By Kadiri Abdulrahman
Lagos – Mr Justin Arenstein, Director of “Code For Africa’’ has advised journalists to embrace the use of figures and technology to tell stories more effectively.
Arenstein, whose organisation facilitated a digital journalism workshop held recently in Lagos, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.
“We observe that journalists are generally terrified of numbers but very comfortable with words.
“There is the need for the media to feel comfortable working with data and technology to find simple solutions to complex problems within their environments, ‘’ he said.
Arenstein suggested that the use of data and technology would help journalists to more effectively hold government officials to account.
“It is important to make journalists use numbers and data to more efficiently hold politicians and government officials to account, ‘’ he said.
The director said that the status of NAN as a foremost news agency in Africa made collaboration with the agency mutually beneficial.
“Our collaboration with NAN has been very beneficial because it is a big national news in Africa and it produces contents to thousands of media houses globally.
“The agency is seriously transforming into a multi-media organisation and our exchange of ideas will be useful in that regards, ‘’ he told NAN.
NAN reports that some participants at the 3-day Data Journalism Workshop organised by NAN and “Code For Africa’’ commended the organisers for their laudable initiative.
The workshop was held at the NAN Media Centre in Iganmu, Lagos.
Mr Ifeanyi Nwoko, a participant from NAN, Abuja, said that the workshop was enlightening and worthwhile.
“The whole experience was really enlightening and worthwhile.
“When I left Abuja for Lagos, I really did not know what to expect.
“I have learnt a lot in terms of data journalism and infographics; prior to this experience, I had a phobia for figures and graphics, and I did not often like to use them in my reports.
“After the workshop, I can just do my reports with data and graphics, and it is so easy and interesting.
“As I return to the office, I know that I can now work better with data and infographics and better interpret data,’’ he said.
Miss Brenda Okoronkwo, a Website Developer from Exsolve Technologies, said that the workshop gave her the opportunity to develop website application to track corruption.
“In my workplace, we do web development and infographics and I am working to develop an application called “Track it’’.
“This will help track official corruption at certain levels in government and stop it,’’ she said.
Mr Oladayo Martins, a Web Developer from Television Continental (TVC), described the workshop as resourceful.
“It was very resourceful. They taught us easy ways to design infographics and what should apply in modern day newsroom.
“We were taught how to visualise news reports in infographics and to hold political office holders to account through proper data analysis,’’ he said.
Mr President Aigbokhan, a Media Rights Defender, described the workshop as excellent.
“The experience was excellent; they taught us data analysis, visualisation, which will help to properly document our advocacy, ‘’ he said.
NAN reports that the three-day Data Journalism workshop drew about 80 participants from the media, web designers and human rights community across Nigeria.