources. And thirdly, the relevant media must be free to publish and disseminate the information that its journalists disclose in the public interest, without having to fear censorship, counter-accusation or punishment. These are seemingly simple conditions. But in a country where political parties have their own media, independent investigative journalists are bound to be exploited.
The Investigative journalism in Bulgaria is not so focused on war crimes and human rights conflicts than in exposing corruption and monitoring money laundering, money laundering and again. However, investigations are based on the words of two or three people who say something "off the record". The investigation of corrupt transactions requires skills tracking local and international accounts, burial in contracts, reports and much, much deeper burial on the Internet. Most journalists do not currently possess such skills. And to develop them, it requires time and huge investments in training. There are very few media which are willing to do something like this. Furthermore, the journalists are under daily pressure to produce a target material. A corruption investigation takes more time and money.
After everything that I said, probably you are wondering why she wants to become an investigative journalist in such a state? The answer is simple. I believe in the power of "fourth estate", I believe that journalism is able to make the revolution not only at the state level but also in people's minds. I believe that the pen of the journalist and his conscience awake may change many things and even all.

Veselnia Foteva comes from Sofia, Bulgaria and studies Mass Media and Communication. The 18-year-old has won several essay and journalism competitions. She is interested in the online journalism.