Journalists have been urged to use accurate data to change the narrative of governance and policy reporting to position Nigeria on the path to sustainable development.
The training organised by Premium Times Academy, themed: “Governance and Policy Reporting,” is designed to help journalists with relevant skills needed to cover public policies, governance and the democratic process in Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy.
The Executive Director, Daily Trust Foundation, Mr. Theophilius Abah, made the call during his presentation at the 2-day Training for Journalists in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Mr. Abah who took the participants on the theoretical aspect of Data Journalism explained how data reporting has transformed journalism practice stressing that the job of journalists in the emerging new media is to find out what people are trying to hide in numbers and report these to the audience.
“We believe governance and policy reporting should be informed by more profound knowledge and skill level of how governments work and how public policy decisions are taken,“ Mr. Abah explained.
According to him, at the end of the training, participants would develop deeper insights and understanding of the Nigerian system and how to deepen accountability in governance.
“For the media to effectively work for the promotion of good governance and report governance more responsibly there is a need to develop the capacity of journalists to do their jobs professionally
“Make your story more attractive, in fact that is the kind of attitude I want us to develop, if you make up your mind and say I going to use data to beautiful and make my story visual, everything will became possible, always THINK DATA when you are writing a story.” He emphasised.
He highlighted the need where data is used to present stories in modern journalism, stressing that journalist must strive to know how to make use of various tools which is what data mining is all about.
For his part, the Director-General of the NGF, Asishana Okauru, said the training was in response to the new dynamics, which has brought the media to the fore in the types of reporting that has impacted different of managing the journalism profession.
Mr. Okauru, declaring open the training said,”In my view, this resonates well with the several other policy work that we have prioritized at the NGF Secretariat. In the next couple of days when our sartorial heads speak to you this will become clearer, we are essentially a policy hub and have done an excellent job in locating some of the most competent research minded hands to drive the work we do for our principals.”
He noted that apart from the media, no other institution in Nigeria has been vested with this onerous constitutional watchdog responsibility of making government accountable to the people.
“In this light, the media must remain in the vanguard of tracking the budgetary process to ensure that the Nigerian people get the actual value allocated in fiscal proposals”
Speaking earlier, the Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Mallam Jibrin Ndace, who used the opportunity to seek collaboration, said over the years VON, has remained a credible source of information about Nigeria, for people interested in knowing about and serving the Nigerians in the Diaspora with information about the country.
“We should not allow the 0.5% give us a bad name. This is our country and we must responsibility to tell her story to the world.”
He noted that training opportunities like that of premium Times and the NGF sharpen his journalism skills and career, urging participants to take the training serious.”
Director General, Nigerian Television Authority, Salihu Dembos, Represented by Executive Director News, Ayo Adewuyi, said the media has the responsibility to keep the citizens informed and educated on policies of government as well as keep those in government informed about the plight of citizens through investigative journalism.
In his good will message, the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria Media has a critical role to play in promoting accountability and transparency in good goverance in Nigeria.
“So important is the influence of mass media in our daily lives that Nigeria’ Constitution makes specific provision to protect and preserve this institution which British had described in 1787as the fourth Estate of the realm.“
He noted that apart from the media, no other institution in Nigeria has been vested with this onerous constitutional watchdog responsibility of making government accountable to the people.
“In this light, the media must remain in the vanguard of tracking the budgetary process to ensure that the Nigerian people get the actual value allocated in fiscal proposals.” He added.
The Editor-in Chief Operation officer, Premium Times, Musikilu Mojeed, called on journalist to develop their content reporting.
“This course is built on the firm belief that the purpose of journalism is to serve society, just as the raison d’etre of governance and policy reporting is to empower citizens with the information they need to participate in civic affairs.
“We believe journalists should serve as watchdogs to ensure honest and productive governance while focusing their coverage on issues vital to advancing citizens and society.“
He further explained that the training is therefore designed to help Journalists with the skills they need to cover public policies, governance and the democratic process in Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy.
“We believe governance and policy reporting should be informed by more profound knowledge and skill level of how governments work and how public policy decisions are taken.“
At the end of this training, he said“We expect participants to develop deeper insights and understanding of the Nigerian system and how to deepen accountability in governance.
“For the media to effectively work for the promotion of good governance and report governance more responsibly, there is a need to develop the capacity of journalists to do their jobs professionally. We thank the Nigerian Governors Forum for including this activity in its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives in the overall interest of the public.“
He noted that apart from the media, no other institution in Nigeria has been vested with this onerous constitutional watchdog responsibility of making government accountable to the people.
“In this light, the media must remain in the vanguard of tracking the budgetary process to ensure that the Nigerian people get the actual value allocated in fiscal proposals.”
The interactive Premium Times training had a total of 35 Journalists, selected from the Print, Radio, Television online media across different Newswsroom in the country for the 2- day training.
Participants were brought to know on various topics ranging from, Using Data to spices, strengthen context, Development And Solution Reporting, Online resources For in-depth governance reporting., among others.
The 2023 workshop of the NGF in collaboration with Premium Times, is the third edition.
