By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
Daily Trust Foundation, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of Media Trust Limited, publishers of Daily Trust titles, has organized a 3-day workshop on advanced data journalism for journalists in North East, Nigeria.
The workshop which was held in Maiduguri on Tuesday, drew participants from the states of the north east region, namely, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba, Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states.
Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT), Media Trust Foundation, Malam Bilya Bala, in his opening remarks, said the foundation organized workshop on Advanced Data Journalism in order to build upon previous training activities on investigative reporting, which was conducted since 2017, in partnership with MacArthur Foundation.
Malam Bala emphasized that the Foundation considers capacity building as a vital strategy for enhancing credible and relevant journalism in Nigeria.
Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT), Daily Trust Foundation, Malam Bilya Bala, giving his opening remarks at the workshop on Tuesday in MaiduguriHe explained that there has always been a bond amongst all the states of the north east and the choice of Maiduguri city as venue for the workshop is literally repeating history.
He appreciated the Borno State Government, represented by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Professor Usman Tar, and the Senior Special Assistant to Borno State Governor on Media, Mr Baba Sheikh Haruna, for their warm reception.
“We are very grateful. We thank the representatives of the Executive of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Borno State chapter who have come to embrace us here.
“The Foundation has put together this workshop on Advanced Data Journalism in order to build upon previous training activities on investigative reporting, which we have conducted since 2017, in partnership with MacArthur Foundation.
“The Foundation considers capacity building as a vital strategy for enhancing credible and relevant journalism in Nigeria. Because for every successful investigation, journalists need evidence, not just in the forms of documents and interviews.
“But also in publicly available data which can show patterns or trends that alert those in power to things that may have gone wrong. There is a way visualized data can bring the reality of highly complex issues home, much more than thousands of words can do.
“Our flagship publication, Daily Trust, has used data and infographics to do high-impact stories in recent times. We want more and more journalists to do similar stories. The core of the training here is data mining and the use of Excel spreadsheet.
“These could be boring and intellectually demanding. But that is the rough route to a successful career in data journalism. You must know how to gather relevant data from diverse sources. You must know how to use Microsoft Excel to refine and analyse your data. You cannot dodge these two valleys to the top of your career as digital and data journalists.
“Data brings precision to your reporting; you can be accused of bias when you report opinions of the opposition, but not when you present credible data in your reporting. We have experienced facilitators to take you through the processes of doing this great journalism.
“I believe these three days will be a turning point in the journalism career of some persons in this hall. May that person be you,” Bala said.
The Chief Adviser to Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Dr. Mairi Mandara, in her goodwill message, assured the state government’s continuous support to the media, while appreciating the journalists’ efforts and sacrifices during the thick and thin of the Boko Haram crisis .
Represented by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) Media to the governor, Baba Sheikh, she added that journalists in the state have been very resilient and objective in their reportage of government activities positively and professionally, while commending the MacArthur Foundation and Daily Trust Foundation for holding such a capacity building training for journalists in the state.
The State Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Borno State, Professor Usman Tar, represented by the Special Adviser Political to the Ministry, Babagana Mustapha, said the training was apt and in line with modernizations.
He added that no doubt that the workshop will be of benefit to the journalists by exposing them to computer softwares mechanisms and tools for analysis, interpretation, representation of numbers, figures, graphics, ratios, fractions, information processing, and compiling for future use and reference.
The commissioner reiterated the state government’s willingness to partner the foundation to improve on the capacity of the journalists in advanced data journalism and data mining which involves the pattern and techniques in reaching or getting dada from either primary or secondary sources
He charged the media to endeavour to always be objective in their information dissemination, especially, positive narration on the efforts of security agencies and government in the restoration of peace in the state and region at large.
Resource persons/facilitators, Theophilus Abba, Ph.D, Damilola Oyetunde and Aliyu Giedam spoke extensively on Data Journalism and Significance of Modern Journalism, Data Mining: Primary and Secondary Sources, Tools for Web Scrapping, The Use of Excel, Factors to Consider in Data Data Visualization and Digital Journalism among others, which are all aimed at enriching the journalists on how to improve on their news reporting techniques and use of data in story telling, features writing and news analysis.
Highlights of the workshop include: PowerPoint data presentation , visual presentation, graphics and statistical tools/instruments presentations, practical exercises, group photographs and presentation of certificates to participants, among others.
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