Abuja
In a bid to equip the media for effective coverage and reportage of the 2019 general elections the Channels Academy and US Embassy in Nigeria is training a cross section of journalists on data journalism.
Speaking at the opening of the training, yesterday in Abuja, the chief Information Officer for the US Embassy, Russel Brooks, said the training was part of activities to equip journalists to hold government accountable to ensure that there is progress and prosperity in the country.
He said training, which has been going on in partnership with Channels Academy for over a year now, was geared towards producing a free and independent press that can speak to issues and is ready for the upcoming election.
The spokesperson maintained that there is no substitute for curiosity on the part of journalists, the desire to get more information and make it more effective.
Russel expressed the hope that the elections would be peaceful and transparent and encourage Nigerians believe in the country and give others confidence to invest in Nigeria.
Similarly, Country Lead, Code For Nigeria, Mrs. Nkechi Okwuone, one of the facilitators of the training, explained that the training is geared towards bringing participants up to speed on data journalism, assist them build expertise to use the tools by telling the story in such a way that it attracts more readership.
She said that the the training would among others help participants gain a broad knowledge of the value of open data, build skill in working with data, equip them with relevant technical skills to optimally utitlise data platforms.
Mrs. Okwuone who, enlightened participants on how to find data and reports issues even when there are no data, tasked them on the need to influence change as individuals and as a group by going the extra mile in showing curiosity in reportage of events and issues.
Earlier, in his opening remark, Channels Television AGM in charge of the Academy, Kingsley Oranta, disclosed that 24 participants for the three-day training were drawn from the different geographical zones of the country.
She expressed hope that the training would impact positively on their reportage and make a difference in journalism practice in the country.
