Kano Partners Daily Trust Foundation on Capacity Building for Media Practitioners

By Editor

Kano state government has expressed willingness to collaboration with Daily Trust Foundation on capacity building of practitioners in the media industry.

State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Baba Halilu Dantiye made the commitment Thursday at the opening of a 3 day Advance Data Journalism training organized by Daily Trust Foundation (DTF), for 22 selected reporters drawn from seven states of the North West region holding in Kano.

Dantiye, a former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors emphasized the essence of accurate reportage of issues using data analysis, reminded the critical need for journalists to broadening skill for proper precision of development.

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The commissioner explained that he would be willing to help journalists grow in their endeavors, hinted government plans to initiate mutual collaboration with the foundation to expanding the training opportunity.

Earlier, Chairman, Daily Trust Foundation, Mallam Bilya Bala said that the Foundation is passionate to widening knowledge of journalists in the areas of investigation and data data analysis.

He emphasized that as members of the fourth estate of democratic governance Journalists have a duty to work hard to provide reliable and accurate reports devoid of subjectivity for the benefit of the society.

Malam Bala stressed that the foundation considers capacity building as a vital strategy for enhancing credible and relevant journalism in Nigeria as part of its social responsibility and contribution to media industry.

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According to him, “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.

“For every successful investigation, journalists need evidence, not just in the forms of documents and interviews, but also in available data which can show patterns or trends that alert those in power about 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

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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.

Earlier, in his presentation, the Programme Director of the Daily Trust Foundation Theophilus Abbah said Data Journalism requires commitment, hard work, patience and diligence in carrying out their assignment while the foundation remains committed to equip journalists with necessary tools for Data Journalism to enhance their skills in their daily assignment.